Lee’s first professional job was in 1986 at the Mark Taper Forum in Ghetto, a play directed by Gordon Davidson. Within weeks he was cast in three films, including the role of Norton in the feature Tapeheads opposite Tim Robbins and John Cusack. Guest appearances on television began in 1987 with the hit sitcom Perfect Strangers, and have continued with memorable roles such as the parking space stealing New Yorker on Seinfeld; and as the murderous rock promoter opposite Katey Segal and the late Sam Kinison in Tales From The Crypt; as well as roles on Arliss, Friends, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise!

Arenberg names his family and friends as his inspirations, and states that having grown up on Los Angeles’ Westside, he was able to see actors as the parents of friends and classmates, not as just as movie stars. “It also gave me an honest assessment of the industry and what I was getting myself into,” he laughs.

He credits “fear of failure” as his main motivation, and admires the talents and creativity of legendary character actors Paul Muni, Lon Chaney and Boris Karloff. Lee also credits much of his development as an actor to his participation in the Actors’ Gang, one of Los Angeles” oldest theatre companies. The Actors’ Gang was founded by Lee in 1981 with Tim Robbins and other friends from UCLA. After twenty years as an actor in the group, Lee made his writing and directing debut with Foursome, a play about golf, sex and witchcraft.