Born as Walter Craig Binkley in Hollywood, California, he started his career as set dresser on the drama Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966, with Harold Michelson and Joseph Musso), the fantasy film Camelot (1967), the thriller Wait Until Dark (1967), and the drama Cool Hand Luke (1967). Following work as assistant property master on the family series Lassie (1967) and as leadman on the western show Wild Wild West (1968-1969), he worked again as set dresser on the musical Hello, Dolly! (1969) and on the western drama Little Big Man (1970).