Ballantine was cast in several movies including "McHale's Navy" (1964), "Penelope" (1966), "Speedway" (1968), "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968), "The World's Greatest Lover" (1977), "Just You and Me, Kid" (1979), Disney's "The North Avenue Irregulars" (1979) and Billy Crystal’s directorial debut, "Mr. Saturday Night" (1992), and in numerous television series, including the ABC sitcom "McHale's Navy" (1962–1966), in which he played Lester Gruber, one of the PT boat sailors known for his hucksterism and wild schemes. He was a supporting player on the show, working with star Ernest Borgnine, Joe Flynn and Tim Conway.