 While at Brigham Young University , Eckhart appeared in the Mormon @-@ themed film , Godly Sorrow , and the role marked Eckhart 's professional debut . At this time he met director / writer Neil LaBute , who cast him in several of his own original plays . After graduating from BYU , Eckhart moved to New York City , acquired an agent , and took various occasional jobs , including bartending , bus driving , and construction work . His first television roles were in commercials . In 1994 he appeared as an extra on the television drama series , Beverly Hills , 90210 . Eckhart followed this small part with roles in documentary re @-@ enactments ( Ancient Secrets of the Bible : Samson ) , made @-@ for @-@ television movies , and short @-@ lived programs like Aliens in the Family . 
