Eric McCormack

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Eric McCormack
McCormack, 2006
Born
Eric James McCormack
SpouseJanet Holden (3 August 1997 - present) 1 child

Eric James McCormack (born April 18 1963)[1] is an Emmy Award-winning Canadian-American actor.

Biography

Early life

McCormack was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the son of Doris, a homemaker, and Keith McCormack, an oil company financial analyst.[1] He has Cherokee and Scottish ancestry.[2][3] McCormack attended Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute in Scarborough, Ontario. Educated and trained as an actor in Canada at the Ryerson University School of Theatre in Toronto,[4] McCormack has been appearing in television productions since his debut in 1986.

Acting career

McCormack played Colonel Francis Clay Mosby in the 1-hour Western television miniseries Lonesome Dove: The Series (1994), and Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years (1995). He starred as the immortal Matthew McCormick in the Highlander: The Series episode "Manhunt" (1996). In 1997, he appeared in The Outer Limits in the episode "Tempests". In 1998, McCormack starred in the cult hit film Free Enterprise with William Shatner, playing a character based closely on the life of the film's co-writer Mark A. Altman. A sequel is in pre-production, and it is expected that McCormack will reprise his role as Mark.[citation needed]

McCormack's role as gay lawyer Will Truman in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace from 1998 until 2006 has brought him widespread recognition.[4] Nominated for Emmy Awards on three occasions for this role, he won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy in 2001.[4] During the 2001 Broadway season, McCormack briefly portrayed Prof. Harold Hill (replacing Craig Bierko) in the Susan Stroman revival of The Music Man while on hiatus from Will & Grace. In August 2002, as part of the Hollywood Bowl's Summer Concert Series, he reprised the role for a one-night only appearance in which he and other artists re-created the songs from the show. McCormack also starred in the off-Broadway play Some Girl(s) with Fran Drescher in 2006 and is the executive producer of the new Lifetime comedy, Lovespring International.

He has set up his own production company called "Big Cattle Productions" to develop ideas for TV. The naming of the company came out of wordplay as by shortening the word "production", you get "Big Cattle Prod".

McCormack recorded a song, "The Greatest Discovery", which was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin in 1970, for the album Unexpected Dreams: Songs from the Stars. He also wrote and sang a song called "Living with Grace" for the 2004 soundtrack to Will & Grace with piano music provided by Barry Manilow. McCormack attended high school with David Furnish, Elton John's husband.

Personal life

McCormack has been married to Janet Leigh Holden since 1997; they have a son, Finnigan Holden McCormack, born on July 1, 2002 in Los Angeles. He maintains residences in Los Angeles and Vancouver. McCormack became a US citizen in 1999 and now holds dual Canadian and US citizenship.

McCormack is involved in many Los Angeles- and Canadian-based charitable organizations including Project Angel Food and others. The Wellness Community West Los Angeles Tribute to the Human Spirit Awards dinner presented an award to McCormack for his breast cancer awareness advocacy. McCormack shared with the audience how his comedy helped his mother, Doris McCormack, age 73 as of 2006, endure her breast cancer treatments.[5] Doris was honored at the Lifetime’s Breast Cancer Heroes Luncheon in 2004.[6][7]

McCormack sang both the American and Canadian national anthems at the 2004 NHL All Star game in Minnesota. He is an avid fan of Elton John, particularly his classic album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. He wrote a tribute to the album that was featured on John's official website.

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.filmreference.com/film/52/Eric-McCormack.html
  2. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-150479621.html
  3. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FRTGAM.20060529.wxmccormack30%2FBNStory%2FEntertainment%2Fhome&ord=8818362&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true
  4. ^ a b c Stated in interview on Inside the Actors Studio
  5. ^ http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=13929
  6. ^ http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/photos/gallery2/index.php?currPhoto=3#photo
  7. ^ http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-794568/Lifetime-Television-Honors-Courageous-Breast.html

External links

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