Born in New York City; educated at El Camino College and USC, Los Angeles. Smoothly efficient scenarist, especially adept at making the bizarre or metaphysical believable, as with SECONDS (1966) and RESURRECTION (1980). Carlino tried his hand at directing with an effective adaptation of Yukio Mishima's THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA (1976). He also directed THE GREAT SANTINI (1979, also screenplay) and CLASS (1983). Other notable writing credits, alone or in collaboration, include THE FOX and THE BROTHERHOOD (both 1968), THE MECHANIC (1972), "Honor Thy Father" (1973, TV), A REFLECTION OF FEAR (1973), CRAZY JOE (1974), I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN (1977) and HAUNTED SUMMER (1989).  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1977: I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN (w. Gavin Lambert) 1 nomination