Graduated from SUNY with MA in English. A native New Yorker, he moved to California in 1985. Writing credits include HOT MONEY (1983), SISTER, SISTER (1987), PASS THE AMMO (1988), TOY STORY (1995), MONEY TALKS (1997), GOODBYE LOVER (1999), CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (2003), GARFIELD (2004), GARFIELD: A TAIL OF TWO KITTIES (2006), EVAN ALMIGHTY, THE SIMPSONS MOVIE and DADDY DAY CAMP (all 2007), and ASTRID SILVERLOCK (announced for 2009). In 1995, he directed MONSTER MASH: THE MOVIE (video title: "Frankenstein Sings").  Nominated for Achievement in Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) 1995: TOY STORY (screenplay) [w. Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton & Alec Sokolow (screenplay) and John Lasseter, Peter Docter, Andrew Stanton & Joe Ranft (story)] 1 nomination