Raised in Southeastern Michigan

Moved to New York City on advice of Circle Repertory Theater director Marshall W Mason; worked as apprentice with the company

Made first NYC stage appearance in "The Farm"

Debuted on TV in a commercial for Pepto-Bismol

Played role of Jed in "Fifth of July"; role written expressly for Daniels by playwright Lanford Wilson

Made Broadway debut in "Fifth of July"

Made TV acting debut in the CBS miniseries, "A Rumor of War"

Screen acting debut, in a bit part of a policeman who breaks up a fight in "Ragtime"

Played first leading role on TV in the NBC adventure pilot, "Catalina C-Lab"

Starred in one-person Off-Broadway show "Johnny Got His Gun"

First prominent film role as Flap, Debra Winger's cheating husband in James L Brooks' "Terms of Endearment"

Played first full-fledged romantic leads in features in "The Purple Rose of Cairo" and "Marie: A True Story"

Won critical praise for his turn in Jonathan Demme's "Something Wild"

Played guitar on Don Johnson's album, "Let It Roll"

Moved family back to hometown of Chelsea, MI

Founded and financed a regional theater, named the Purple Rose Theater Company in Chelsea, MI; had several of his plays produced there

Returned to the Broadway stage in "Redwood Curtain", written by Lanford Wilson

Starred in the Civil War ensemble, "Gettysburg," as Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Appeared in pivotal role as Keanu Reeves' partner in the hit film "Speed"

Had commercial hit with "Dumb and Dumber", alongside Jim Carrey

Reprised stage role in the CBS TV adaptation of "Redwood Curtain"

Co-starred in three features: the family-oriented "101 Dalmatians" and "Fly Away Home" and the neo-noir "2 Days in the Valley"

Played Tim O'Hara in the feature version of the TV series "My Favorite Martian"

NYC debut as playwright with production of "Thy Kingdom's Come"

Portrayed George Washington in the A&E orginal "The Crossing"

Starred as a teacher in the telepic "Cheaters"

Feature directorial debut with the comedy "Escanaba in da Moonlight"; also scripted (from his play) and starred

Appeared alongside Clint Eastwood in the detective thriller "Blood Work"

Had a small but pivitol role as Ed Harris' ex-lover in "The Hours"

Starred as Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain -- the same role he played in "Gettysburg" -- in the Civil War drama "Gods and Generals"

Starred with Sigourney Weaver in the family drama "Imaginary Heroes"

Co-starred with Laura Linney in Noah Baumbach's "The Squid and the Whale"; earned Independent Spirit Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor

Starred in the George Clooney-directed “Goodnight, and Good Luck,” a 1950s-era drama that chronicles broadcaster Edward R. Murrow’s campaign to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy

Starred in the Truman Capote biopic, "Infamous"

Played Joseph Gordon-Levitt's blind roommate in the crime thriller, "The Lookout"