Debra Messing

Debra Messing Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: August 15, 1968

Age: 55 years old

Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York

A vivacious performer with a knack for verbal and physical comedy, actress Debra Messing was a Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actress who dominated the sitcom scene for eight years as lovelorn interior designer Grace Adler on "Will and Grace" (ABC, 1998-2006). It was during this masterful run as the ditzy Adler that Messing received the ultimate compliment for any comedienne, an oft-cited comparison to Lucille Ball. During and after the show's run, Messing found time to make her mark in feature films like "Hollywood Ending" (2002), "Along Came Polly" (2004) and "The Wedding Date" (2005), while even voicing characters in animated films like "Garfield: The Movie" (2004) and "Open Season" (2006). She earned considerable acclaim as a spurned wife and mother on the popular summer miniseries, "The Starter Wife" (USA Network, 2007), which earned her more awards recognition. Though the series based on "The Starter Wife" failed to catch on with audiences in 2008, Messing returned to the fore with a leading role on the popular musical drama "Smash" (NBC, 2012-13). Regardless of the project, the red-haired beauty always delivered a quality performance that more often than not brought her both critical and commercial success.

Credits

Wise Guys

Actor
Bobbie Costello,
Movie
2025

BrosStream

Self
Movie
2022

13: The MusicalStream

Actor
Jessica
Movie
2022
58%

Will & Grace from NBC

Actor
Show
2020

Will & Grace from NBC

Actor
Show
2020

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

The Dark Divide

Actor
Thea Pyle
Movie
2020

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

Tamron Hall

Guest
Talk
2019

Stucco

Actor
Counselor
Movie
2019

25 Words or LessStream

Contestant
Game Show
2018

Entertainment Weekly Cast Reunions

Guest
Show
2018

Searching

Actor
Detective Vick
Movie
2018

Golden Globe 75th Anniversary Special

Host
Show
2017

Access Live

Guest
Show
2017

Will & GraceStream

Actor
Grace Adler
Series
2017
74%

The Paley Center Salutes the Best of Will & Grace

Guest
Show
2017

Will & Grace: Extras

Actor
Grace Adler:
Show
2017

Dirty Dancing

Actor
Marjorie Houseman
Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

The Paley Center Salutes NBC's 90th Anniversary

Guest
Show
2017

Dirty DancingStream

Actor
Marjorie Houseman
Movie
2017
19%

Albion: The Enchanted Stallion

Actor
The Queen
Movie
2017

Albion: The Enchanted Stallion

Executive Producer
Movie
2017

NightcapStream

Guest Star
Series
2016

Harry

Guest
Talk
2016

The $100,000 PyramidStream

Guest
Game Show
2016

Match GameStream

Guest
Game Show
2016

Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows

Guest
Show
2016

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter

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Show
2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

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Talk
2015

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Guest
Show
2014

The Mysteries of LauraStream

Actor
Laura Diamond
Series
2014
24%

The Meredith Vieira Show

Guest
Talk
2014

The Mysteries of Laura: Extras

Actor
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2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Like Sunday, Like Rain

Actor
Movie
2014

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Hollywood Game Night

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Game Show
2013

Katie

Guest
Talk
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

SmashStream

Actor
Julia Houston
Series
2012
68%

Project Runway All Stars

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Show
2012

Project Runway All Stars

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2012

Billy on the StreetStream

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Reality
2011

LIVE with Kelly

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Talk
2011

Project Accessory

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2011

Anderson

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2011

Dish Nation

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2011

The Talk

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Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Viewchange

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2010

Talk Stoop

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Show
2010

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

The Starter WifeStream

Actor
Molly Kagan
Miniseries
2008

The Starter WifeStream

Executive Producer
Miniseries
2008

The Rachel Zoe ProjectStream

Self
Reality
2008

The Doctors

Guest
Talk
2008

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The WomenStream

Actor
Edie Cohen
Movie
2008
13%

Nothing Like the HolidaysStream

Actor
Sarah
Movie
2008
53%

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

Guest
Show
2007

The Graham Norton ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2007

The Starter Wife

Actor
Molly Kagan
Show
2007

The Starter Wife

Executive Producer
Show
2007

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

Lucky YouStream

Actor
Suzanne
Movie
2007
28%

Purple VioletsStream

Actor
Kate Scott
Movie
2007

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

Open Season

Voice
Beth
Movie
2006

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

Marion's Triumph: Surviving History's Nightmare

Narrator
Show
2005

The Wedding DateStream

Actor
Kat Ellis
Movie
2005
11%

Project RunwayStream

Guest
Reality
2004

The Insider

Guest
Show
2004

Along Came PollyStream

Actor
Lisa Kramer
Movie
2004
27%

GarfieldStream

Voice
Arlene
Movie
2004
14%

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

The Mothman PropheciesStream

Actor
Mary Klein
Movie
2002
52%

Hollywood Ending

Actor
Lori
Movie
2002

The Mothman Prophezeiungen

Actor
Movie
2002

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

Entertainment Studios.com

Guest
Show
2000

Jesus

Actor
Show
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Alicia Harding
Series
1999
78%

JesusStream

Actor
Mary Magdalene
Miniseries
1999

Will & GraceStream

Actor
Grace Adler
Series
1998

Kickin' It: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1998

Prey

Actor
Dr. Sloan Parker
Show
1998

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

King of the HillStream

Guest Voice
Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson
Series
1997

McHale's Navy

Actor
Lt. Penelope Carpenter
Movie
1997

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Ned and Stacey

Actor
Stacey Colbert
Series
1995
64%

Partners

Guest Star
Show
1995

A Walk in the CloudsStream

Actor
Betty Sutton
Movie
1995
46%

Entertainers: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1994

NYPD BlueStream

Guest Star
Dana Abandando
Series
1993
83%

Late Night With Conan O'Brien

Guest
Talk
1993

Late Show With David Letterman

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Talk
1993

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

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Talk
1992

SeinfeldStream

Guest Star
Beth
Series
1989
89%

Jeopardy!Stream

Guest
Game Show
1984

Entertainment Tonight

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News
1981

Plaza Sésamo

Guest Star
Show
1972

Sesame StreetStream

Guest Star
Series
1969

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutDebra Messing

Will & Grace

‘Will & Grace’ Turns 25: See the Moments We’ll Never Stop Rewatching (VIDEO)

Debra Messing attends The Impact Of Will & Grace: 25 Years Later at Paley Museum

Debra Messing Says NBC Boss Wanted Her to Have ‘Big Boobs’ on ‘Will & Grace’

Debra Messing and Kim Kardashian

Debra Messing Apologizes For Kim Kardashian ‘SNL’ Tweet: ‘I Was Not Intending to Troll’

Debra Messing in a Lucile Ball tribute on Will & Grace

‘Being the Ricardos’ at Amazon: Remember Debra Messing as Lucy on ‘Will & Grace’?

Thanksgiving - The Middle

No Turkeys Here! Check out the Top Thanksgiving TV Episodes of All Time

Smash - Katharine McPhee, Megan Hilty

Where Are They Now: Catch Up With the ‘Smash’ Cast Before the Drama Hits Broadway

King of the Hill Guest Stars

‘King of the Hill’ Ended 10 Years Ago: Looking Back at the Best Guest Stars

Will & Grace Feud Debra Messing Megan Mullally

‘Will & Grace’ Creator Addresses Those Final Season Feud Rumors

Will & Grace Season 11 Episode 17 Sneak Peek
Exclusive

Can ‘Will & Grace’ Figure Out Who Sent Which Baby Shower Gift? (VIDEO)

Will & Grace Debra Messing
Preview

‘Will & Grace’s Debra Messing Teases the ‘I Love Lucy’ Transformations

Will & Grace
Preview

Joel McHale Teases His Homicidal ‘Will & Grace’ Character

Gabrielle Union

12 Stars Supporting Gabrielle Union in Her ‘America’s Got Talent’ Drama (PHOTOS)

Will & Grace - Season 3

‘Will & Grace’ to Pay Tribute to ‘I Love Lucy’ in Final Season (PHOTO)

Will & Grace - Season 3
Spoiler Alert

Is the ‘Will & Grace’ Revival’s Final Season Recreating the Original Ending?

Will & Grace - Season 3

‘Will & Grace’ to End With Season 11 on NBC — Find Out When It Will Air

Will & Grace - Season 2
Preview

‘Will & Grace’ Guest Star David Schwimmer Teases His New Character

debra-messing-david-schwimmer

Debra Messing Says David Schwimmer’s ‘Will & Grace’ Role Is Far From Ross

Will & Grace - Season 1
Exclusive

‘Will & Grace’ Cast and Creators Talk Show’s Role in Gay Civil Rights (VIDEO)

Debra Messing
Q&A

Debra Messing on the ‘Will & Grace’ Finale & Who She Wants to Guest Star Next

Smash - Katharine McPhee, Megan Hilty

A ‘Smash’ Reboot May Be Coming to Broadway

Will & Grace - Season 1 - Eric McCormack as Will Truman, Debra Messing as Grace Adler

‘Will & Grace’ Announces 5 New Guest Stars for Season 9

Jennifer Lopez attends the 2017 NBCUniversal Upfront

Jennifer Lopez Will Pull Double Duty as ‘Will & Grace’ Guest Star

Rosie HW x PAIGE Launch Event

Catt Sadler Thanks Debra Messing, Eva Longoria For Support at Golden Globes (UPDATE)

Will & Graces in the snow - Sean Hayes, Megan Mullally, Debra Messing, Eric McCormack - 'A Gay Olde Christmas'
Preview

Debra Messing on ‘Will & Grace’ Holiday Episode Going Back in Time

Megan Mullally

‘Will & Grace’: Megan Mullally’s Karen Gets ‘Raw and Vulnerable’ in New Episode

Will & Grace - Season 1

Roush Review: ‘Will & Grace’ Still Has the Magic

Will & Grace - Megan Mullally as Karen Walker, Eric McCormack as Will Truman, Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland

The ‘Will & Grace’ Cast Reveals What the Show Feels Like 11 Years Later

Megan Kelly TODAY - Season 1

Debra Messing Regrets ‘Megyn Kelly Today’ Appearance

Will and Grace - Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, Sean Hayes
Q&A

Critics Roundtable: Can ‘Will & Grace’ Revival Live Up to Its Groundbreaking Past?

Will & Grace - Megan Mullally as Karen Walker, Eric McCormack as Will Truman, Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland

New and Improved! Check out These Photos From the ‘Will & Grace’ Set

Will & Grace - Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally
Fall Preview

The Fab Four: ‘Will & Grace’ Return Promises ‘Elegance and Magic’

Will & Grace - Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally, Ben Platt, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes

Ben Platt to Guest Star on ‘Will & Grace’ Revival in Mystery Role

Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes of Will & Grace speak at 2017 Summer TCA Tour

‘Will & Grace’: NBC Orders Another Season Ahead of Reboot’s Premiere

Dirty Dancing - Abigail Breslin, Colt Prattes

‘Dirty Dancing’ Star Colt Prattes: ‘This Story, It’s All of Our Stories’

Dirty Dancing – Colt Prattes and Abigail Breslin
Review

Roush Review: ABC’s ‘Dirty Dancing’ Has Four Left Feet

Dirty Dancing - Abigail Breslin, Colt Prattes
Preview

Baby’s Back! The Faces of ABC’s ‘Dirty Dancing’ Remake

Will & Grace - cast

Watch ‘Will & Grace’ Cast Sing and Dance Their Way Back to NBC (VIDEO)

Law & Order Menendez - Edie Falco

NBC Announces Fall Schedule, ‘This Is Us’ Grabs Post-‘Super Bowl’ Slot

red_heads

TV’s Top 25 Redheads: From ‘Riverdale’’s KJ Apa to ‘Outlander’’s Sam Heughen

Will & Grace - Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes, Megan Mullally

Don’t Get Too Excited About That ‘Will & Grace’ Revival Just Yet

Will & Grace reunion

‘Will & Grace’ Election-Themed Reunion Feels Like the Show Never Ended (VIDEO)