His mother, Lucilla (Solari), was from Giubiasco, Ticino, Switzerland, and came to the U.S. at a young age, settling in California; she was of Swiss-Italian descent. His father, Chester Oliver Grimes, from Noblesville, Indiana, had English, Scottish, and German ancestry.
I got to the point where the work wasn't up to the quality that I wanted. I was offered a TV series back then but turned it down. I'm very happy in my decision. [interview with American Profile, 2011]