Raised in Syracuse, New York

Moved with family to San Diego, California when he was 14 years old (date approximate)

With Wong, went to work as production assistants for producer Sandy Howard after graduating from college

Began writing screenplays with Wong

First produced feature screenplay, "The Boys Next Door" (written with Wong), which starred Charlie Sheen and Maxwell Caulfield and was directed by Penelope Spheeris

First TV credit: worked (with Wong) as story editors and writers on "Knightwatch", a short-lived ABC crime drama

Went to work for Stephen J. Cannell Productions with Wong

Simultaneously served as story editors (sometimes executive story editors) and staff writers on the Cannell productions "21 Jump Street" (for its final network season) and its spin-off, "Booker"

Served as supervising producers for the fourth season of Cannell's acclaimed cop drama, "Wiseguy"

Executive produced and created (with Wong) the short-lived fantasy adventure series, "Disney Presents the 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage"

TV-movie debut (solo), credited as editor on USA's supernatural thriller, "Child of Darkness, Child of Light"

Served as supervising producers for the first two seasons of Cannell's "The Commish"

Served as dialogue coach (solo) on "Two-Fisted Tales", a Fox adventure omnibus special

Co-executive produced and served as staff writers (with Wong) for "The X-Files", the acclaimed Fox paranormal drama series

Scripted (with Wong) "Die Hand Die Verletzt", a creepy semi-comic farewell to "The X-Files" as writers and co-executive producers

With Wong, created, executive produced, wrote the pilot and some subsequent episodes of "Space: Above and Beyond", a Fox sci-fi military adventure series

With Wong, returned to "The X-Files" as writers and producers

Signed four-year, $8 million deal with 20th Century Fox Television (in partnership with Wong)

At request of Chris Carter assumed (with partner Wong) producing responsibilities for the Fox drama "Millennium"

Co-wrote (with Wong), the feature thriller "Final Destination"

With Wong, served as producer of the NBC series "The Others"

Co-wrote the thriller, "Final Destination" with Wong who made his feature directing debut

Co-wrote the Jet Li thriller, "The One," with director James Wong

Made feature directing debut with "Willard" starring Crispin Glover

Co-wrote with Wong the sequel "Final Destination 3"

Wrote and directed "Black Christmas" a remake of the 1974 horror movie of the same name