Dylan McDermott
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Mark Anthony "Dylan" McDermott (born October 26, 1961)<ref name="tvguide">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> is an American actor. He is known for his role as lawyer and law firm head Bobby Donnell on the legal drama series The Practice, which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
McDermott is also known for his roles in four seasons (first, second, eighth and ninth) of the FX horror anthology series American Horror Story, subtitled Murder House, Asylum, Apocalypse, and 1984, portraying Ben Harmon, Johnny Morgan and Bruce, respectively. He also starred as narcotics crime lord Richard Wheatley on the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit spin-off Law & Order: Organized Crime; Lt. Carter Shaw on the TNT series Dark Blue; in two short-lived CBS dramas, Hostages and Stalker; and in the 1994 remake of the film Miracle on 34th Street. In 2022, he joined FBI: Most Wanted as the new lead, replacing the departing Julian McMahon.
Early life, family and education
Mark Anthony McDermott was born on October 26, 1961, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to Diane and Richard McDermott.<ref name="tvguide"/> He has a younger sister, Robin.<ref name="IrishAmerica">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="esq">Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref name="IrishAmerica" /> On February 9, 1967, Diane died of what was believed for decades to be an accidental gunshot wound.<ref name="esq" /><ref name="msnbc">Template:Cite news</ref>
McDermott and his sister were raised by their maternal grandmother Avis in Waterbury.<ref name="IrishAmerica" /> As a teenager, he began taking trips to visit his biological father, who owned the West Fourth Street Saloon in Greenwich Village, New York City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> McDermott worked in his father's bar, serving drinks and breaking up fights.<ref name="sunmorn">Template:Cite interview</ref> He also fast-talked his way into the Mudd Club and Studio 54.<ref name="esq" />
McDermott was uncomfortable with himself as a teenager, saying he had a "Dorothy Hamill hairdo". He began imitating his acting heroes, such as Marlon Brando and Humphrey Bogart, adopting their demeanor.<ref name="fifty">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1979, McDermott graduated from Holy Cross High School in Waterbury.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
McDermott's father's third wife was playwright V (then known as Eve Ensler), who adopted McDermott when he was 15 and she was 23.<ref name="adoption age">Template:Cite web</ref> She later divorced his father. V and McDermott have remained close. She encouraged him to pursue an acting career<ref name="msnbc" /> and began writing roles for him into her plays.<ref name="esq" /> After V suffered a miscarriage, McDermott took the name Dylan, the name planned for her unborn child.<ref name="sunmorn" /> in 1983, he graduated from Jesuit-run Fordham University with a BA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also studied under Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
McDermott made his screen debut in Hamburger Hill in 1987 before starring in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias opposite Julia Roberts as her husband Jackson Latcherie. He also starred in Twister, a film about a man trying to rescue his girlfriend and daughter from a tornado storm.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The same year brought Neon Empire, a film about the rise and fall of one man in Las Vegas.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> However, his first big break as an actor was in the film In the Line of Fire. Through his connection with Clint Eastwood,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> McDermott was able to land his first major gig in The Practice. The show, in which he starred from 1997 to 2004, earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. It also expanded McDermott's stardom, and he made PeopleTemplate:'s list of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World 1998" with the magazine calling him "a prime-time heartthrob".<ref name="fifty"/> He got this distinction again in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1994, McDermott starred in Miracle 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 film Home for the Holidays as business partner Leo Fish.
Despite his success on The Practice, McDermott was cut from the show. Executive producer David E. Kelley cited "economic and creative realities" as a result of pressure from ABC to reduce costs. McDermott did appear in the final two episodes of the final season.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
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In 2004, McDermott starred alongside Julianna Margulies four-part mini-series The Grid, playing FBI Special Agent Max Canary in an anti-terrorist unit.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Returning to theater in 2006, the actor played a returned soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in the Ensler's play The Treatment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2007, McDermott played role of Roy Solomon in the supernatural thriller film The Messengers, and starred in the television series Big Shots. Due to low viewership, 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 alongside Shannen Doherty in the film Burning Palms, a satire based on Los Angeles stereotypes told through five intertwining storylines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Beginning in 2009, McDermott starred in the TNT drama Dark Blue, playing a veteran cop who heads a squad of undercover LAPD officers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The show ran for two seasons, each consisting of ten episodes. In 2011, McDermott starred on American Horror Story on FX as Ben Harmon, a psychologist and cheating husband. He returned to the second season as a new character due to the series' anthology format, this time portraying Johnny Morgan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012, he appeared in three films: The Campaign, playing Tim Wattley, a campaign manager,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Perks of Being a Wallflower, as the father of main character Charlie (Logan Lerman),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Nobody Walks, as Leroy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He appeared in the action thriller Olympus Has Fallen (2013) as a treacherous Secret Service Agent who helps a group of terrorists seize control of the White House.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In May 2013, McDermott launched his first photography exhibition in Montreal, 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 bring The Dylan Project to other locations. Also in 2013, McDermott starred in the short-lived CBS television series Hostages as FBI agent Duncan Carlisle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014, McDermott began starring on another short-lived CBS television series Stalker in one of the lead roles, Detective Jack Larsen.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2018, McDermott played the serial killer Don Burnside in the film The Clovehitch Killer, and in 2019, he had a recurring role on The Politician opposite January Jones, as the father of Lucy Boynton's character.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2020, McDermott starred in Hollywood, a limited series for Netflix.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He then went on to be cast as narcotics crime lord Richard Wheatley on the Elliot Stabler-centric Law & Order: Special Victims Unit spin-off Law & Order: Organized Crime, which premiered in April 2021. In season 1, McDermott as Wheatley was a series regular, but moved to a recurring role for season 2.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Coinciding with his departure from Organized Crime, McDermott joined Dick Wolf's FBI: Most Wanted as the new lead following the departure of Julian McMahon. His first episode aired in April 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Part Italian,<ref>Dylan McDermott: «Sapevate che sono per metà italiano?» vanityfair.it</ref> McDermott married actress Shiva Rose on November 19, 1995.<ref name="IrishAmerica"/> They have two daughters, Colette and Charlotte. Colette's birth is prominently featured in Ensler's The Vagina Monologues.<ref name=esq/> Colette graduated from Barnard College, of which McDermott was also a trustee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 27, 2007, People confirmed that McDermott and Rose had separated.<ref name="people">Template:Cite news</ref> On May 16, 2008, it was reported that McDermott had filed for divorce from Rose.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The divorce was finalized on January 2, 2009.<ref name="tmz">Template:Cite web</ref>
Having met on set in early 2014, on January 14, 2015, it was announced he was engaged to his Stalker co-star Maggie Q.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2017, they stated that they were not in any rush to have an actual wedding ceremony.<ref name="Wedding">Template:Cite news</ref> In February 2019, the couple split after a four-year engagement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
McDermott has been featured in magazines such as Men's Health.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1999, he was a finalist in the GQ "Man of the Year" issue.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
McDermott is a recovering alcoholic. He has been sober since 1984.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
| 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 | Captain Leander 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref> | |
| 2016 | Blind | Mark Dutchman | |
| 2018 | Josie | Hank | |
| The Clovehitch Killer | Don Burnside | ||
| 2021 | King Richard | George MacArthur |
Television
| 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" |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Template:N/A | Golden Boy | Template:N/A |
| 1978 | Believe It, See It, Survival | Template:N/A |
| 1985 | Biloxi Blues | Roy Selridge |
| 1995 | Floating Rhoda and the Glue Man | Template:N/A |
| 2006 | The Treatment | Man |
| 2008 | Three Changes | Nate |
Awards and nominations
References
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- 1961 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American people of Italian descent
- Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (television) winners
- Fordham University alumni
- Living people
- Male actors from Waterbury, Connecticut
- Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre alumni