Stats DOB: 11/30/65 Hometown: Buffalo, NY Occupation: actor Aliases: Train, Bad Motherfucker

Nightrain was born on November 30th, 1965 in Buffalo, NY. Though Nightrain was not his given name (he's asked for that not to be revealed), it is the name that he adopted early in life. He was abandoned as a baby but quickly adopted by Walter and Kate Petrinec. It did not take long for the Petrinecs to realize that young Nightrain was a child prodigy. He read at a 10th grade level at the age of six, preformed radio programs for his friends using his father's transmitter, made a neighborhood 4-page newspaper, and sang in the Amherst Youth Vocal Group among other things. Being well-to-do, the Petrinecs gave young Nightrain all they could and loved him very much. Some say too much. Nightrain graduated from high school at the age of 15 due to his extremely high IQ. He surprised everyone when he decided not to attend college. His parents did not think he was using his best judgement and attempted to force him to go to which he ran away from home for a week. When he returned, his parents let him do what he wanted for they were just happy he was alright. However, Nightrain did not want this from them. He wanted ordinary parents who would discipline him and punish him. He couldn't help but feel as if he were superior to the Petrinecs. It was a sad division between them that existed throughout their relationship.

In the year of 1981, 16 year-old Nightrain went on a European tour to explore the world and discover himself. It was a trip that would transform his life. Hiking the Sicilian landscape, he met 51 year-old Italian filmmaker Antonio Margheriti who was a vaction. Impressed with the young man, Antonio took him under his wing and showed him the sights of Italy. It was at the Cafe Classico on April 12 that Antonio asked Nightrain to appear in a project of his and shaped the future of his life. The project was Il Mondo di Yor, a four-part television miniseries about a man stranded in various times in history ranging from prehistory to the far future. Casting was already finished when Antonio met Nightrain, so a starring role was impossible. Nevertheless, Antonio gave Nightrain a considerable amount of screen time considering he played such a minor part that he didn't even merit a name.

The miniseries instantly became a cult classic and Nightrain knew what he wanted to do from then on out. Skipping out on the rest of his tour (of which he only visited four of the planned fourteen countries), Nightrain headed back to the States and got himself involved in the Actors Conservatory, a New York Method school, where he impressed many of his peers and teachers alike. He was offered a role in a prehistoric television drama to be produced by NBC, but turned it down to continue his studies and develop his craft. In 1984, he moved to San Fransico and participated in the American Conservatory Theatre where he met and became romantically entangled with Annette Bening until he caught her cheating on him with her future husband & theatre director Steven White. Heartbroken, Nightrain dropped out of acting school and wasted away over the next several months until he received a phone call from Jon Betuel, a local director who'd come across Nightrain's name when asking around for a good Dino-American actor. The movie was My Science Project, starring John Stockwell and Dennis Hopper. The plot revolved around some students who discover an orb that warps time. Nightrain had a small, but potent role as a (once again, unnamed) terrorizing dinosaur. This role rejuvenated his love of life and sent him actively searching roles. He did work in the San Fransico theatre until 1987 when he scored the lead in Ganjasaurus Rex. The movie got him plenty of notice in Hollywood although it would be another six years until he got his breakthrough role. In that time he did very well in the independent market and even had a cameo in Edward Scissorhands as a personal selection by director Tim Burton. Unfortunately, the scene ended up left out of the final film due to the length of the picture.

Unfortuanately, tragedy struck in 1987. His childhood home in Buffalo burned to the ground and with it his adopted parents. Returned to the city he hadn't seen since he left for Europe to lay them to rest. It had been over two years since he'd spoken to his distant, but always loving parents. Guilt overwhelmed Nightrain and he spent much of the next year recuberating.

In 1991, Nightrain received a phone call from Amblin Entertainment asking him to come in for a screen test. Not long after, he met with none other than Steven Spielberg, who was interested in having Nightrain play a major part in an upcoming movie of his. "I was a huge fan of Ganjasaurus and I knew that he was exactly the kind of actor I wanted to work with," Spielberg said in a 1997 interview with E! Entertainment. The movie, of course, was Jurassic Park and Nightrain had the role of "T"-Rex. But Nightrain, who'd been originally slated to co-star along side Sam Neill, saw his role shrinking more and more after principal shooting. "I guess the stuidos wanted to focus more on the human aspect of the story," he said in an interview with Charlie Rose. "It's kinda sad, but I suppose understand where they're coming from. You gotta remember that the studios are out to make money and they probably think that having a Dino starring in a major movie won't bring as many people into the theatres." By the time the movie was released, Nightrain was given seventh billing. "Well, at least I got above Sam Jackson." And though he was critically acclaimed for portraying the diffcult role a prehistoric beast genetically cloned into our modern era, he recieved no awards for his efforts. The public couldn't get enough of him. His face appeared everywhere: lunchboxes, t-shirts, school bags, candy bars, etc. But if he was so loved, why did he get short-changed in the movie's numerous edits? Nightrain didn't blame Spielberg, who has remained good friends with him. Instead, he has hinted in recent years at another. George Lucas, who edited Jurassic Park while Spielberg was working on Schindler's List, has shown anti-Dino tendencies several times in the past. There were several parts in Willow that were originally written for Dinos, but were changed in late rewrites. Even in the beloved Star Wars and it's "Special" Edition, he refused to use Dino actors in roles that they would have perfectly suited. "I guess George would rather spend the money on latex and CG dewbacks rather than actually hire a Dinosaur," Nightrain remarked while on "Inside the Actor's Studio" in 1999.

Nevertheless, after Jurassic Park, Nightrain was a huge star. "He became an arrogant asshole," former friend and colleague Jon Betuel said. Betuel pleaded with Nightrain to star in the struggling director's Theodore Rex, a cop comedy which was originally planned to be a drama. "If he'd helped me out by starring in it, I might've been able to snag Angela Bassett instead of frigin' Whoopi." Nightrain stated that he would not do the picture because of it's poor script. George Newbern played the role of Rex and Nightrain and Betuel haven't spoke since. Betuel has not produced any more movies.

In 1996, Nightrain starred in the ensemble piece Dinosaur Valley Girls. However, the script was rewritten several times after his signing and he was unhappy with how it was changed. Not forgetting the Jurassic Park incident, Nightrain spoke up and demanded that the script be altered again. After applying pressure to the studio and threatening to walk, they granted him his demands. Although uncredited, Nightrain completely rewrote the final draft of the movie. Unfortuanately, he let this power and his self-image get the best of him. The movie's plot centered around sex-driven prehistoric women and he greatly toned down any questionable material, which made him a target of the studio when the movie flopped. This was followed by another movie that Nightrain had great reservations about: The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Although under contract to the sequel, he wanted no part in the movie. He was still upset over the treatment he received in Jurassic Park. However, his friend Steven Spielberg, who also didn't want to be involved but was under contract as well, ensured Nightrain that no such treatment would take place this time. Going on the director's word alone, Nightrain agreed to do the picture. It was commerical success, but a critical failure. "We both did our jobs rather hastily," Spielberg later remarked. Nightrain was this time given third billing under Jeff Goldblum and Julianne Moore.

Since the stress and aggravation that comes with big budget movies has discouraged Nightrain, he now seeks jobs outside of mainstream Hollywood. Being finanically comfortable, he picks and chooses his roles as he sees fit. Nightrain has done several independent pictures which allow him to explore areas previously untouched such as I've Been Mocked Enough in which Nightrain was able to portray a dragon. He also has a reoccurring role on television's "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World" which is shot in Australia. He plays Rex, a benevolent, but fierce Tyrannosaurus who runs into the regular cast members from time to time. For the most part, Nightrain is happy with his career as it stands. He has a huge fan base which wants him to do more work in the spotlight, but Nightrain says he'll only do so if the role suits him.