Schooled at Pasadena City College. First performed in radio drama and worked as a radio announcer. Acted at the Pasadena Playhouse. During World War II was classified as unfit for military service due to health problems, but worked with the USO entertaining troops in Europe. In the 1950s and 1960s made a name for himself as a director of seminal television episodes, particularly
The Twilight Zone (1959). Later specialized in made-for-TV movies and miniseries.