[1][2][3][4] Menken began his career at the age of 11, when he started appearing on children's radio programs.

Menken made his film debut in 1949 with a supporting role in The Red Menace, and eventually appeared onscreen in 17 movies.

Menken voiced Clyde Crashcup in The Alvin Show, as well as the character Tonto in the 1966-69 animated series The Lone Ranger.

Shepard Menken died in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Woodland Hills in 1999 at the age of 77.

He is interred at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.