Dylan McDermott | |
|---|---|
 McDermott in 2014 | |
| Born | Mark Anthony McDermott (1961-10-26)October 26, 1961 (age 64)[1] Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Fordham University (BA) Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Mark Anthony "Dylan" McDermott (born October 26, 1961)[2][3] is an American actor. He is known for his role as lawyer and law firm headBobby Donnell on the legal drama seriesThe Practice, which earned him aGolden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama and a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
McDermott is also known for his roles in four seasons (first,second,eighth andninth) of theFX horror anthology seriesAmerican Horror Story, subtitledMurder House,Asylum,Apocalypse, and1984, portrayingBen Harmon,Johnny Morgan andBruce, respectively. He also starred as narcotics crime lord Richard Wheatley on theLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit spin-offLaw & Order: Organized Crime; Lt. Carter Shaw on theTNT seriesDark Blue; in two short-livedCBS dramas,Hostages andStalker; and in the1994 remake of the filmMiracle on 34th Street. In 2022, he joinedFBI: Most Wanted as the new lead, replacing the departingJulian McMahon.
Mark Anthony McDermott was born on October 26, 1961, inWaterbury, Connecticut, to Diane and Richard McDermott.[2] He has a younger sister, Robin.[4][5] Diane was 15 and Richard was 17 when McDermott was born. By 1967, the couple had divorced, and Diane and her two children were living with her mother, Avis Marino.[4] On February 9, 1967, Diane died of what was believed for decades to be an accidental gunshot wound.[5][6]
McDermott and his sister were raised by their maternal grandmother Avis in Waterbury.[4] As a teenager, he began taking trips to visit his biological father, who owned the West Fourth Street Saloon inGreenwich Village,New York City.[7] McDermott worked in his father's bar, serving drinks and breaking up fights.[8] He also fast-talked his way into theMudd Club andStudio 54.[5]
McDermott was uncomfortable with himself as a teenager, saying he had a "Dorothy Hamill hairdo". He began imitating his acting heroes, such asMarlon Brando andHumphrey Bogart, adopting their demeanor.[9] In 1979, McDermott graduated fromHoly Cross High School in Waterbury.[10]
McDermott's father's third wife was playwrightV (then known as Eve Ensler), who adopted McDermott when he was 15 and she was 23.[11] She later divorced his father. V and McDermott have remained close. She encouraged him to pursue an acting career[6] and began writing roles for him into her plays.[5] After V suffered a miscarriage, McDermott took the name Dylan, the name planned for her unborn child.[8] in 1983, he graduated fromJesuit-runFordham University with a BA.[12] He also studied underSanford Meisner at theNeighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.[13]
McDermott made his screen debut inHamburger Hill in 1987 before starring in the 1989 filmSteel Magnolias oppositeJulia Roberts as her husband Jackson Latcherie. He also starred inTwister, a film about a man trying to rescue his girlfriend and daughter from a tornado storm.[14] The same year broughtNeon Empire, a film about the rise and fall of one man inLas Vegas.[15] However, his first big break as an actor was in the filmIn the Line of Fire. Through his connection withClint Eastwood,[16] McDermott was able to land his first major gig inThe Practice. The show, in which he starred from 1997 to 2004, earned him aGolden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama and a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. It also expanded McDermott's stardom, and he madePeople's list of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World 1998" with the magazine calling him "a prime-time heartthrob".[9] He got this distinction again in 2000.[17] In 1994, McDermott starred inMiracle on 34th Street as lawyer Bryan Bedford. The Christmas movie remake grossed $46.3 million at the worldwide box office. In 1995, he appeared in the family comedy-drama filmHome for the Holidays as business partner Leo Fish.
Despite his success onThe Practice, McDermott was cut from the show.Executive producerDavid E. Kelley cited "economic and creative realities" as a result of pressure fromABC to reduce costs. McDermott did appear in the final two episodes of the final season.[18]
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In 2004, McDermott starred alongsideJulianna Margulies four-part mini-seriesThe Grid, playingFBISpecial Agent Max Canary in an anti-terrorist unit.[19] Returning to theater in 2006, the actor played a returned soldier suffering frompost-traumatic stress disorder in the Ensler's playThe Treatment.[20] In 2007, McDermott played role of Roy Solomon in thesupernatural thriller filmThe Messengers, and starred in the television seriesBig Shots. Due to lowviewership, the show was canceled in January 2008 after 11 episodes without completing the planned 13-episode season. On October 30, 2008,TV Guide reported that McDermott was due to co-star alongsideShannen Doherty in the filmBurning Palms, a satire based on Los Angeles stereotypes told through five intertwining storylines.[21]
Beginning in 2009, McDermott starred in theTNT dramaDark Blue, playing a veteran cop who heads a squad of undercoverLAPD officers.[22] The show ran for two seasons, each consisting of ten episodes. In 2011, McDermott starred onAmerican Horror Story onFX asBen Harmon, a psychologist and cheating husband. He returned tothe second season as a new character due to the series'anthology format, this time portrayingJohnny Morgan.[23] In 2012, he appeared in three films:The Campaign, playing Tim Wattley, a campaign manager,[24]The Perks of Being a Wallflower, as the father of main character Charlie (Logan Lerman),[25] andNobody Walks, as Leroy.[26] He appeared in the action thrillerOlympus Has Fallen (2013) as a treacherous Secret Service Agent who helps a group of terrorists seize control of theWhite House.[27]
In May 2013, McDermott launched his first photography exhibition inMontreal,Quebec, Canada, at Avenue Art Gallery as part of a collaboration with art agent Marina Cutler. The exhibition,The Dylan Project, Make some Noise!, tied his support for The V-Day Organization and love of photography together as the project is a way to bring attention and funds to this organization that supports women in various ways who have suffered violent acts of aggression. McDermott and Cutler have plans to bringThe Dylan Project to other locations. Also in 2013, McDermott starred in the short-lived CBS television seriesHostages as FBI agent Duncan Carlisle.[28] In 2014, McDermott began starring on another short-lived CBS television seriesStalker in one of the lead roles, Detective Jack Larsen.[29]
In 2018, McDermott played the serial killer Don Burnside in the filmThe Clovehitch Killer, and in 2019, he had a recurring role onThe Politician oppositeJanuary Jones, as the father ofLucy Boynton's character.[30] In 2020, McDermott starred inHollywood, a limited series forNetflix.[31] He then went on to be cast as narcotics crime lord Richard Wheatley on theElliot Stabler-centricLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit spin-offLaw & Order: Organized Crime, which premiered in April 2021. Inseason 1, McDermott as Wheatley was a series regular, but moved to a recurring role forseason 2.[32] Coinciding with his departure fromOrganized Crime, McDermott joinedDick Wolf'sFBI: Most Wanted as the new lead following the departure ofJulian McMahon. His first episode aired in April 2022.[33]
Part Italian,[34] McDermott married actressShiva Rose on November 19, 1995.[4] They have two daughters, Colette and Charlotte. Colette's birth is prominently featured in Ensler'sThe Vagina Monologues.[5] Colette graduated fromBarnard College, of which McDermott was also a trustee.[35][36][37] On September 27, 2007,People confirmed that McDermott and Rose had separated.[38] On May 16, 2008, it was reported that McDermott had filed for divorce from Rose.[39] The divorce was finalized on January 2, 2009.[40]
Having met on set in early 2014, on January 14, 2015, it was announced he was engaged to hisStalker co-starMaggie Q.[41] In 2017, they stated that they were not in any rush to have an actual wedding ceremony.[42] In February 2019, the couple split after a four-year engagement.[43]
McDermott has been featured in magazines such asMen's Health.[44] In 1999, he was a finalist in theGQ "Man of the Year" issue.[45][46]
McDermott is a recovering alcoholic. He has been sober since 1984.[47]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Hamburger Hill | Staff Sergeant Adam Frantz | |
| 1988 | The Blue Iguana | Vince Holloway | |
| 1989 | Twister | Chris | |
| Steel Magnolias | Jackson Latcherie | ||
| 1990 | Hardware | Moses "Hard Mo" Baxter | |
| 1991 | Where Sleeping Dogs Lie | Bruce Simmons | |
| 1992 | Jersey Girl | Sal Tomei | |
| 1993 | In the Line of Fire | Secret Service Agent Al D'Andrea | |
| 1994 | The Cowboy Way | John Stark | |
| Miracle on 34th Street | Bryan Bedford | ||
| 1995 | Destiny Turns on the Radio | Julian Goddard | |
| Home for the Holidays | Leo Fish | ||
| 1997 | 'Til There Was You | Nick Dawkan | |
| 1999 | Three to Tango | Charles Newman | |
| 2001 | Texas Rangers | CaptainLeander McNelly | |
| 2003 | Party Monster | Peter Gatien | |
| Wonderland | David Lind | ||
| Runaway Jury | Jacob Wood | Uncredited cameo | |
| 2005 | Edison | Sergeant Francis Lazerov | |
| The Tenants | Harry Lesser | ||
| The Mistress of Spices | Doug | ||
| 2006 | Unbeatable Harold | Jake Salamander | |
| 2007 | The Messengers | Roy | |
| Have Dreams, Will Travel | Uncle | ||
| 2009 | Mercy | Jake | |
| 2010 | Burning Palms | Dennis Marx | |
| 2012 | Nobody Walks | Leroy | |
| The Campaign | Tim Wattley | ||
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Mr. Kelmeckis | ||
| 2013 | Olympus Has Fallen | Dave Forbes | |
| Freezer | Robert Saunders | ||
| 2014 | Behaving Badly | Jimmy Leach | |
| Autómata | Sean Wallace | ||
| Mercy | Jim Swann | ||
| 2015 | Survivor | Sam Parker | |
| The Laws of the Universe Part 0 | Yoake Suguru | Limited theatrical release[48][49] | |
| 2016 | Blind | Mark Dutchman | |
| 2018 | Josie | Hank | |
| The Clovehitch Killer | Don Burnside | ||
| 2021 | King Richard | George MacArthur |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Neon Empire | Vic | Television film |
| 1991 | Into the Badlands | McComas | |
| 1992 | Tales from the Crypt | George Gatlin | Episode: "This'll Kill Ya" |
| The Fear Inside | Pete Caswell | Television film | |
| 1997–2004 | The Practice | Bobby Donnell | 147 episodes |
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | Bobby Donnell | 2 episodes |
| Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular | Himself | Episode: #1.5 | |
| 1999 | Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode: "Dylan McDermott /Foo Fighters" |
| 2002 | Music Behind Bars | Host | 8 episodes |
| 2003 | Will & Grace | Tom | Episode: "Heart Like a Wheelchair" |
| 2004 | The Grid | FBI Agent Max Canary | 6 episodes |
| 2006 | 3 lbs | Dr. Douglas Hanson | Unsold television pilot |
| A House Divided | Anderson | Television film | |
| 2007–2008 | Big Shots | Duncan Collinsworth | 11 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | Dark Blue | Carter Shaw | 20 episodes |
| 2011 | American Horror Story: Murder House | Dr. Ben Harmon | 12 episodes |
| Vietnam in HD | James Anderson (voice) | Episode: "The Beginning" | |
| 2012–2013 | American Horror Story: Asylum | Johnny Morgan | 5 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Hostages | Duncan Carlisle | 15 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Stalker | Detective Jack Larsen | 20 episodes |
| 2018 | LA to Vegas | Captain Dave Pratman | 15 episodes |
| American Horror Story: Apocalypse | Dr. Ben Harmon | Episode: "Return to Murder House" | |
| 2019 | The Politician | Theo Sloan | 6 episodes |
| American Horror Story: 1984 | Bruce | 3 episodes | |
| No Activity | Clint Bergman | 7 episodes | |
| 2020 | Hollywood | Ernie West | 7 episodes |
| 2021–2022 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | Richard Wheatley | 15 episodes |
| 2021 | American Horror Stories | Ben Harmon | Episode: "Game Over" |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Richard Wheatley | Episode: "The People v. Richard Wheatley" | |
| 2022–2025 | FBI: Most Wanted | Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott | 63 episodes |
| 2023 | FBI | Episode: "Imminent Threat: Part 2" |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| — | Golden Boy | — |
| 1978 | Believe It, See It, Survival | — |
| 1985 | Biloxi Blues | Roy Selridge |
| 1995 | Floating Rhoda and the Glue Man | — |
| 2006 | The Treatment | Man |
| 2008 | Three Changes | Nate |
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Viewers for Quality Television | Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series | The Practice | Nominated |
| 1999 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Won | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| Television Critics Association Awards | Individual Achievement in Drama | Nominated | ||
| 2000 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| Viewers for Quality Television | Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2001 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Nominated | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2004 | Prism Awards | Best Performance in a Theatrical Feature Film | Wonderland | Nominated |
| 2012 | San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | Best Performance by an Ensemble | The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Won |
| Saturn Awards | Best Actor on Television | American Horror Story: Murder House | Nominated | |
| 2015 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Actor in a New TV Series | Stalker | Nominated |
| 2019 | Gold Derby Awards | Best Drama Guest Actor | American Horror Story: Apocalypse | Nominated |
| 2020 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Hollywood | Nominated |
| 2021 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries | Nominated |
