[3] Beck's early radio experience included work at WINS and WHN,[2] both in New York City.

In 1943, he took over as narrator of radio's The Adventures of Superman; it was Beck who intoned the familiar prologue "strange visitor from another planet..." He also had recurring roles, voicing an occasional tough guy and also portraying Beany Martin, the Daily Planet's teenage copy boy.

On Superman episodes featuring Batman, he played Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred Beagle.

Beck portrayed Perry White, Clark Kent's boss in Filmation's The New Adventures of Superman animated series and was narrator as well.

He also had a part in the Peanuts 1977 film Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown as the snickering cat, Brutus.

His other voice work included network TV promos (he did a series of promos for NBC's NFL coverage for much of the 1980s), narration for sketches on Saturday Night Live, movie trailers, and commercials for everything from toys to shampoo (one of Beck's very last commercials was for Infusium Shampoo).

Beck was featured announcer on the 1972 comedy record album "National Lampoon Radio Dinner".