Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 22.7.1946, he attended film classes at the University of California in Los Angeles. He has worked as a screenwriter for directors such as Sydney Pollack, Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma and Peter Weir. He made his debut as a film director in 1974 with "Blue Collar". In 1991 his film "Light Sleeper" was shown in Competition at the Berlinale. He was president of the Berlinale"s international jury in 2007, his film "The Walker" was presented out of competition in the same year.

Source: 59. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)