Raised in Elmendorf, Texas

Decided he wanted to be an actor at age five

At age eight, asked his mother to take him to a local audition held in San Antonio, Texas

Feature debut at age nine, "Raggedy Man," starring Sissy Spacek

TV debut in the NBC special, "The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid" based on the award-winning Coca Cola commercial

Gained international celebrity as the star of Steven Spielberg's "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial"

Received positive notices for his lead performance opposite Gene Hackman in "Misunderstood"

Received top billing over Dabney Coleman in "Cloak and Dagger"; last American film credit for nine years

Played a supporting role in Milos Foreman's international co-production, "Valmont"

Played the young Norman Bates in the made-for-cable sequel, "Psycho IV: The Beginning"

Returned to Hollywood films with a supporting role in the UFO drama, "Fire in the Sky"

Co-starred with Brad Pitt and Aidan Quinn in "Legends of the Fall"

Earned praise for his turn as Ray Buckey, accused of child abuse, in the HBO docudrama "Indictment: The McMartin Trial"

Starred opposite Robin Tunney in the independent film "Niagara, Niagara" (released in the USA in 1998)

Co-starred as Ishmael in USA Network's remake of "Moby Dick"

Appeared in the ensemble film "Suicide Kings" alongside Johnny Galecki, Jeremy Sisto and Christopher Walken

Teamed with Matt Damon for "All the Pretty Horses"

Appeared as Johnny Sirocco in "Gangs of New York"

Co-starred in "I Capture the Castle" (lensed 2001)