Worked as an eighth grade teacher, social worker and political aide to Bella Abzug during her 1970 campaign

Decided to become an actor on New Year's Day

Performed with "War Babies" improvisational comedy group

Cast as Chico Marx in a Philadelphia production of "Minnie's Boys"; obtained Equity card

Off-Broadway debut in "Dance with Me"

Appeared Off-Broadway in David Mamet's "Sexual Perversity in Chicago"

Film debut in the short "A Director Talks About His Film"

First appearance in feature film, "National Lampoon's Animal House", playing one of the fraternity house residents

First collaboration with Joan Micklin Silver, "Chilly Scenes of Winter/Head Over Heels"

Starred opposite Burt Lancaster in "Local Hero"

TV dramatic debut as the young Richard M. Nixon in "Concealed Enemies" (PBS)

Sang and appeared in the CBS miniseries "ELlis Island"

Starred in the Broadway show "The Nerd"

Starred as a pickle salesman in love with Amy Irving's book editor in Joan Micklin Silver's "Crossing Delancey"

Portrayed noted photographer W Eugene Smith in the "American Masters" (PBS) segment "W Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult"

Series regular on "The Middle Ages", a CBS-TV drama

Received Emmy nomination for his supporting performance in "Barbarians at the Gates" (HBO)

Played Herbie opposite Bette Midler's Rose in the CBS remake of "Gypsy"

Had feature role in "The Mask" as a policman chasing Jim Carrey

Returned to the stage as co-star of the Broadway production "An American Daughter", by Wendy Wasserstein

Appeared in the Showtime TV-movie "North Shore Fish"

Returned to Broadway as star of David Mamet's "The Old Neighborhood"

Co-starred in the well-received independent film "Jerry and Tom"

Acted in "Traffic"

Joined cast of the HBO series "The Sopranos" in a recurring role

Directed the 13-minute short film "By Courier"; earned Oscar nomination for Best Short Film-Live Action

Had supporting role as a hot-tempered newsman in the ABC summer series "The Beast"