Pierson was born and raised in the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois, where he spent his formative years before making the bold decision to relocate to New York City to pursue higher education. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Fordham University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree and further solidified his academic credentials.
Following his undergraduate studies, Pierson took the next step in his educational journey by attending the prestigious Yale School of Drama, where he earned his Master's Degree in 1980. This marked the beginning of his professional career, as he started his journey in the entertainment industry by working in summer stock outside of Chicago.
Pierson's breakthrough role came in 1983 when he landed the part of "Frank Ryan" on the popular ABC daytime drama "Ryan's Hope," a show he would go on to star in for an impressive three years. Throughout his career, he has also appeared in various other daytime serials, including "Texas," "Another World," and "One Life to Live."
In addition to his work in daytime television, Pierson has also made a significant impact in prime-time TV, with guest appearances on shows such as "Grace Under Fire," "Party of Five," "New York Undercover," "Against the Law," "Kate & Allie," and "Law & Order." His feature film credits include the critically acclaimed "Two Bits" alongside the legendary Al Pacino, as well as "Necessary Parties," a television film that co-starred Alan Arkin.
Pierson has also had an extensive career on stage, with numerous productions to his name. Some of his notable credits include the Broadway production of "Tricks of the Trade," in which he shared the stage with the iconic George C. Scott. Other notable stage credits include "The Gamblers" for the American Stage Company, "Stringbean" at the California Theatre, and "Speed the Plow" for the Philadelphia Theatre Company.
Pierson has also had the privilege of working with various theatre companies, including the Virginia Stage Company, where he appeared in productions such as "Otherwise Engaged," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "American Buffalo," and "Les Liaisons Dangereuses." His work at the Yale Repertory Theatre includes performances in "Measure for Measure," "Timon of Athens," "UbuRex," and "The Bundle." Additionally, he has appeared in "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Pennsylvania Centre Stage.
Today, Pierson splits his time between Los Angeles and New York City, where he resides.
