ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli fɹʌm hˈɪlsdeɪl, nˈuː dʒˈɜːsi, hiː mˈuːvd tə lˌɑːs ˈændʒəlɪs ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt tə wˈɜːk ɪnðɪ ˌænɪmˈeɪʃən ˈɪndʌstɹi, æɾə tˈaɪm wɛn mˈoʊst əv ðə wˈɜːk wʌz stˈɪl bˌiːɪŋ dˈʌn ɪnðə jˌuːˈɛs.
Originally from Hillsdale, New Jersey, he moved to Los Angeles in 1978 to work in the animation industry, at a time when most of the work was still being done in the US.