He made his feature film acting debut in the 1981 drama The Chosen, which also featured TNG writer Stuart Charno. He followed this film 1983 with small roles in the romantic comedy Private School, with Ray Walston, and the horror-thriller Christine, co-starring Bruce French and the aforementioned Stuart Charno. He was then seen in Brian De Palma's 1984 thriller Body Double, starring Craig Wasson and Gregg Henry, and had a supporting role in the action film Toy Soldiers that same year. The latter also featured Tracy Scoggins in the cast.