He attended Beverly Hills High School. David enrolled in a drama class, where he appeared in stage productions. Inspired by his school drama teacher to further his acting, David flew to Chicago for a summer acting program at Northwestern University. In 1984, David graduated from Beverly Hills High and wanted to go straight into acting, but his parents insisted he go to college first so he would have something to fall back on.
David enrolled in Northwestern University, where he had attended the summer acting program earlier. At the university, David studied theater and was in an improv group with Stephen Colbert, the No-Fun Mud Piranhas. Following graduating in 1988, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater and speech, David co-founded the Lookingglass Theatre Company. Later on, David returned to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
