After graduating, he enrolled at Mississippi State University in hopes of becoming a civil rights lawyer.

In the 1985 music video for the ZZ Top song "Sleeping Bag", he appeared alongside fellow actors Tracey Walter and Heather Langenkamp.

In 1986 he starred alongside actresses Virginia Madsen and Cynthia Gibb in the comedy film Modern Girls.

In 1989, he starred alongside actors James Earl Jones and Eric Roberts in the martial-arts drama Best of the Best.

[citation needed] Dye was found dead in his home in San Francisco on January 10, 2011, three weeks before his 48th birthday.