Born with Norwegian heritage and hailing from the vibrant city of San Francisco, Gregg Palmer, also known as Palmer Lee, embarked on a journey in the entertainment industry as a radio announcer. Initially, he found himself as a contract player at Universal in the early 1950s, before transitioning to a freelance career, which culminated in the decade's close with a series of starring and co-starring roles in detective, Western, and science fiction adventures.
As the 1960s unfolded, Palmer shifted his focus to supporting roles and television work, further solidifying his reputation among Western enthusiasts by becoming a regular member of John Wayne's later-day stock company.