Prolific director of episodic television, born in London and educated at Brighton College. The athletic Austin began his career as a stunt man, his first screen credit being Martin Landau 's stunt double in the famous Mount Rushmore scene in North by Northwest (1959) (he was also said to have sidelined as Cary Grant's chauffeur). Having moved up to stunt coordinator, Austin began to direct action sequences from the early 60s. He also appeared sporadically on the screen as a small part supporting player. From 1968, he worked primarily as a full director with occasional forays into script writing and production. Due to his previous background in stunt work, Austin always maintained a predilection for action/fight scenes which featured prominently throughout much of his work on iconic series like The Avengers (1961), The Saint (1962), Department S (1969), Space: 1999 (1975) and The Professionals (1977).

Austin was the holder of a feudal hereditary Irish title as Baron DeVere-Austin of Delvin. His first two marriages having ended in divorce, Austin remarried again in 1984. His third wife was the English novelist Wendy DeVere-Knight-Wilton. In the 80s, the couple moved from Britain to settle on an estate in rural Virginia. Austin continued working as a TV director in the U.S. until 1999, in addition lecturing on film and television at UCLA, the London Film School and other institutions. He had latterly also published several mystery and espionage-themed novels.