Boston born, he attended the professional actor-training program at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Moving to Los Angeles he became a top rated acting and improv teacher for over a decade and a half at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where his students included three time Emmy winning actress Sarah Brown , Josh Groban , Corbin Bleu , Spencer Grammer , Clea DuVall , Leonard Earl Howze , Paul H. Kim as well as a private coach to Amber Heard , Jordi Caballero , and others. He continued teaching and acting in theater until he was felled by a brain tumor and lost the use of his voice for almost a year. During recovery and physical and vocal therapy he wrote an award winning solo comedic play about the ordeal which he tours and performs at Theaters and Medical Schools across the nation. Was actively involved as an actor with the Independent Shakespeare Co., which brings Free Shakespeare in the Park to Barnsdall and Griffith Parks. Minimized his teaching career to concentrate on acting.

He is the cousin of Martin Bookspan who was the announcer of "Live from Lincoln Center" from its very first broadcast, in 1976, until May 25, 2006. Martin Bookspan was the first announcer to be inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and received the Medal of Honor for Music from the National Arts Club.