As a youngster, nearly died of scarlet fever, which kept him bedridden for a year; walked with a limp after recovery
After college and a stint in the Marines, worked as a newspaper reporter in Kenosha, WI, and was almost fired for turning a biography about a prominent local businessman into an obituary
Took a friend's advice to study acting in New York City in order to sharpen his ear for dialogue, which he had difficulty writing; his teacher was Oscar nominee William Hickey (1985's Prizzi's Honor), and he's been acting ever since
Did enough of his own stunts for Backdraft (1991) to earn a credit as part of the stunt crew
Since the late 1970s, has called Ketchum, ID, home