In 1999, his intense dedication to his craft caused him to gain 58 pounds
to prepare to play a man with Down's Syndrome. The film was postponed
and in the interim, he was cast in Band of Brothers - Fratelli al fronte (2001) where he had two months to lose the weight in order to play a 17-year-old Wild Bill
Guarnere. He went through a brutal routine of fasting and running
6-8 miles a day. Just before filming, a doctor told him that he had done serious damage to his adrenal system.