he attended the montgomery country day school, formerly in gladwyne pa for his elementary school years; is a graduate of st. paul's school, a college-preparatory boarding school in concord, new hampshire, (1987); brown university (1991) in rhode island, where he majored in theatre and religion; and the university of california san diego, master of fine arts program (1995). after graduating from brown, he spent some time in new york city, acting in minor theatre productions.