Edwin Rochelle's acting career began in the 1930s as a stand-in for smaller actors in films, often affiliated with a particular studio, where the majority of his work originated from.
As a stand-in, Rochelle was the go-to replacement for Barry Fitzgerald and other stars at RKO, occasionally receiving upgrades due to his ability to deliver dialogue, and being paid as a day player for every day he spent on set as an actor's stand-in.
Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, Rochelle regularly worked as a stand-in for various guest stars in productions filmed at Universal Studios, appearing in westerns and dramas.
It was during one of these productions, where Rochelle stood-in for actor Robert Lansing, that his life would take a dramatic turn.
This marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship between Rochelle and Lansing, who would regularly use Rochelle as his stand-in and upgrade him to silent bits on set.
Lansing would also take Rochelle on location with him as his assistant, occasionally providing him with credited roles, such as in Namu, the Killer Whale (1966),which provided Rochelle with a steady income for over a decade.
As Lansing's career began to slow down, so did Rochelle's, leading him to eventually retire.
Although he retired, Rochelle would occasionally return for a role until his passing in 1977.