Born in Paddington, England, him and his parents moved to the Bronx when he was around the age of 3. Pierce's parents divorced when he was 15. Lacking a father figure, Pierce began hanging out all night, skateboarding, stealing, and skipping classes. Pierce was discovered by controversial film director Larry Clark while skateboarding in Washington Square Park in Manhattan. This landed him his first role, starring in the 1995 film Kids, which was to prove his most notable.
Pierce re-located to Los Angeles to launch an acting career in 1997.
Pierce married in July 1999.
Other film credits include: A Brother's Kiss 1996, HBO's First Time Felon 1997, BlackMale 1999, Out In Fifty 1999, Next Friday 2000, King of the Jungle 2000, Looking For Leonard 2000, among others.
Pierce also starred in two episodes of the first season of Malcolm in the Middle in 2000.
On July 10, 2000, he committed suicide, hanging himself in his Las Vegas hotel room of the Bellagio Hotel. He reportedly left two suicide notes.