He was a record breaking quarterback for the 'Salukis' at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale until graduating in the early 80s. He then went on to become a quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in the mid 1980s. After being injured, he decided to pursue other interests... namely acting, and moved out west to Hollywood. After getting an agent and while landing acting roles, he studied acting for several years under the tutelage of a well known acting teacher. Eventually, he went on to teach himself until he had a breakthrough and decided to take more control of his career by writing, directing and acting in his directorial debut, _Rustin (2000)_.