Treat was pursuing his B.A. in literature at Franklin and Marshal College and spent his summers working at the Fulton Repertory Company of Lancaster. He signed with the Williams Morris Agency in 1973. Although he has kept busy with acting he did take a break and for a time flew planes for a living. He also was co-owner of Cineflight which arranged to supply planes for films such as Con Air. The company is now on hold due to the sudden demand for Treat in several recent films.
Treat is both a certified commercial pilot ,helicopter pilot and flight instructor.
He would later replace Travolta and would continue in the role of Danny Zuko for the next 3 years. Filmed on location in Montreal, Canada.