Raised in Manhattan

Attended The Walden School; first met Matthew Broderick

Won the first Young Playwrights Festival Award with play "The Rennings Children"

After graduating from NYU, became member of the Naked Angels theater company, where his plays were performed

To support himself, wrote speeches for the Environmental Protection Agency and Weight Watchers, video presentations for Grace Chemicals, and comedy sketches for Fuji Films sales meetings

Began career as a screenwriter, turning out a spec script (based on a story recounted by his stepfather) that eventually became "Analyze This"; sold screenplay to Warner Bros

Earned attention for one-act play "Betrayal By Everyone", featuring Mark Ruffalo

Expanded version of "Betrayal By Everyone" (now called "This Is Our Youth") premiered at the New Group; Ruffalo again played leading role

"This Is Our Youth", with Ruffalo in the cast, opened Off-Broadway to critical acclaim

First produced screenplay, "Analyze This", starring Robert De Niro; because other writers worked on the material, has never seen the finished film

Feature directorial debut, "You Can Count on Me"; starring Ruffalo and Laura Linney; also wrote and played a minister in the film; debuted at Sundance Film Festival; garnered Best Original Screenplay Academy Award

Wrote semi-autobiographical play "The Waverly Gallery" that was produced Off-Broadway starring Eileen Heckart in a role modeled on his grandmother

Penned the screenplay for "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle"; De Niro played Fearless Leader

Returned to the NYC stage with the play "Lobby Hero", starring Tate Donovan and Glenn Fitzgerald

Reportedly acted as a script doctor on the Martin Scorsese-directed "Gangs of New York"