Moved from Missouri to Wichita when he was six years old

After reform school, went to live with his father in East Wichita, Kansas

Performed in plays at the University of Kansas for two years

Continued theater training at San Francisco's prestigious American Conservatory Theatre (ACT)

Landed first professional stage role in the ACT production of the musical "Your Own Thing" two weeks after arriving in San Francisco

First major stage role in Sal Mineo's Los Angeles production of "Fortune and Men's Eyes" playing the lead role of Smitty

First leading role in a feature film, "The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart"

Co-starred with Tippi Hedren in Ted Post's "Harrad Experiment"; began relationship with Hedren's then-14 year old daughter, Melanie Griffith (who was an extra on film)

Acted in the sci-fi cult classic "A Boy and His Dog"

TV-movie acting debut, "Law of the Land" (NBC)

Played Jeff Pruitt in the NBC drama series "From Here to Eternity"; cancelled after 13 episodes

Co-starred in the TV-movie "Revenge of the Stepford Wives"

Portrayed Elvis Presley in the NBC TV-movie "Elvis and the Beauty Queen"

Breakthrough role as the pastel-wearing Florida detective Sonny Crockett in NBC's "Miami Vice"; also directed several episodes

Cast as a Vietnam veteran haunted by his experience in "Cease Fire"

Played the Paul Newman role in the TV remake of "The Long Hot Summer"

Released debut album, Heartbeat

Headlined an ensemble cast in "Sweet Hearts Dance"

Portrayed an LA homicide detective in John Frankenheimer's disappointing "Dead Bang"

Co-starred with Mickey Rourke in "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man"

Co-starred with then wife, Melanie Griffith in "Paradise"

Executive produced the CBS TV-movie "In the Company of Darkness"

Acted opposite Griffith and John Goodman in a remake of "Born Yesterday"; fourth and last film (to date) with Griffith

Played a professional golfer in Ron Shelton's "Tin Cup"; first on-screen pairing with Cheech Marin

Returned to series TV playing the title role of a San Francisco detective in "Nash Bridges" (CBS); again paired with Cheech Marin; also executive produced

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Appeared in Roland Joffe's "Goodbye Lover" with Patricia Arquette

Cast in the short-lived WB drama "Just Legal" as a jaded lawyer

Made West End debut as Nathan Detroit in "Guys and Dolls"