He was born in New Haven, Connecticut.

He directed a number of movies starting in 1950, most famously the science fiction horror films It Came from Outer Space, Tarantula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and The Incredible Shrinking Man, all of which are noted for their atmospheric black and white cinematography and unusually sophisticated scripts.

He began his television career in 1955 with several episodes of Science Fiction Theater. He went on to direct the long-running television series Perry Mason and Peter Gunn. He also directed such television shows as Beauty and the Beast, The Fall Guy, and Marilyn: The Untold Story.

Arnold died in Woodland Hills, California.