Grew up in Belleville, IL

Inspired to pursue comedy by listening to Mike Nichols and Elaine May on local radio while growing up

While a college student, enrolled in a Second City workshop in Chicago

Eventually replaced John Belushi in the Second City company that included Gilda Radner, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray

First collaboration with David Mamet, appeared in original Chicago stage production of "Sexual Pervisity in Chicago"

Moved to NYC

TV debut, played a recurring role on the ABC soap "Ryan's Hope"

Appeared in the Broadway production of Michael Cristofer's "The Shadow Box"

Feature acting debut, a bit part in Woody Allen's "Manhattan"

TV-movie debut, "Sanctuary of Fear/Girl in the Park" (NBC)

Acted opposite Gilda Radner in the Broadway production of "Lunch Hour", directed by Mike Nichols

In Los Angeles, appeared in the LATC production of Milan Kundera's Jacques and His Master", directed by Simon Callow

Debut as a primetime series recurring character, "Sara", a legal sitcom starring Geena Davis

Starred as a conservative TV preacher in "Hellfire", a syndicated special

Starred in the sitcom "Sledge Hammer!", a broad spoof of "Dirty Harry"

Featured in the Oscar-winning short "Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall"

Starred in the Broadway production of Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow", replacing Ron Silver

Joined the cast of the NBC sitcom "Nurses" for two seasons

First play produced in L.A., "Jackie"

Did regular voices for "Santo Bugito" (CBS)

Co-starred on the short-lived CBS sitcom "High Society"

Returned to the NY stage in revival of David Mamet's "Edmond"

Played Bette Midler's second husband in "That Old Feeling"

Cast in several episodes of "Suddenly Susan" (NBC)

Played Ashley Judd's father in "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood"

Played the President in "The Sentinel" starring Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland

Portrayed the late Donald Greene, one of the heroic passengers of doomed flight 93, in Paul Greengrass' controversial 9/11 film "United 93"