His career in film and television was long and relatively successful, but he never achieved major recognition.

On television, he is best known for his performance as Inter-Agency Defense Command's supervisor Joe Atkinson during the second season of the DC Comics-based fantasy adventure drama series The New Adventures of Wonder Woman starring Lynda Carter.

He also played Burt Dennis in the situation comedy The Ted Knight Show in the spring of 1978, and appeared as General George Marshall in the 1988 television miniseries War and Remembrance.

He also known for playing the part of Dr. Green (Natalie’s father) in the television series The Facts of Life.

Burton died at age 79 from the result of an auto accident while returning from Ajijic, Mexico near the California-Arizona state line.