Born in Tarzana, California, Bower made his film debut at age 11, in Michael Jackson's 1988 Moonwalker. He had appearances in episodic television series such as Webster, Tales from the Crypt, Empty Nest, Superior Court, Hull High, The Wonder Years, and Doogie Howser, M.D., before being brought into Salute Your Shorts for 20 episodes as the major character of Eddie 'Donkeylips' Gelfen. After that series, he continued with guest roles on well-known television series, including that of Monica Geller's (Courteney Cox) prom date on an episode of Friends. He has also appeared in movies such as Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School and Ivan Reitman's Evolution. Bower had a small role in an episode of the FOX series Dark Angel, and played in the indie film Social Misfits, and the comedy short film Dinner with Raphael (written and directed by Joey Boukadakis).