Born in David City, Nebraska, Paul West began his career as a writer for CBS Radio; initially working out of the company's station in Hollywood in the mid-1930s.
[2] After meeting his future wife Phyllis Loudon during a trip to San Francisco, West relocated to that city and joined the writing staff of KSFO.
[2] He went on to write for several other successful radio programs, including The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Stars over Hollywood, The Great Gildersleeve, and Father Knows Best among others.
Other 1950s television programs he wrote for included Amos 'n' Andy, The Red Skelton Show, Dennis the Menace, and The Real McCoys.
His later television credits included writing for Please Don't Eat the Daisies, I Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch, Nanny and the Professor, The Magical World of Disney, My Three Sons, Marcus Welby, M.D., The New Scooby-Doo Movies, and Grandpa Goes to Washington.