Macy was born Wolf Garber on May 18, 1922, to Michael and Mollie Garber in Revere, Massachusetts. He had a long career in the theater and film before "Maude," including as an original cast member of the 1969-72 New York stage sensation "Oh! Calcutta!" that featured fully nude actors. He was in the 1972 movie version of the musical about sexual mores.