Barton MacLane was an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. Although he appeared in many classic films from the 1930s through the 1960s, he was known for his role as Gen. Martin Peterson on the 1960s NBC television comedy series I Dream of Jeannie, with Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman.
MacLane was born in Columbia, South Carolina on Christmas Day, 1902. He attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where he excelled at American football. His first movie role, in The Quarterback , was a result of his athletic ability. He then attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Source: Wikipedia