He made his acting debut in the play "The Taming of the Shrew" in Toronto, Canada. He was nominated for Broadway's Tony Award three times, as Best Actor in a Supporting Role - drama in 1979 for "Spokesong," in 1980 for "Night and Day," and for his leading role in 1986 for a revival of Joe Orton's "Loot." His other Broadway credits include "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," "American Buffalo," "84 Charing Cross Road," "What the Butler Saw," "Entertaining Mr. Sloane," "The Hostage" with Julie Harris, "Eh?" with Dustin Hoffman, and "The Lost Stigmatic" with Al Pacino. "The Out-of-Towners" in 1999 was his last film which was dedicated in his memory in 1999. His other film credits include "In & Out," "Mars Attacks!" "Surviving Picasso," "I.Q.," "Sister Act," "My Stepmother Is an Alien," "Funny Farm," and "Heaven Can Wait." His television credits include "Guiding Light," "Another World," "Style & Substance," and "Anything But Love" as a series regular player. He guest appeared on "Chicago Hope," "Tales from the Crypt, episode Let the crime fit the punishment" "Murder, She Wrote," "Seinfeld," "thirtysomething," "Moonlighting," "ALF," "My Two Dads," "Gimme a Break!," "St. Elsewhere," "Wonder Woman," and "M*A*S*H." The Gaelic inscription on his tombstone translates 'May God Hold You in the Palm of His Hand.