[2] During World War II, Kartalian served in the United States Navy on a destroyer in the Pacific theatre.

[2] After returning home, he worked as a body builder and professional wrestler (called the "Hell's Kitchen Roughneck")[4] and competed in both regional and national competitions.

Kartalian is best known for his role in the film Planet of the Apes (1968) as Julius, the brutish gorilla who guarded the captive humans at the Research Complex.

Kartalian is also known for his film roles as a sailor in Mister Roberts (1955), a prisoner in Cool Hand Luke (1967), a shopkeeper in The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), and a reverend in The Rock (1996).

[7] On television, Kartalian appeared on various shows, including Naked City, The Untouchables, Get Smart, The Munsters, Batman, Lou Grant, Cagney & Lacey, and Friends.