Carver appeared in minor roles, including his uncredited debut in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. His first major appearance was the 1973 drama film Time to Run as Jeff Cole, an environment enthusiast who attempts to sabotage his father's (Ed Nelson) nuclear power plant. He portrayed Jeffrey DeVito, gangster husband of Cathy Shumway (Debralee Scott), in the 1977–78 television series Forever Fernwood. He also made guest appearances in other television series, like Emergency!, The Six Million Dollar Man, and The Waltons, and appeared in stage plays and in made-for-television films during the 1970s.