Raised in Greenwich, Connecticut

Raised (along with three siblings) by his widowed mother after his father died of a stroke (date approximate)

After college, moved to Alaska and became a railroad worker

Moved to NYC to work on industrial films with a friend, Djordje (aka George) Milicevic

Co-wrote original story (with Yaba Yoblonsky and Djordje Milicevic) for John Huston's "Victory"

Co-wrote original story (with Djordje Milicevic) for "Toby McTeague", a Canadian French-language family adventure film

Moved to Los Angeles; lived in the garage of a house rented by the Milicevics in Westwood

Spent a year writing screenplays; none were sold

Moved to West Hollywood; began living what he calls a "hedonistic life"

Worked nights as a waiter at the Cheesecake Factory, a Beverly Hills restaurant

Worked as a volunteer counselor with Mother Teresa's group, Missionaries of Charity, in the Pico-Union section of sowntown L.A.; worked primarily with Hispanic gangs

Became a follower of the teachings of Meher Baba, a spiritual master who works with the impoverished caste in Bombay, India

Resumed pursuing a writing career after marrying and fathering a son; family lived mostly on loans from relatives

Approached by producer Jeff Apple to develop his Secret Service agent concept into a film treatment

First produced screenplay, "In the Line of Fire"; also appeared in bit part as a Secret Service agent; received Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay

Adapted the Michael Crichton novel, "Timeline" for the big screen

Wrote the screenplay for "Gridiron Gang" inspired by a 1993 documentary that follows a probation officer who forms a football team of juvenile inmates