Born on March 29, 1956, in Miami, Florida, he was an accomplished gymnast before transitioning to acting. He gained fame for his athletic prowess, becoming the first American to win a gold medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 1978. Leveraging his gymnastics skills, he starred in the 1985 cult action film "Gymkata," where he played a secret agent using martial arts and gymnastics. His unique athletic background made him a distinctive figure in Hollywood.