His mother, actress Ruth Hussey (1911–2005), was Oscar-nominated for her portrayal of Liz Imbrie, the cynical magazine photographer in The Philadelphia Story (1940).
His father, Bob Longenecker (1909–2002), worked as a producer at CBS Radio Network in Los Angeles and later established a motion picture and television talent agency.
In 1968 he enrolled in film production classes at the University of Southern California – USC Cinema Department.
[2] Produced on a $700 budget ($5,000 in 2013 dollars),[3] The Resurrection of Broncho Billy received the 1970 Academy Award for best live action short film.
[5] Universal Studios theatrically released the film for two years in the United States and Canada.