He grew up always wanted to act, and in 1909, at the age of 20, he made his vaudeville debut at the Palace Theater in Chicago.
Just a few years later, Palmer rose to stardom, acting in comedies and musicals by himself, until late 1916 when he teamed up with Joanne 'Jo' Hayden.
Shortly after, Palmer was also drafted into the Army, just before he and Hayden were going to play at The Palace in New York City.
Palmer saw action in France at Cantigny, the second Battle of Marne, Soissons, Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne.
In 1942, Gene Kelly and Judy Garland player Palmer and Hayden in the MGM musical film For Me and My Gal, directed by Busby Berkeley.