Chambers was a prolific character actor that appeared in over 200 film and television productions during his long career. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Freehold, New Jersey. Later he relocated to the San Francisco area, where he worked as a vacuum salesman. Beginning in the mid-1930s, Chambers started working regularly in Hollywood as a motion picture actor. Perhaps one of his best known roles was as Dr. William R. James in the film noir, Le rôdeur (1951). Chambers worked steadily until just before his death in Los Angeles at the age of 70. He is buried at the Maplewood Cemetery in Freehold.