Distinctive and delightful character presence, a compact and often mangy-looking but highly amiable player of whimsical and spaced-out types. With his thinning, typically mussed hair and carefully measured line delivery, Walter has also been useful on the Western trail, both as weathered, reliable types and those who have perhaps been kicked in the head by their horses once too often. A native of Jersey City, NJ, Walter discovered acting while watching an off-Broadway play, "Scuba Duba." A stint with Jean Stapleton's Totem Pole Playhouse and acting lessons readied him for off-Broadway and spots on soap operas; he also played bits in two 1973 features, "Badge 373" and "Serpico."