Grew up in Mamaroneck, New York

"Discovered" at age 14 while cutting class in junior high school by casting director Vic Ramos; made screen acting debut, "Over the Edge"

Played hunk who deflowers Kristy McNichol in camp drama "Little Darlings"

Cast as the bully in "My Bodyguard"

TV debut in "American Playhouse" (PBS) production of "The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters"

Played titular character in "Tex", rare Disney film to tackle subjects like sex, boozing and fighting; first of three alienated teens Dillon portrayed in films based on S.E. Hinton novels

Starred as troubled teen leader of "The Outsiders", a Francis Ford Coppola film that launched careers of Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, C Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze and Ralph Macchio; based on a Hinton novel of the same name

Played alienated teen living in his brother's shadow in the mostly black and white "Rumble Fish", another Coppola film based on a Hinton book

Proved he could play non-hoodlum characters in the popular comedy "The Flamingo Kid"

Broadway debut in "The Boys of Winter", a play set in Vietnam

Directed rock videos for several bands including Dinosaur Jr

Won rave reviews for his searing portrayal of a junkie who robs drugstores to support his habit in the critically acclaimed "Drugstore Cowboy"; first collaboration with director Gus Van Sant

Played dim-witted Seattle grunge rocker in the sweet and funny ensemble comedy "Singles"

Starred as Con Ed worker trying to marry off his ex-wife in the romance "Mr. Wonderful"

Played schizophrenic homeless man in the drama "The Saint of Fort Washington" opposite Danny Glover

Starred as Nicole Kidman's doomed husband in Van Sant's black comedy "To Die For"

Featured as platinum-tressed actor who announces during Oscar telecast his closeted high-school English teacher is gay in the hit comedy "In & Out"

Directed episode of the HBO drama "Oz"

Announced plans to make feature directorial debut with "City of Ghosts" (still in development as of 2000)

Played popular guidance counselor wrongly accused of raping two students (Neve Campbell and Denise Richards) in the campy thriller "Wild Things"

Starred as sleazy private detective hired to track down Cameron Diaz (then his real-life girlfriend) in the blockbuster comedy "There's Something About Mary"; had memorable scene where he revived a dead dog

Co-starred in the ensemble of "One Night at McCool's", about three men whose lives are changed by the same woman

Had featured role in the independent film "Deuce's Wild"

Made feature directorial debut with "City of Ghosts;"also co-starred

Starred in Paul Haggis' directorial debut "Crash," a multicharacter study of L.A. race relations; earned Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG nominations for Best Supporting Actor

Cast in the Disney feature "Herbie: Fully Loaded" with Lindsay Lohan and Michael Keaton

Co-starred with Kyra Sedgwick in the Kevin Bacon directed "Loverboy"; premiered at Sundance (lensed 2003)

Played a newlywed married to Kate Hudson in the comedy "You, Me and Dupree"