Pettiet began his career as a child actor making appearances in television series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, L.A. Law, Empty Nest, and Doogie Howser, M.D..

Also in 1991, Pettiet appeared in the hit film Point Break alongside actors Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves, and in the same year joined the final season of The Young Riders as a teenage version of Jesse James.

[1] His autopsy report listed that the probable combined effect of cocaine, dextropropoxyphene, and diazepam had caused his death.

Pettiet was cremated; his ashes were scattered at sea off of Topanga Canyon Road in Santa Monica, California.

After his death, his acting coach, Kevin McDermott, founded a scholarship fund in his name to help young actors to attend Center Stage LA where he had trained.