"Big for his age, as a youth Tucker was hired by the Old Gayety Burlesque Theater in Washington, DC, to serve as a Master of Ceremonies for the Burly-cue after consecutively winning the Saturday night amateur contests. He was fired when it was found out that he was underage. He was rehired when he turned 18.

After graduating from high school in 1938, the 6'5", 200-lb. Tucker played semi-pro football in the Washington, DC, area. He also enlisted in the National Guard and was assigned to a cavalry unit in Ft. Myers, Virginia.

Tucker served as an enlisted man in the Army during the war(WWII), being discharged as a second lieutenant in 1945."

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0875861/bio

It seems ol' "Tuck" led a very interesting life, from his younger days onward, and was multi-talented. Maybe it was his burlesque training! LOL Stan