Nolan was born in Montreal, Quebec. He emigrated to the United States with his family, after his mother's health problems. Nolan attended at a stage school, at an early age for which he then used the stage name Butch Bernard. He also attended at the Jen Loven Swim School, in which Nolan earned a trophy. He began his career in 1952, where he played the uncredited role of the "Child at Finale" in the film Son of Paleface. Nolan co-starred and appeared in films, such as The Grasshopper, The Toy Tiger, The Seven Year Itch, Man Afraid, The Young Warriors, All Mine to Give, The Moonshine War, Kiss Me, Stupid, and Voyage of the Rock Aliens.
