Walston was born Herman Raymond Walston on December 2, 1914, in Laurel, Mississippi, the second son and youngest of three children born to lumberjack Harry Norman Walston (1881-1946) and Mittie (née Kimball) Walston (December 25, 1883-August 16, 1950) [REF].
He started acting at an early age, beginning his tenure as a spear carrier rounding out productions at many New Orleans theaters.