He had a fair amount of success in theatre, including the Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. He also appeared on Love of Life at one point, as a rapist. I can't quite picture that somehow. And I think that he would have been extremely miscast as anyone's cousin from England.
But he achieved true immortality as one of the members of the 1950's doo wop group The Cheers, for the priceless song Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots. A Buzz Hackett song to be sure!