Grew up in Rockville Centre, Long Island

After college, bartended at New York Jet Joe Klecko's Long Island restaurant

Worked as production assistant, then producer and director, at MTV; big break came in 1988 when he created successful hip-hop pilot which became the smash weekly half-hour show "Yo! MTV Raps"; also introduced Denis Leary in 30-second spots as the Crazy Angry Smoking Guy

With MTV co-worker Joel Stillerman, formed Spanky Pictures

Directorial debut with short, "The Bet"

Feature directorial debut, "Who's the Man?"

Helmed the Showtime adaptation of "Denis Leary: No Cure for Cancer"

Co-directed (with his uncle Jonathan) Bruce Springstein's "Streets of Philadelphia" video

Helmed the black comedy "The Ref", starring Leary and Judy Davis

Earned praise for the ensemble drama "Beautiful Girls"

Helmed "The Hole", an episode of the ABC series "Gun"; also played small role

Directed "Manhattan Miracle" segment of HBO's "Subway Stories: Tales from the Underground"

Helmed "Denis Leary: Lock 'n' Load" (HBO)

Produced (with Stillerman) "Rounders", directed by John Dahl

Reteamed with Leary for the crime drama"Monument Ave"

Was an executive producer of "Tumbleweeds", Gavin O'Connor's feature which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival; O'Connor had acted in Demme's debut feature

Served as one of the executive producers of the Emmy-winning HBO movie "A Lesson Before Dying"

Directed the Martin Lawrence-Eddie Murphy prison comedy "Life"

Was creative consultant on the Fox series "Action", a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood; executive produced and directed show's pilot

With Stillerman, produced "Blow", the biopic of cocaine trafficker George Jung; also directed; Leary served as executive producer