Dean Stockwell came from an acting family as both of his parents were Broadway stars throughout the 1930s and 1940s. He started acting when he was nine years old in 1945, specialising in the "sensitive child" roles, such as Colin Craven in The Secret Garden. He then dropped out for a five year trip around the country, but returned in 1957. Subsequently, he re-invented himself as an adult actor with a very successful and varied career, culminating in an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1988 for his performance as Tony "The Tiger" Russo in Married to the Mob. He is one of only eight former child actors to be nominated for an Oscar. He is best known, however, for his role as Rear Admiral Albert "Al" Calavicci in Quantum Leap from 1989 to 1993. Now in his 70th year, he predominantly works in television. He played the recurring role of Senator/Secretary of the Navy Edward Sheffield in both First Monday and JAG. Most recently, he has earned himself another recurring role, as Brother Cavil in Battlestar Galactica.