Worked as a feature writer and editor for Rolling Stone and The New Republic while in college.
Formed the Bedford Falls Company with writer-producer Marshall Herskovitz in 1985. The company has produced a number of acclaimed films and TV series, including thirtysomething, My So-Called Life, Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Traffic (2000).
Directed his first feature in 1986, the comedy-drama About Last Night..., starring Demi Moore and Rob Lowe.