Was educated at a variety of prep schools in America, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland
Kicked off career by appearing in a breath-mint commercial
Appeared in the soap operas Somerset and One Life to Live
Rose to prominence playing fastidious gumshoe A
J
Simon in the 1981-88 CBS series Simon & Simon
In 1992, was shot by a neighbor during a dispute
Authored the book Accidental Cowboy, which recalls his experience living on a cattle-and-horse ranch in the hills of California, where he moved after the shooting
Won an animal-shelter award for "Eulogy," about the death of his dog, Max; it appeared in a book he compiled, To Absent Friends: A Collection of Stories of the Dogs We Miss