Patterson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Hope, a homemaker, and Frank Patterson, a boxer turned advertising executive. His parents divorced in 1974. Patterson was raised in Haddonfield, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers University, pursuing a degree in comparative literature, but eventually dropped out. He studied acting in New York with renowned coaches Robert Lewis and Sondra Lee. He was exposed to the teachings of such luminaries as Paul Newman Arthur Penn and Frank Corsaro at The Actors Studio, where he appeared in numerous productions, including Rasputin and Miss Julie.

Patterson spent seven years, from 1980 to 1986, as a professional pitcher in minor league baseball, topping out at the Triple-A level (the highest before the major leagues). He played in two major league farm systems for seven different minor league teams. He was initially selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round (12th overall pick) of the 1980 amateur entry draft. He played his first pro season with their Class A Anderson Braves in 1980, and his last with the New York Yankees' Double-A Albany-Colonie Yankees and Triple-A Columbus Clippers in 1986.

Patterson completed filming the leading role in the feature film Her Best Move, directed by Norm Hunter and co-starring Lisa Darr. He also appeared on the big screen in Little Big League, with Timothy Busfield and Jason Robards, and in Three Wishes, with Patrick Swayzeand Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio He also starred in the independent films Highway 395 and Rhapsody in Bloom, with Penelope Ann Miller.

On television, he has landed romantic roles guest starring opposite some appealing leading women; his most notable role, which he played for seven years on the television show Gilmore Girls, is Luke Danes, the on again off again love interest of the show's protagonist, Lorelai Gilmore, played by Lauren Graham On Seinfeld, Patterson was deemed "spongeworthy" by Elaine (Julia Louis-dreyfus. He had a profound effect on Grace (Debra Messing in the "Das Boob" episode of Will & Grace, and he played the love interests of Jennifer Greyin It's Like, You Know and Sharon Lawrence's character in Fired Up. He has also guest starred on Arli$$ and Get Real.

Among Patterson's recent projects are a co-starring role on Aliens in America and voicing the character of King Faraday in the 2004 animated series Justice League Unlimited, from Warner Bros. Animation. He has also starred as Agent Strahm in two iterations of the Saw franchise, Saw IV and Saw V respectively.