Alfred was originally billed as Alfred Sandwina; he was the son of Austrian-born Katie Sandwina (born Katharina Brumbach), the most famous circus strongwoman of her day, known for breaking chains, bending iron bars, lifting Alfred's 165-pound father Max Heymann overhead with one hand, and performing the manual of arms with Max instead of a rifle.
Was formerly an undercover agent with the American Counter Intelligence Corps.
Had been a heavyweight boxer.
It was often stated that viewers would tune into The Young Doctors (1976) merely to see what colour carnation his dapper character Dr. Raymond Shaw would be wearing in his buttonhole.