In 1980, Abbott relocated from Portland to Hollywood ("in the middle of the actors' strike, and I didn't know anyone," he recalled). Shortly afterwards, he was cast as the villain in the movie
Tag: The Assassination Game. He met his future wife
Linda Hamilton on the set. In 1985, he starred as medical student Dan Cain in
Stuart Gordon's sci-fi horror film
Re-Animator (1985), a role he reprised in the sequel
Bride of Re-Animator (1990). He later starred in
Summer Heat (1987), a period drama, with
Lori Singer and
Kathy Bates. He also starred in the horror film
Bad Dreams (1988) directed by
Andrew Fleming, and the comedy
Casual Sex? (1989). Abbott had a lead role in the futuristic television film
Out of Time (1988), with
Bill Maher. In 1991, he appeared as
Harry Pierpont in the television film
Dillinger, with
Sherilyn Fenn and
Patricia Arquette. From 1992 to 1993, he starred as Judge Nicholas Marshall in the series
Dark Justice. Throughout his career, Abbott has been a guest star on many TV series, including
Murder, She Wrote;
Family Law;
Diagnosis: Murder; and more. He had a supporting role in the short-lived series
The Net, based on the
film of the same title starring
Sandra Bullock. He appeared in the horror sequel
The Prophecy II (1996), with
Christopher Walken and
Brittany Murphy. Abbott is semi-retired from acting. He is an architect and artist and works in the custom-design industry. ==Personal life==