Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 692-697. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.
Directed 5 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Natalie Wood, Ruth Gordon and Ellen Burstyn. Peck won an Oscar for To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).
He studied journalism and literature in college.
His first job in show business was an entry-level position at CBS. He worked his way up in television, and became a director of Emmy-winning TV movies and live dramas. In the late 1950s, he branched out into films.
Older brother of actor Richard Mulligan.
Uncle of James Mulligan.