Born Charles Wallace Van Eman Jr. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he graduated from Michigan State University, and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. He is the author of two novels, On The Way To Pomona and The Weight Of Loss. He also worked for Random House Publishing adapting best-selling author Louis L'Amour's short stories into audio dramas, and for the L'Amour estate, he spent seven years researching the biographical details of Mr. L'Amour's highly adventurous life.