Began acting in community theater as a teenager in Michigan

Met Sam Raimi in a high school drama class

Spent a summer repertory stint at the Cherry County Playhouse in Traverse City, Michigan

Worked as a production assistant on commercials made in Detroit

Starred in dozens of Super 8 films made by fellow Detroit high school students and future business partners, Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert

Made the short "Within the Woods" with Raimi' screened as a trailer for a midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"; used as the basis for "The Evil Dead"

Executive produced and made feature acting debut as Ash in Sam Raimi's directorial debut, "The Evil Dead" (released 1983)

Appeared as a recurring character on the locally produced TV soap "Generations"

Acted in, co-produced and served as second unit director on Raimi's "Crimewave"

First story credit, "Thou Shalt Not Kill...Except"

Co-produced and starred in "Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn"

Made guest appearances on "Knots Landing" (CBS)

First appearance in a major studio film in Raimi's "Darkman"

First credit as a producer on "Lunatics: A Love Story"

Hollywood debut as a leading man, "Army of Darkness", the third in the "Evil Dead" trilogy; also co-produced

First starring role in a TV series, "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr."

Appeared in the Coen brothers' "The Hudsucker Proxy"

Co-starred with Sharon Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe in "The Quick and the Dead", directed by Raimi

TV directorial debut with an episode of "Hercules: The Legendary Adventures"; directed seven additional episodes

Played recurring role of a bookstore manager on the ABC sitcom "Ellen"

Signed development deal with Walt Disney Television

Began making recurring appearances as Autolycus on the syndicated "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Adventures", both produced by Raimi

Starred in the syndicated series "Jack of All Trades"

Had a small role as a Ring Announcer in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man"

Once again appeared in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 2" as a snooty usher

Starred as Coach Boomer in the Walt Disney teen comedy "Sky High" with Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston

Produced, wrote, directed and starred in "Man with the Screaming Brain" which aired on the Sci Fi Channel

Voiced garrulous Scout Ant Fugax in "The Ant Bully," a computer-animated film directed by John Davis