Levine first began appearing on TV with bit parts in "Through Naked Eyes" (ABC, 1983), and "The Killing Floor" for "American Playhouse" (PBS, 1984). He was a regular on "Crime Story" a 1986 NBC series produced by Michael Mann. Levine's first break in features came with "Ironweed" (1987) in which he played Pocano Pete. He appeared in Costa-Gavras' "Betrayed" (1988) and "Love at Large" (1990) before gaining notice as serial killer Jamie Gumb in "Silence of the Lambs" (1991). Levine subsequently has alternated between stage, film and TV with apparent ease. He co-starring with Mickey Rourke in "The Last Outlaw" (HBO, 1993) and opposite Cheryl Ladd twice in "The Fulfillment of Mary Gray" (CBS, 1989) and "Broken Promises" (CBS, 1993). Levine was in three films in 1995: Tobe Hooper's thriller "The Mangler", "Georgia" (as Mare Winningham's supportive husband), and "Heat" which reteamed him with Michael Mann.