Born in Chicago in 1947, was involved in a gang during high school for a couple years before becoming a better student and graduating as senior class president. Received an M.F.A. from Yale University's School of Drama, Gross worked in theater before moving to New York where he began working as an actor. This eventually led to his breakthrough role on the show Family Ties.

He has moved on to several other projects since the show's end, including three of the In the Line of Duty movies, narrating for audio books, and most notably playing the popular character Burt in the Tremors films.


Brother of Mary Gross. Won an Obie in 1982 for his role in the off-Broadway production "No End Of Blame." Graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a B.A., then went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale University School of Drama. Only actor to perform in the first four films in the Tremors series as well as the "Tremors" (2003) TV series. A fifth film, set in Australia, is rumored to be in development, but no word if Gross will reprise his character yet. Began filming Tremors (1990) the day after the "Family Ties" (1982) wrap party. During his audition for Tremors (1990), he jumped on director Ron Underwood's table, and pretended that he had a gun which he shot monsters with, to convince him that he was right for the part. Lives in California with wife Elza and his two stepchildren, Katie (born 1968) and Theo (born 1969).