He’s an actor and writer, widely recognized for his standout role on the beloved sitcom One Day at a Time. Before he became a household name, he actually began his journey in acting at just 5 years old—pretty impressive, right? Back then, he was already gaining experience by performing with The Totem Pole Playhouse’s summer theater company, which gave him early exposure to the craft. Now, when you think about it, maybe it runs in the family, because his mother was none other than Jean Stapleton, a celebrated actress in her own right. Yeah, growing up with that kind of influence probably played a big part in shaping his path. He’s definitely made a name for himself, but it’s clear that his passion for acting started early—and stuck with him.
He made his directorial debut with the film Waiting to Act back in 1985, and it marked the beginning of what would become a notable career. He really poured his vision into that project, showing early signs of the talent he’d later become known for. That first film, Waiting to Act, set the stage for everything he went on to do, proving right from the start that he had a unique voice in cinema.