Worked as assistant to photographer Bill Helburn

Was freelance still photographer and director of TV commercials

Directorial debut with "Puzzle of a Downfall Child"; also provided story

Enjoyed critical success with "Panic in Needle Park", a searing study of drug addiction starring Al Pacino and Kitty Winn

Reteamed with Pacino for "Scarecrow", a road movie co-starring Gene Hackman that won the Palm d'Or at Cannes

Had minor career setback with the dreadful "Sweet Revenge"

Again enjoyed critical praise for the political drama "The Seduction of Joe Tynan", written by and starring Alan Alda

Helmed "Honeysuckle Rose", a loose remake of "Intermezzo" set in the world of country music and starring Willie Nelson

Had exhibition of photographs at Beaubourg Center in Paris

Replaced an ill Martin Ritt as director of "No Small Affair", a love story about an older woman and younger man featuring Demi Moore and Jon Cryer (in roles originally intended for Sally Field and Matthew Broderick)

Directed the intriguing if not wholly successful "Street Smart", about a journalist who fakes a story about NYC pimps and prostitutes only to have the district attorney conclude it profiled a murder suspect

Helmed the lovers on the run drama "Clinton and Nadine"; premiered at Cannes; shown on HBO in the USA

Directed the touching drama "Reunion" (scripted by Harold Pinter), about an elderly Jewish man who returns to Germany to locate a childhood friend; last feature film for 11 years

Contributed a segment to "Lumiere and Company" about a Manhattan bag lady and a trash collector

Returned to feature filmmaking as co-writer and director of "The Day the Ponies Come Back"; premiered at the Montreal Film Festival