He began his career as a talent agent starting with the Ashley/Steiner Agency and shortly set out on his own to form Jerome Hellman Associates, which represented some of the outstanding directors, writers and producers during the "golden age" of live television.

After leaving NBC, Hill, Shaffner and Cook moved on to directing assignments at Playhouse 90, the first 90-minute TV drama series out of CBS's new studio on the West Coast.

He partnered with George Roy Hill and produced his first film, The World of Henry Orient (1964), with George Roy Hill directing, starring Peter Sellers (in his first film made in America), Angela Lansbury and Tom Bosley.

Coming Home was directed by Hal Ashby and received eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.

It won Academy Awards for Jon Voight (Best Actor), Jane Fonda (Best Actress), and Waldo Salt, Robert C. Jones and Nancy Dowd (Best Original Screenplay).