Button-eyed and dark-haired, Silverman has been playing leading roles since the mid-1980s when he came to prominence on the Broadway and L.A. stages and on tour as Eugene Morris Jerome, the incarnation of the young Neil Simon in the playwright's autobiographical "Brighton Beach Memoirs" (1983). As the centerpiece of a family of New York Jews during the Depression, he was at once manically funny and very touching as Eugene came of age and began to discover himself as a writer. Simon was so impressed with the young actor that he used him in the 1986 film version of the play.

Silverman's first notable TV work was his recurring role as Julie's husband Jonathan on a season of the popular NBC sitcom "Gimme a Break" (1985-86). His TV-movie credits include "Traveling Man" (1989) and "12:01" (1993) and an adaptation of "Broadway Bound" in which the then 26-year-old actor took on the role of Eugene's older brother Stan.

Silverman found popular success as the more conservative of two low-level corporate types who find their boss is dead in the silly but amusing "Weekend at Bernie's" (1989), and the less successful "Weekend at Bernie's II" (1993).

Silverman was cast as "The Single Guy" (NBC, 1995-97), the title role in a sitcom that followed the struggles of an unmarried male writer whose married friends perpetually attempt to help in his search for the perfect mate.