Born and raised in New Jersey

Moved to Western Australia after high school graduation

Returned to USA; found work at a detective agency

First produced screenplay, "Public Access"; directed by Bryan Singer

Reteamed with Singer on the labyrinthine crime thriller "The Usual Suspects"; won Oscar for screenplay; first collaboration with actor Benicio Del Toro

Collaborated with Kevin Pollak as excutive producer and writer of "The Underworld", an unsold pilot

Reteamed with Singer again doing uncredited work on the big-budget flick "X-Men", based on the Marvel Comic

Directorial debut "The Way of the Gun", a thriller starring Del Toro and James Caan; also scripted