Was unable to read until age nine

First job at age 16 was as an apprentice at John Houseman's repertory company in Stratford, Connecticut

Directed first play at age 21 at a summer repertory company he established in upstate New York with friend Peter Bogdanovich

Moved to Dublin; worked as a TV floor manager

Made TV directing debut with a play starring Milo O'Shea that he had previously staged at the Dublin Theatre Festival

Joined the BBC as principal director of the British rock music revue series, "Ready, Steady, Go!" which showcased groups such as the Animals, the Kinks and the Rolling Stones in the mid-1960s

London stage directing debut, "The White Devil" at the Old Vic

Documentary film directing debut, "Let It Be"

Feature film directing debut "Nasty Habits"

Broadway directing debut, "Whose Life Is It Anyway?"

Directed episodes of the miniseries "Brideshead Revisited"