Jeff was born in Olean, New York, and moved to Buffalo when he was 10, where he attended Father Baker's High School. After graduation in 1972, he traveled around the world doing odd jobs. He was a crwman on a fishing boat, drove an ambulance in Germany, lived on a Kibbutz in Israel and spent some time in India. He then returned to Buffalo and joined the Studio Arena Theatre. From there Jeff went to New York City where he studied with Myra Rastova, began dong off broadway theatre and television soap operas. He started a production company and produced off-brodway shows out of the Raft Theatre on Theatre Row. Jeff first gained attention as a motion picture actor in Lawrence Kasden's "Silverado" in which he played Brian Dennehy's deputy Tyree, a cold blooded killer with a thirst for vengence. Jeff starred in the acclaimed live television play "The Execution of Raymond Graham" and th TNT mini-series "444 Days." He starred for over 2 years in the daytime serial "One Life To Live." He appeared in the Broadway revival of "Brigadoon," toured with "Oklaholma," performed in Paris in "West Side Story," and in London in "Orphans" with Albert Finney. Jeff was raised in Buffalo as one of 13 children in an Irish-American family.
He is one of 13 children. He is a partner in a construction company and a film grips group called "Black Sheep Grips." He is the co-founder of the American Road Production Workshop Series at the Raft Theatre in New York, and participates in the Writers' & Directors' Workshops there. He owns his own production company under the banner Tyree Productions, which he is partners in with his 5 brothers. Was invited to take ballet and instantly caught the bug. Despite being at the advanced age of 25, he won a full scholarship to dance with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City. Taught ballroom dancing. Danced with the Joffrey ballet for three years. Was once a vacuum cleaner salesman, encyclopedia salesman, and a trainer in a health club. Spent time trekking through the Himalayas and Afghanistan in his younger years while traveling around the world.