Born in Dayton, Ohio, Stephen was raised in the Midwest, by Sally Boyd Polk, and in New York City, and Wyoming, by a former president/chairman of MGM, Louis F. Polk (Bo). After attending Westminster, Kenyon College, NYU Film School, and The Neighborhood Playhouse, he studied acting with Sanford Meisner, Tony Greco, Stella Adler, Greg Zittel Harry Mastrogeorge Margie Haber, and Lesly Kahn.While working at the Guthrie and Children's Theater Company (Ace Award and Tony Award) in Mpls, he starred in Regional Theater productions of Shakespere and Eugene Oneil and won the Walker Art Center Performance Art Award.He made his feature debut in Thelma & Louise. After a several small roles in Studio films he became absorbed by steady work in Independent films.Stephen made his Network debut with TV movies Homeland Security and Holiday Baggage (2010).