Julius Sumner Miller, a physicist, science educator, and television performer, was born on May 17, 1909 in Billerica, Massachusetts, USA. He was the youngest of nine children, with his father being a farmer from Latvia and his mother from Lithuania. Originally named Julius Simon, he later changed his name to Sumner. Julius received his education from local schools, Boston University, and the University of Idaho. He obtained a Bachelor's degree in 1932, a Master's degree in 1933, and another Master's degree in 1940. On April 21, 1934, he married Alice Marion Brown, who worked as a maid, and they did not have any children. For two years, Julius worked as a butler to support himself.