Raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland

At age 17, offered a role in a Romeo and Juliet-themed film shot in India; dropped out of high school and moved to India

Returned to USA to study acting

Moved to Los Angeles

Reportedly was homeless for a time, eating his meals at a Salvation Army while audtioning for acting roles

Was a founding member of The Space Theater in L.A.

Had small role in the feature "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"; credited as Tom James

Shot a role in the feature "At Ground Zero"; credited as Tom Elliott; released in 1996

Returned to features with a supporting role in "The Crow: City of Angels"; first screen credit billed as Tom Jane

Portrayed a scruffy prisoner in "Face/Off"

Offered a memorable turn as a drug dealer in "Boogie Nights," directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Played a former drug dealer whose past catches up with him in the drama "Thursday"

Hired for role in "The Thin Red Line," directed by Terrence Malick

Co-starred opposite Vincent D'Onofrio as a gay man who falls for a bisexual porn star in "The Velocity of Gary"

First mainstream lead role as a shark wrangler in the thriller "Deep Blue Sea"

Cast as the longtime friend who begins a romance with a woman "cured" of her autism in "Molly"

Co-starred with Sheree North in a Southern California stage production of "The Glass Menagerie"; played Tom Wingfield

Had supporting role as a hotheaded police detective in "Under Suspicion"

Portrayed Mickey Mantle in his quest to best Babe Ruth's batting record in the HBO drama "61*"

Acted with Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie in "Original Sin"

Starred with Cameron Diaz in the romantic comedy "The Sweetest Thing"

Co-starred with Morgan Freeman in "Dreamcatcher"

Starred Special agent Frank Castle in "The Punisher," based on the Marvel Comic

Portrayed André Stander in "Stander" the true story of a South African police captain who became a bank robber

Co-starred in David Arquette's directorial debut, "The Tripper" a satirical horror film co-produced by Arquette and his wife

Co-starred in Stephen King's "The Mist," written and directed by Frank Darabont