- 2005: Cast opposite Usher in Ron Underwood's crime drama "In The Mix"
- 1996: Debut as a TV series lead, co-starred as FBI Agent Bailey Malone on NBC's crime drama "Profiler"
- 1989: Feature debut in a lead role, portrayed ruthless drug kingpen Franz Sanchez in "Licence to Kill", the second Timothy Dalton James Bond film
- 1989: Had a recurring role late in run of the TV series "Wiseguy"
- 1988: Gained notice with portrayal of fictional terrorist Salim Ajami in the CBS political courtroom drama "Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami"
- 1985: First substantial film role, "The Goonies"
- 1984: Screen acting debut in "City Heat"
- 1981: Debut as a TV series regular, played Vito Genovese on NBC's short-lived "The Gangster Chronicles"
- 1979: Co-starred as the villain in "The Legend of the Golden Gun", an NBC Western TV-movie-cum-busted pilot
- 1978: Moved to California
- 1977: TV debut in "Contract on Cherry Street", an NBC TV-movie starring Frank Sinatra
- 1972: Stage debut at age 19 with the Lyric Opera Company, Long Island (date approximate)
- Raised in Long Island, New York
- Traveled to Florence, Italy to study with opera great Tito Gobbi
- Heard by a passing nun while singing in a locker room shower as an eighth grader; nun urged his mother to enter him in singing competitions
- Won two statewide opera-singing contests




