Wahl first gained recognition in 1979 when he was cast in the leading role of director Philip Kaufman's film "The Wanderers" (1979). He was subsequently cast opposite Paul Newman in "Fort Apache, The Bronx" (1981), and went on to play the lead in movies including "Race for the Yankee Zephyr" (1981), "The Soldier" (1982), "Jinxed!" (1982), "Purple Hearts" (1984) and other films. In 1984, he then suffered another motorcycle crash, while on his way to meet with Diane Keaton about the role that eventually went to Mel Gibson in the film "Mrs. Soffel". Not wearing a helmet, Wahl was injured badly enough to require 89 stitches in his scalp.