Born in Huntington, WV; educated at the University of Huntington, WV. Excels at playing frail or tormented characters, notably in his screen debut as Billy Bibbitt in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975) and as deranged preacher Hazel Motes in John Huston's cult hit WISE BLOOD (1979). Other notable screen credits include THE EYES OF LAURA MARS (1978), HEAVEN'S GATE (1980), RAGTIME (1981), DUNE (1984), BLUE VELVET (1986), CHILD'S PLAY (1988, as Charles Lee Ray/Chucky's Voice), MISSISSIPPI BURNING (1988), THE EXORCIST III and CHILD'S PLAY 2 (all 1990), JUNGLE FEVER, CHILD'S PLAY 3 and CRITTERS 4 (all 1991), AMOS & ANDREW and Dario Argento's TRAUMA (both 1993), ALIEN RESURRECTION (1997), BRIDE OF CHUCKY (1998), and as Grima Wormtongue in the last two segments of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy -- THE TWO TOWERS (2002) and THE RETURN OF THE KING (2003). In 2004-06, he played Doc Cochran in 36 episodes of cable TV's "Deadwood." Other recent credits include THE HAZING and EL PADRINO (both 2004), THE GREAT WAR OF MAGELLAN, DROP DEAD SEXY and THE WILD BLUE YONDER (all 2005), THE LIST and PULSE (both 2006), and SINNER, THE WIZARD OF GORE, HUMBOLDT COUNTY, HALOWEEN, WINSTON and BREW (all 2007).  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1975: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST 1 nomination