kˈɑːbɪn, ɐ ɡɹˈædʒuːət ʌv ɹˈɪdʒwʊd hˈaɪ skˈuːl nˈuː dʒˈɜːsi, mˈækeɪlstɚ kˈɑːlɪdʒ ænd lɔɪˈoʊlə lˈɔː skˈuːl, tˈɜːnd dˌaʊn ɐn ˈɔfɚ fɹʌm ɐ sˈɛntʃɚɹi sˈɪɾi lˈɔː fˈɜːm ænd bɪkˌeɪm ɐ kˈɑːɹ sˈeɪlzmən wˌaɪl tɹˈaɪɪŋ tə bɹˈeɪk ˌɪntʊ hˈɑːliwˌʊd.
Kobin, a graduate of Ridgewood High School (New Jersey), Macalester College and Loyola Law School, turned down an offer from a Century City law firm and became a car salesman while trying to break into Hollywood.