Born in Los Angeles, California, he is part of a stunt family. His father is former baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals and stuntman Ernie Orsatti, his brother is stuntman and stunt coordinator Ernie F. Orsatti, and his nephew is Noon Orsatti, who is also in the stunt industry. His mother is opera singer Inez Gorman. Originally he tried to start a baseball career at the St. Louis Cardinals, but an injury crossed this vision. He then worked for ten years on freighters for the Merchant Marine.