Born in New York City

Grew up in St Louis, Missouri, Grosse Pointe, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois

Made acting debut at age eight in a Detroit Art Institute production of "Winnie the Pooh" (date approximate)

Performed in Moliere's "Le Medecin malgre lui/Doctor Inspite of Himself" with his French class (date approximate)

Attended The Groton School, one of the most prestigious private schools in the USA; served as president of the dramatic association (dates approximate)

Attended Columbia University; became the general manager of the Columbia Players

While a college sophomore, cast by writer-director Brian De Palma (himself a former general manager of the Columbia Players) to co-star in "Greetings" (date approximate)

Feature debut, "Greetings"; first collaboration with writer-director De Palma

Left Columbia to act with Chicago's Second City (date approximate)

Played the lead in Sam Shepard's "Chicago" in a Los Angeles production (date approximate)

Co-starred in De Palma's follow-up feature "Hi, Mom!"

Performed another season with Chicago's Second City

Joined Paul Sills' original Story Theater company; played in the initial productions of "Story Theatre" and "Metamorphosis" (date approximate)

Worked on the NYC stage and did two more shows with Sills (date approximate)

Portrayed Beef, a glitter rocker parody, in De Palma's "Phantom of the Paradise"

Moved to Los Angeles

TV debut in the NBC movie "Strange Homecoming"

Reteamed with De Palma for "Home Movies"

Had recurring role of a kooky neighbor in the short-lived TV sitcom "Stockard Channing in Just Friends" (CBS)

Wrote several teleplays for the revival of "The Twilight Zone" (CBS)

Played a recurring role on "Sidekicks" (ABC), a martial arts-flavored cop show

Provided additional story material for "Oliver & Company", a Disney animated feature

Played the recurring role of Hughes on the hit primetime soap "Dallas" (CBS)

Had title role in the horror spoof "Chud II: Bud the Chud"

Contributed additional dialogue to Disney's "The Little Mermaid"

Was a series regular on "Sugar and Spice", a blue-collar CBS sitcom

Co-wrote the animation screenplay for Disney's animated "The Prince and the Pauper", which featured Mickey Mouse

Provided the story for an episode of "The Young Riders" (ABC)

Played the recurring role of Dr. Norman Pankow, a dreaded school principal on "Parker Lewis Can't Lose!"

Had regular role as a doctor in the medical comedy "STAT" (ABC)

Performed the voice of Cat R Waul for "Fievel's American Tails", an animated children's series

Voiced the character of Franklin Sherman for "The Critic", a primetime animated series aired on ABC and later on Fox

Appeared as a renowned author and William Hurt's mentor in "One True Thing"

Returned to series TV as a regular in the CBS drama series "Now & Again"