Sang in his church choir as a child in Texas

Dropped out of college to pursue career in show business

Formed band Meat Loaf Soul/Popcorn Blizzard

Moved to NYC in the late 1960s

Made Broadway debut in "Hair"

Performed in Los Angeles production of "Hair"

Acted on stage in "The Rainbow", "The Rocky Horror Show", "As You Like It" (for Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival), "More Than You Deserve" (where he met songwriter Jim Steinman who would collaborate with him on his classic debut album), "Kleinhoff Demonstrates Tonight" and "Vietnam Project"

Feature debut as motorcycle-riding Eddie in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Debut album, "Bat Out of Hell", became third-best-selling album of all time; Steinman wrote several of the songs on the album for a stage musical "Neverland" which set "Peter Pan" in the future

Starred as the titular "Roadie" trying to meet Alice Cooper; film directed by Alan Rudolph

Walked away from music at one point during the 1980s

Acted in "Wayne's World" and "Leap of Faith"

Released "Bat Out of Hell II; Back Into Hell"

Starred in Disney Channel movie "To Catch a Yeti"

Served up generous portions of ham as the wild-eyed Bible-quoting bad guy of "Black Dog", starring Patrick Swayze

Acted the part of Red (Dennis Quaid's best friend) in Quaid's directing debut, the made-for-cable "Everything That Rises" (TNT)

Played Gillian Anderson's husband in Peter Chelsom's "The Mighty"

Portrayed small town 1960s sheriff who must confront his own prejudices in "Crazy in Alabama", helmed by Antonio Banderas

Wore a fat suit to portray 400 pound former bouncer in "The Fight Club", starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton

Cast as Lizard in the comedy "Formula 51"

Starred as a a small time gangster, opposite Michelle Williams in "A Hole in One"

Cast in the big-screen version of the popular video game "BloodRayne"

Cast as Jack Black's father in the film "Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny"; he also provided the vocals on the film's soundtrack