Shuttled among relatives in California, Louisiana, and Texas

Joined the Air Force after graduating high school

Moved to New York to study acting

Supported himself as a janitor and a demolition man in NYC's Hell's Kitchen

Worked as a laborer in a New Orleans barrel factory

Worked as a short-order cook in Yuba City, California bowling alley

Began acting in San Francisco while working as a produce picker and subway tunneler

Worked as a logger in Northern California

Worked as a lumberjack in Alaska

Studied masque and mime in Spain, Morocco, France, and Italy

Appeared in two TV movies directed by Roberto Rossellini in Rome

Worked as a translator of spaghetti Westerns

Returned to the US; appeared in two Sam Shepard stage productions, "Income" and "Angel City"

Moved to L.A.; sold jewelry on the street

First major film role, "Escape from Alcatraz"

TV-movie debut, "Belle Starr"

First leading role, "Timerider: The Adventures of Lyle Swann"

First film as producer (co-executive), "Miami Blues" (also actor)