Veteran "bad guy" actor of 50s film and TV who began his career after
decorated WWII military service as a U.S. Navy pilot (Navy Cross).
Typed into playing gunslingers, psychos and menacers, particularly
after his lead role in Without Warning! (1952) set the pace.
He was born in New York City, to Ethel and Adam Louis Berg. His parents were of German descent.
Adam was co-star with Inger Stevens in the Twilight Zone The Hitch-Hiker (1960 - S1, E16). He played a sailor that Inger's character picked up on the road. He also played the dunce brother Woodward in TZ A Most Unusual Camera (1960 - S2, E10).
Probably best-known for his appearance in North by Northwest (1959), playing Valerian, one of the henchmen of criminal mastermind Philip Vandamm James Mason, who was Roger Thornhill Cary Grant's nemesis.