Prior to becoming an actor, Paul served in Viet Nam in 1966, when he was awarded the National defense medal, the Viet Nam service medal, and won the George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedom Foundation. After leaving the service, he decided to pursue acting. In 1972, prior to AMERICAN GRAFFITI, Paul worked on the television film FIREHOUSE - and he has not looked back since. Recently, Paul was featured in THE OUTFITTERS; LONESOME DOVE: THE OUTLAW YEARS (for television) CAROLINE AT MIDNIGHT as well as the LONESOME DOVE television series.