Born in Massachusetts

At age two, moved with family to Pennsylvania, first to Philadelphia and later to a suburb

After automobile accident derailed a football career, returned to Pennsylvania and apprenticed at the People's Light and Theatre Company as a tech intern

Film debut as a fighter pilot in "Top Gun"

Appeared in "Solarbabies"

Had co-starring role in the cult vampire flick "Near Dark"

Stopped acting for a year and spent a year travelling between Berlin and Paris; wrote an unpublished novel that was optioned by Steven Spielberg but never produced

TV acting debut, the "American Playhouse" production of "Big Time"

Cast as Jimmy Capone in the TNT biopic "The Lost Capone"

Was one of a group of medical students in "Vital Signs"

Was reportedly considered for the role of Jake on the Fox primetime serial "Melrose Place" but wouldn't meet with producer Aaron Spelling

Portrayed a transvestite involved with a British divorcee in the comedy "Just Like a Woman"; released in the USA in 1994

Dropped out of acting again and spent a year working as a cashier at a diner in NYC

Acted in "Carlito's Way"

Had featured role in the Off-Broadway production of "Aven'u Boys"

Cast as one of two brothers in love with the same woman in the CBS movie "Shadows of Desire"

Had co-starring role in the PBS remake of "Paddy Chayefsky's 'The Mother,'" starring Anne Bancroft

Played featured role of Olivia d'Abo's boyfriend in "The Last Good Time"; screened at festivals before receiving a theatrical release in 1995

Formed Bobcat Films

Film directing debut, the short "Beyond Belief"; screened at film festivals

Co-starred in "The Pompatus of Love"

Played the Old Testament character of Joseph (of the coat of many-colors) in the Showtime biblical drama "Slave of Dreams"

Acted in "A Brother's Kiss"

Starred in title role of the critically-acclaimed but short-lived Fox series "Profit"

Cast in the ensemble of the CBS drama "Feds"; cancelled after only six episodes

Portrayed an L.A. detective in the two-part NBC miniseries "House of Frankenstein 1997"

Helmed the music video "Barlight Barbright"

Had featured role in the NBC based-on-fact drama "Mutiny" about the landmark 1940s case that resulted in the full integration of the USA military

Directed first feature, "Cement," a low-budget retelling of "Othello" (filmed in 1998); also co-produced

Appeared in the Dixie Chicks music video "Goodbye Earl"

Returned to series TV as co-star of "Mysterious Ways" (debuted on NBC and aired on PAX-TV)

Had a recurring role on "Judging Amy" (CBS)

Guest-starred on the ABC series, "Desperate Housewives"

Cast in the NBC series, "Heroes" as New York congressman, Nathan Petrelli

Co-wrote and co-directed the musical "Atlanta" which opened at the Geffen Playhouse