Utt was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on July 13, 1921. He graduated from Elon College (now Elon University) in Elon, N.C. in 1942. He received a scholarship to Juilliard School where he studied vocals in hopes of becoming an opera singer. Utt served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He returned home and became a stage and radio actor, appearing in shows like Carousel.