Daniel's Early Life and Education
Born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago, Daniel began studying voice in his last year of high school. After graduation, he attended Wright Jr. College, majoring in music. During his freshman year's summer break, he took an acting workshop at Columbia College, which sparked his interest in acting.
Instead of returning to college, Daniel enrolled as a full-time student at the Goodman Theater School of Drama, the Theater Arts arm of the Chicago Art Institute. Following his studies at Goodman, he volunteered for the draft and served a hitch in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany.
Post-Military Life and Training
After fulfilling his tour of duty, Daniel moved to New York City, taking up residence in Manhattan. He resumed his studies at the HB Studio, where he trained under Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen. During this time, he worked various survival jobs while attending acting classes and continued to study voice and dance.
Summer Stock and Breakthrough
Daniel would often interrupt his training to work in summer stock, and after a year and a half, he gave his first Equity dance audition and won the gig. He relocated to California, where he danced in an Equity musical comedy stage show within a month of his arrival in Hollywood.
Career and Commercial Success
Daniel continued to perform in shows for the first year and a half, all the while continuing his training between shows at the American School of Dance. He was soon signed by a top commercial and modeling agency and began working in TV commercials and print.
Shift to Advertising and Singing
As auditions, fittings, and bookings consumed his time, Daniel withdrew from dance class and quit dancing. He focused instead on the more lucrative activity of working in advertising media. He continued to concentrate on his singing, performing at the Horn in Santa Monica, a nightclub venue for.
singersActing and Voice Training
Daniel continued his acting classes, studying with Estell Harman, Stella Adler, Kenneth McMillan, Charles Nelson Reilly, and David Craig. He also continued his voice training with various teachers and coaches.
Later Life and Semi-Retirement
In his late thirties, Daniel returned to jazz dance classes at the Roland Dupre' dance facility as a personal challenge. However, he eventually put his dance bag away for good. Presently, he is semi-retired and lives in the Cahuenga Pass area of the Hollywood Hills.