A lifelong Democrat of the Harry Truman mold (his description), he broke with the Democratic Party over the "war on terrorism" and spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. Had re-registered as an Independent.
Alumnus of the State University of New York at Buffalo. Earned a master's degree in Chinese history from St. John's University. He also studied drama at the Herbert Berghof Studio and the Actors Studio.
Began his acting career on the New York stage in 1971.
Campaigned for Michael Dukakis in the 1988 US presidential race.
Grew up on Manhattan's Lower East Side.
He had a son, Adam (born in 1979) and a daughter, Alexandra (born in 1983), with is ex-wife Lynne Miller.
He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
He taught Spanish for several years in the 1960s at The Roosevelt School, a Jewish boarding school in Shippan Point, Stamford, Connecticut. Because of his knowledge of Chinese, he got a job with the US Government and traveled to Taiwan in the early 1970s.
President of the Actors Equity Association, the stage actors union, 1991-2000.
Served on the advisory board of The Israel Project, a non-profit advocacy group.
The son of Irving and May Silver. His father worked in New York's garment industry and his mother was a teacher.
Was a founding president of the Creative Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan social and political advocacy organization made up of arts and entertainment figures. He was also a founding member of One Jerusalem, an educational foundation with a goal of "maintaining a united Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel".
Was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as a member of the program committee of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Was considered for the role of Steve Christy in Friday the 13th (1980/I).
Was exempt from the draft during the Vietnam War era. He traveled to Vietnam, however, as well as Cambodia, India, Japan and the Soviet Union in the late 1960s.
Was once a social worker as well as a high school teacher.
Won the 1988 Best Actor Tony Award for his Broadway performance as Charlie Fox in David Mamet's 'Speed-the-Plow'.