I've always thought of acting as more of an exercise in empathy, which is not to be confused with sympathy. You're trying to get inside a certain emotional reality or motivational reality and try to figure out what that's about so you can represent it.

In 1998 he took on the role of Derek Vinyard a reformed neo-Nazi in the film American History X. Fight Club premiered at the 1999 Venice International Film Festival. He also put time and money toward social activist causes including improving the quality of living in low-income communities.

In addition to this he performed uncredited work on the scripts for The Score Frida and The Incredible Hulk the last of which he also starred in. He made his directorial debut with the film Keeping the Faith (2000). He ran in the 2009 New York City Marathon to raise money for the Trust.