Eric McCormack

Eric McCormack Headshot

Actor • Singer

Birth Date: April 18, 1963

Age: 60 years old

Birth Place: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Handsome, charming and blessed with impeccable comic timing, Emmy Award-winning actor Eric McCormack earned accolades as a star on one of television's most ground-breaking and beloved sitcoms. Classically trained on the stage, he performed with the revered Stratford Shakespeare Festival for five seasons prior to earning screen time on such shows as "Lonesome Dove: The Series" (CTV, 1994-95) and in the Eddie Murphy feature comedy "Holy Man" (1998). Almost immediately thereafter, McCormack won the heart of television audiences as one-half of a wacky, platonic couple on the hit series "Will & Grace" (NBC, 1998-2006). Notable for its envelope-pushing message of tolerance, wrapped in exceptionally saucy humor, the sitcom not only made stars of McCormack and his co-star Debra Messing, but also the show's manic supporting players, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally. During and after the award-winning, eight-year run of "Will & Grace," the actor kept busy with his Broadway debut as "The Music Man" in 2001, as a reporter uncovering a deadly government cover-up in the miniseries "The Andromeda Strain" (A&E, 2008), and as a charismatic, social-climbing con man in "Who is Clark Rockefeller?" (Lifetime, 2010). McCormack's proven appeal and impressive range in virtually any genre assured him a robust professional future, filled with varied roles in projects of any stripe.

Born April 18, 1963 in Toronto, Canada to Keith and Doris McCormack, the dark-haired actor was raised in the eastern part of Toronto known as Scarborough, where he attended Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute High School. Performing in high school productions of "Godspell" and "Pippin," the young man decided to pursue a career in acting. Studying his craft at Ryerson University's School of Theatre in Toronto, McCormack went on to work in Canadian theater productions and performed with the famed Stratford Shakespeare Festival for five seasons, starting in 1985. He appeared in performances of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Henry V," "Murder in the Cathedral" and "Three Sisters." McCormack later performed with the Manitoba Theatre Centre in a production of "Burn This" as well as with Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre in "Biloxi Blues."

McCormack made his Canadian television debut in the 1986 movie, "The Boys from Syracuse" and his American television debut in a 1991 episode of the CBS series "Top Cops" (CBS, 1990-93). Landing a recurring role as a detective on the syndicated series "Street Justice" (1991-93), McCormack's career began to pick up speed. He appeared in the 1992 remake of "The Lost World" opposite Jonathan Rhys-Davies, as well as its sequel "The Return to the Lost World" (1992). In 1994, McCormack landed the role of Colonel Clay Mosby on the syndicated "Lonesome Dove" spin-off series, "Lonesome Dove: The Series" (CTV, 1994-95). After playing the dashing colonel for two years, he went on to portray a selfish businessman who learns to love in "Borrowed Hearts: A Holiday Romance" (CBS, 1997) and a cheating husband mixed-up in a blackmail plot in the HBO film "Exception to the Rule" (1997). Next, the versatile actor tapped his comedic side in episodes of "Townies" (ABC, 1996), "Veronica's Closet" (NBC, 1997-2000) and "Ally McBeal" (Fox, 1997-2002). In 1998, McCormack appeared in the stinker feature film "Holy Man" with Eddie Murphy and Jeff Goldblum, as well as starred in the independent feature and now cult classic, "Free Enterprise." The film, about two filmmakers obsessed with William Shatner and "Star Trek," struck a chord with Trekkie geeks around the world. The fact that the filmmakers were able to talk Shatner into appearing as himself in a not-so-positive light, was even more amazing.

Although McCormack was originally scheduled to appear as a regular on Jenny McCarthy's ill-fated 1997 NBC sitcom, "Jenny," he was replaced after the pilot was shot. Having impressed NBC executives, however, he was offered the part of Will Truman, an unlucky-in-love New York attorney who happens to be gay, in the pilot for "Will & Grace" (NBC, 1998-2006). Directed and executive produced by "Friends" (NBC, 1994-2004) and "Frasier" (NBC, 1993-2004) veteran and TV legend James Burrows, the show centered on Will and his straight, Jewish best friend Grace Adler, as they struggled to find love while maintaining their own co-dependent relationship. Though McCormack had initial reservations about committing to a new series, to say nothing of playing a gay man, the sitcom became an instant hit, earning McCormack, as well as the rest of the cast and crew, multiple Emmy nominations. In November of 2001, McCormack won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on the show. Playing the flawed but charming Will as an unaffected everyman, McCormack helped squash gay stereotypes and introduced many Americans to their first openly homosexual man. Though some were displeased with the series' gay focus, the critical and commercial success of the show spoke volumes. With its growing popularity, long list of famous guest stars, and award-winning status, the series ran for eight seasons until May of 2006.

With all of his success, McCormack was offered many other roles while on the series. McCormack made his Broadway debut in 2001 starring as Harold Hill in "The Music Man." He appeared in "The Audrey Hepburn Story" (Fox, 2000) opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt, hosted "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ) in 2002, and appeared in a recurring role as Ray Summers on Showtime's "Dead Like Me" (2003-04). In 2004, he teamed up with Michael Forman to form the production company Big Cattle Productions. With projects in development at NBC, UPN and USA, 2006 marked McCormack's first executive producing credit with the Lifetime improv comedy series "Lovespring International" (2006) on which he also guest-starred. Also in 2006, McCormack landed a starring role in the American premiere of the Neil Labute off-Broadway comedy "Some Girls" with Fran Drescher and Maura Tierney.

Back on television, McCormack appeared as a journalist investigating a government cover-up in the remake of Michael Crichton's science-fiction classic "The Andromeda Strain" (A&E, 2008), a two-part miniseries produced by Ridley and Tony Scott. Working on another genre project with an almost exponentially smaller budget, he joined the cast of the kitschy cult movie "Alien Trespass" (2009), an homage to sci-fi pictures of the 1950s. That same year, McCormack joined an ensemble cast that included Renée Zellweger and Kevin Bacon for "My One and Only" (2009), a road trip movie loosely based on the early life of actor George Hamilton. Playing a sort of heterosexual version of Will, he co-starred with Tom Cavanaugh in "Trust Me" (TNT, 2009), a short-lived series about two friends working at a high-profile ad agency. McCormack garnered favorable notices as the star of the crime biopic "Who Is Clark Rockefeller?" (Lifetime, 2010) as the eponymous German con man/impersonator. Also that year, he took on a recurring role as the title character's therapist/love interest during the final season of Julia Louis-Dreyfus' sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (CBS, 2006-2010) and lent his voice to the children's animated series "Pound Puppies" (The Hub, 2010-13).

Credits

Variety Show of Hearts Telethon 2024

Guest
Show
2024

The Other Black GirlStream

Actor
Vera Parini
Series
2023
85%

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

Guest
Talk
2023

Slasher: RipperStream

Actor
Basil Garvey
Series
2023

Guiding Emily

Voice
Garth
Movie
2023

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

Access Daily With Mario & Kit

Guest
Show
2022

The Kids in the Hall: Comedy PunksStream

Self
Movie
2022
100%

Drinkwater

Actor
Hank Drinkwater
Movie
2021

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

Busy Tonight

Guest
Talk
2018

Couch Surfing

Guest
Show
2018

People Features

Guest
Show
2018

Entertainment Weekly Cast Reunions

Guest
Show
2018

The Joel McHale Show With Joel McHaleStream

Guest Star
Series
2018

Golden Globe 75th Anniversary Special

Host
Show
2017

Beyond Famous: Canada's Walk of Fame 2017

Host
Show
2017

Will & GraceStream

Actor
Will Truman
Series
2017
74%

The Paley Center Salutes the Best of Will & Grace

Guest
Show
2017

Will & Grace: Extras

Actor
Will Truman:
Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Macy's 90th Thanksgiving Day Parade Special

Guest
Show
2016

TravelersStream

Actor
Special Agent Grant MacLaren
Series
2016

TravelersStream

Director
Series
2016

Harry

Guest
Talk
2016

Today's Take

Guest
Show
2016

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

Guest
Show
2016

A Heavenly ChristmasStream

Actor
Max Wingford
Movie
2016

The Architect

Actor
Colin
Movie
2016

Considering Love and Other Magic

Actor
Uncle Jasper
Movie
2016

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

q

Guest
Show
2014

The Mysteries of LauraStream

Guest Star
Series
2014
24%

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Full Circle

Actor
Ken Waltham
Series
2013

Full Circle

Actor
Ken Waltham
Show
2013

The Social

Guest
Show
2013

The Audrey Hepburn Story

Actor
Show
2013

Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story

Actor
Joe Sullivan
Movie
2013

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

PerceptionStream

Actor
Dr. Daniel Pierce
Series
2012

PerceptionStream

Producer
Series
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

Knife Fight

Actor
Larry
Movie
2012

Barricade

Actor
Terrance Shade
Movie
2012

LIVE with Kelly

Guest
Show
2011

The Morning Show

Guest
Show
2011

The Marilyn Denis Show

Guest
Show
2011

Textuality

Actor
Clive
Movie
2011

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Pound PuppiesStream

Voice
Lucky
Series
2010

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight

Guest
Show
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Who Is Clark Rockefeller?

Actor
Clark Rockefeller
Movie
2010

Trust Me

Actor
Mason McGuire
Series
2009
52%

Alien Trespass

Actor
Ted Lewis/Urp
Movie
2009

My One and Only

Actor
Charlie
Movie
2009

The Andromeda StrainStream

Actor
Jack Nash
Miniseries
2008
30%

Immigrants

Voice
Vlad
Movie
2008

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

Guest
Show
2007

The Graham Norton ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2007

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

Lovespring International

Executive Producer
Show
2006

Lovespring International

Guest Star
Roman
Show
2006

etalk

Guest
Show
2006

The New Adventures of Old ChristineStream

Guest Star
Series
2006

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

ET Canada

Guest
Show
2005

Robson Arms

Actor
Show
2005

Hell's KitchenStream

Guest
Reality
2005

Robot ChickenStream

Guest Voice
Series
2005

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Swinger
Series
2005

The 10th Annual Critics' Choice Awards

Host
Show
2005

The Sisters

Actor
Gary Sokol
Movie
2005

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

MonkStream

Guest Star
James Novak
Series
2002
91%

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

The Audrey Hepburn StoryStream

Actor
Mel Ferrer
Movie
2000
20%

Here's to Life!

Actor
Owen Rinard
Movie
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Vance Shepard
Series
1999
78%

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

Guest
Talk
1999

A Will of Their Own

Actor
Show
1998

Will & GraceStream

Actor
Will Truman
Series
1998

Holy Man

Actor
Scott Hawkes
Movie
1998

Free Enterprise

Actor
Mark
Movie
1998

Veronica's Closet

Guest Star
Series
1997

Ally McBeal

Guest Star
Series
1997
61%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Exception to the Rule

Actor
Timothy Bayer
Movie
1997

Borrowed Hearts: A Holiday Romance

Actor
Sam Field
Movie
1997

Townies

Guest Star
Series
1996
30%

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

The Traveler

Actor
Andy Robinson
Movie
1996

Night Visitors

Actor
Andy Robinson
Movie
1996

Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years

Actor
Show
1995

The Outer LimitsStream

Actor
John Virgil
Series
1995

The Man Who Wouldn't Die

Actor
Jack Sullivan
Movie
1995

Lonesome Dove

Actor
Show
1994

Island City

Actor
Greg 23
Movie
1994

Diagnosis MurderStream

Guest Star
Series
1993

Late Night With Conan O'Brien

Guest
Talk
1993

Cityline

Guest
Show
1993

Relentless: Mind of a Killer

Actor
Stu Feltzer
Movie
1993

Call of the Wild

Actor
Hal
Movie
1993

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

Actor
Don Farmer
Movie
1993

Return to the Lost World

Actor
Edward Malone
Movie
1993

The Lost World

Actor
Edward Malone
Movie
1992

The CommishStream

Guest Star
Ted Eckels
Series
1991

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Saturday Night LiveStream

Host
Series
1975

Canada AM

Guest
Show
1972

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutEric McCormack

Will & Grace

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

Sinclair Daniel and Ashleigh Murray in 'The Other Black Girl'
Review

Roush Review: Weird Thrills Amid the Satire of ‘The Other Black Girl’

Eric McCormack in Slasher Ripper
Q&A

Eric McCormack Talks Playing Against Type as a Villain on ‘Slasher: Ripper’

Eating Out With Eric & Steve Podcast Art
Exclusive

Eric McCormack & Steven Weber Launch Podcast: Find Out Who’s Joining Them

Eric McCormack as Basil Garvey in 'Slasher: Ripper'

‘Slasher’: Eric McCormack Hunts Down Copycat Ripper in Gruesome Trailer (VIDEO)

Will & Grace Season 11 Episode 17 Sneak Peek
Exclusive

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

Will & Grace
Preview

Joel McHale Teases His Homicidal ‘Will & Grace’ Character

Eric McCormack - Will & Grace Final Season Preview
Q&A

‘Will & Grace’s Eric McCormack on Saying Goodbye Again & Will’s Ending

Will & Grace - Season 3
Exclusive

‘Will & Grace’ Sneak Peek: Jack Changes Will’s View on Fatherhood (VIDEO)

Will & Grace - Season 3
Spoiler Alert

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

Untitled design - 2019-10-22T120157.226
Exclusive

‘Will & Grace’: Can Karen Help Will in His Relationship With McCoy? (VIDEO)

Will & Grace - Season 3

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

Will and Grace - Debra Messing, David Schwimmer
Exclusive

‘Will & Grace’ Sneak Peek: Is Noah Really Cheating on Grace? (VIDEO)

Will & Grace - Season 2
Preview

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

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

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

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

Eric McCormack as Will Truman, Ben Platt as Blake in the 'Who's Your Daddy?' episode of Will & Grace
Preview

‘Will & Grace’ Preview: Is Will Truman a Hot Anchorman? Ben Platt Thinks So!

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

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

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

Travelers

Eric McCormack’s ‘Travelers’ Gets Second Season on Netflix

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

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

Travelers - Eric McCormack and Arnold Pinnock - Season 1, episode 4

Eric McCormack on Bringing Sci-Fi Series ‘Travelers’ to Netflix (VIDEO)

A Heavenly Christmas - Eric McCormack, Kristin Davis

Eric McCormack Previews Hallmark’s ‘A Heavenly Christmas’

Will & Grace reunion

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