 His first professional appearance was in the Philadelphia premiere of the play "Waiting for Godot", appearing opposite Bruce Dern.He has subsequently appeared in several films, including "James Dean" (portraying Lee Strasberg, under whom he had studied at the Actors Studio).Kessler studied acting with Lee Strasberg and was accepted into the Director's Unit of the Actors Studio, where he wrote and directed his first one act play, "The Viewing", which he subsequently directed at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York.