After starting at a young age with repertory theater and summer stock in Minneapolis, he made his film debut in Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise and Oliver Stone's Heaven & Earth.
While studying theater, literature and film at Kenyon College (where he received a Bachelor of Arts), he attended the American University in Cairo, Egypt.
While writing at the Playwrights Center, he moved to New York City to enroll at NYU Film School for directing and at The Neighborhood Playhouse for acting.
He co-starred with Eric Roberts and F. Murray Abraham in By the Sword, and then appeared in Where Sleeping Dogs Lie starring Sharon Stone.
Providence first co-executive produced a Sundance Festival hit Cherish with Robin Tunney and Tim Blake Nelson and Drowning on Dry Land with Barbara Hershey and Naveen Andrews.