He soon won minor roles in television shows such as The Facts of Life, Roseanne, and The Golden Girls. His first major role was on the sitcom E/R in 1984—not to be confused with his star-making role on the NBC drama ER, which began in 1994. While still on ER, he appeared in a number of films, including From Dusk til Dawn, One Fine Day, and Out of Sight.
