This stage-trained actor seemingly came from nowhere in 1996 with three films that opened within a week of each other. The native North Carolinian originally studied marine biology before working as an extra in features sparked his interest to become an actor. He went on to study acting with David Mamet at New York University. Subsequently, he joined Mamet's Atlantic Theatre Company, performing in plays ranging from Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" to Craig Lucas' "Reckless". Ulrich landed a role as a teen whose relationship with a girl from another cultural background causes problems for their families in the 1994 CBS Schoolbreak Special "Same Difference". He segued to the big screen with a trio of diverse roles in 1996. In Stacy Cochran's "Boys", he played a professional athlete romantically involved with Winona Ryder. Ulrich portrayed the convict brother of death row inmate Sharon Stonein Bruce Beresford's "Last Dance" and in "The Craft" he was a smart-mouthed football player whose girlfriend becomes involved in witchcraft. The rising star also appeared in Wes Craven's surprise hit "Scream" (1996) and Kevin Spacey's directorial debut, the hostage drama "Albino Alligator" (also 1996). Paul Schrader tapped Ulrich for the leading role of an ex-Franciscan monk who discovers he has healing powers in "Touch" (1997). The following year, Ulrich co-starred as Joe, the youngest brother with a conscience, in Richard Linklater's period comedy "The Newton Boys", about real-life Texas bank robbers.