He collected legitimate unemployment compensation while attending high school.
Worked at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jerey in the
Haunted Castle in 1979 and 1980, which burnt down in 1984, killing
eight high school students.
He has worked professionally in haunted attractions on and off since
1979.
His oldest sibling Jeanne is 15 years his senior.
Father died when he was 10 weeks old.
Is an alumnus of The Second City Conservatory.
His nickname "The Machine" was given to him by friends at a San Fernando
Valley bar, The Foxfire. They also gave him a black leather jacket
with the words, "The Machine," embroidered on the back for his birthday.
Has been playing and composing on piano/keys since 9 years old, was in a multitude of progressive rock (garage/basement) bands and began playing the ukulele in 2009 because it was just too hard to lug a piano around.