In 1950 Holmes made his first but uncredited movie appearance at 6 weeks old as the infant Butch, one of the children John Wayne rescues in the submarine under his command in the war movie Operation Pacific. Holmes' grandfather, Soldier Graham, was the gaffer on that film. In 1954, Holmes made his television debut as young Jimmy Evans on The Jack Benny Program, a role that he repeated seven years later in 1961. His next television appearances were in 1957 on Wire Service, The Walter Winchell File, and General Electric Theater, the latter as Tiny Tim in the episode "The Road to Christmas," with the host Ronald W. Reagan.