Ornstein studied acting as a child at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and later studied under Stella Adler After high school he enrolled in the Mason Gross School of the Arts He quit after his first year and moved to New York City to begin working professionally Ornsteins first film credit was in Crossing Delancey where he played the minor character Mickey Television credits include a recurring role as Detective Bonnaventura on Homicide Life on the Street and a twoepisode arc on Third Watch as well as parts in Seinfeld Law amp Order Law amp Order Special Victims Unit and Law amp Order Criminal Intent Ornsteins stage acting credits span twentyfive years worth of new plays in New York City in addition to creating the role of Louis Ironson in the 1991 World Premiere of Angels in America at the Eureka Theater in San Francisco Ornstein plays Chuck Marstein on Sons of Anarchy