After graduating from Portsmouth High School, he attended the University of New Hampshire before serving in World War II.

After moving to Hollywood in 1960, he began a prolific career as a character actor making many guest appearances in film and television.

[3] Selzer's many television roles included appearances on The Twilight Zone, where he portrayed an alien in "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby", and as the miserly son-in-law in "The Masks".

[1] From 1965–67, he made seven guest appearances as Professor Parker in Get Smart followed by roles on That Girl, The Rat Patrol, Hogan's Heroes, and The Bold Ones: The Protectors.

[1] Selzer's film career includes roles in The Young Savages (1961) opposite Burt Lancaster, A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966), In Enemy Country (1968), The Buddy System (1984) and Sid and Nancy (1986).