It has been my privileged, but by no means unique, experience to call Dan a beloved and loyal friend for over a decade. All in his eclectic circle of companions and co-conspirators will agree that Dan is a man of extremes. Unafraid of risk or acting on his impulses, he throws himself into work and play without fear. This stubborn refusal to operate anywhere but the edges of the bell-curve is perhaps owed to the embrace of a whole-hearted, rural upbringing while devouring the invigorating streets of Manhattan.

Dan hails proudly from West Cornwall, Connecticut - a town boasting one stoplight and a deep sense of community - where his creative and loving parents, Art and Susan, encouraged him in his pursuits, continuing to be 100% behind him. They no doubt contributed to Dan being a giving friend and man of his word. A three-sport varsity athlete and captain of the basketball and track teams, Dan graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, ranking third in a class of 140.

Wide-eyed, Dan migrated south to attend college at Emory University in Atlanta. Following his sophomore year, a sabbatical from the conventions of liberal arts rank-and-file found him in Missoula, Montana, where he was cast in a musical review sponsored by Harley Davidson. Inspired, Dan returned to Emory a year later to pursue drama, in addition to a philosophy degree. He performed in numerous Theater Emory and student productions before graduating and continuing to perform on Atlanta's stages.

Dan then accepted a performance internship program at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, Tennessee, where the next year-and-a-half of his life revolved around all aspects of the city's only professional theater - including performance, rehearsal and learning carpentry skills doing set construction. From there, Dan moved on to New York City to study at Maggie Flanigan's Meisner-based 2-year conservatory acting program. Under Maggie's tutelage, Dan garnered a solid acting technique to work from, and since completing the program in 2006, he has been living in Manhattan working as an actor.

Make sure to keep your eye out for Dan. If not on set, you may find him hitting the streets for a run or volunteering his time at NYCares on the weekends, teaching sports to underprivileged children. You'll know it's him by that ever-innocent smile, barely masking infectious passion and instigating all to stretch personal limits of comfortable convention. Consider yourself lucky to have crossed paths with Dan and be counted amongst his friends. Many others do.

- JMA, February 2008