John C. McGinley

John C. McGinley's path to stardom is a story that reads like a classic Hollywood script. While an understudy in New York in the Circle-In-The-Square production of John Patrick Shanley's "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea," he was spotted by director Oliver Stone and soon after was cast in "Platoon," the first of a long list of collaborations between Stone and McGinley which includes "Wall Street," "Talk Radio," "Born on the Fourth of July," "Nixon" and "Any Given Sunday."

He has received rave reviews for his work in NBC's Emmy-nominated medical comedy series, "Scrubs" – now in production on its seventh and final season. TV Guide proclaimed, "The young cast is appealing, but McGinley steals the show as the mercurial doctor who deep down actually gives a damn. So will you." And the San Francisco Chronicle glowed, "If [McGinley] doesn't win the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy, I'm going to bring the smack-down to the Emmy voters."

John C. relishes the chance to portray the gruff, worldly 'Dr. Perry Cox' on "Scrubs." "As an actor, it's great to play a strong leader with a heart of gold," he offers. "Dr. Cox mentors the rookie doctors with a spoonful of dirt and then a cup of sugar. I see him as an archetypal descendent of two of my favorite curmudgeonly characters: Lou Grant and Louie De Palma."

Most recently, John C. starred opposite Ice Cube in Sony/Revolution Studios' feature, "Are We Done Yet?," the sequel to the hit comedy "Are We There Yet?." "Are We Done Yet?" picks up as the family moves from the big city to the suburbs for an idyllic life. A house renovation leads to chaos, particularly when the enthusiastic and larger-than-life real estate agent/neighbor/contractor 'Chuck Mitchell, Jr.' (John C. McGinley) who is hired to work on the home, clashes with Ice Cube's character but bonds with his wife and kids. Of John C.'s performance, The New York Times proclaimed, "....a marvelous John C. McGinley, playing a dodgy jack-of-all-trades with the kind of energy that forces other actors to step up their game. He is so good. He redeems his character through acting skill alone.”

John C. voiced the main character in "Dead Head Fred," an original PSP (PlayStation) game featuring dark humor and a violent portrayal of revenge and redemption. John C. will bring to life 'Fred Neuman,' a private detective savagely murdered and then resurrected in a bizarre scientific experiment without his memory or his head.

John C.'s impressive career in film spans a diverse range of characters in over sixty features to date. He has also appeared in such features as "Wild Hogs," "Identity," "The Animal," "The Rock," "Nothing to Lose," "Set It Off," "Seven," "Office Space," "Mother," "Wagons East," "Surviving the Game," "On Deadly Ground," "Point Break," "Highlander II," "A Midnight Clear" and "Fat Man and Little Boy."

John C. has a solid commitment to the independent film community as well as the studio system. He appeared in director Eriq La Salle's "Crazy As Hell" and director Scott Silver's "Johns." He also worked on "Truth or Consequences, N.M.," Kiefer Sutherland's feature directorial debut; and on "Colin Fitz," a film John C. co-produced which premiered in competition at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. He recently starred in director D.B. Sweeney's independent feature, "Two Tickets to Paradise," which is currently receiving raves on the festival circuit. For his performance in the later film, John C. was awarded Method Fest's Festival Director's Award, which is awarded for special recognition/excellence in film.

He is a partner at McGinley Entertainment Inc., an independent film production company with several projects currently in development. John C. first worked both sides of the camera, serving double duty as actor and producer for the romantic comedy "Watch It!" (with Peter Gallagher and Lili Taylor).

For television, he received stunning reviews for his starring role in Dean Koontz's gripping and highly rated 1997 suspense drama, "Intensity," a four-hour original film for FOX-TV. Of his performance, the New York Times stated, "John C. McGinley plays 'Vess' with effective cold-blooded menace. It is McGinley, in a strong, low-key performance, who emerges as the film's secret weapon. His face is familiar from many movie roles where his guy-next-door looks have made him a natural sidekick. As the murderer with the unlikely name 'Edgler Vess,' he uses that regular-guy demeanor to make the character especially chilling."

He executive-produced and starred opposite John Cusack in HBO Pictures' western, "The Jack Bull," directed by John Badham; and he appeared in HBO NYC's "The Pentagon Wars."

In addition to film and TV, John C.'s background is heavily rooted in theater. He was featured on Broadway in "Requiem for a Heavyweight" and off-Broadway in "The Ballad of Soapy Smith" and the original cast production of Eric Bogosian's "Talk Radio," both at the renowned Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival. He often cites Papp as the most instrumental force behind his career.

As the father of Max, his ten-year-old son with Down syndrome, John C. is committed to building awareness and acceptance of people with Down syndrome. He is currently serving in his fifth year as the national spokesperson for the National Down Syndrome Society's annual Buddy Walks, advocacy walks talking place in hundreds of cities across the United States and Canada in the fall.

In May 2005, John C. was invited and honored to deliver the keynote address at the commencement ceremony for the University of California San Francisco's (UCSF) School of Medicine, one of the top medical schools in the nation.

That same year, John C. hosted the highly-rated Museum of Television & Radio special, "Unforgettable Moments in Television Entertainment," for NBC.

John C. also currently serves as a spokesperson for the PGA's Champion's Tour. He has most recently landed a series of high profile commercials for Miller Lite, where he will play the 'Commissioner of the More Taste League.' The television, radio and print campaign is currently running during football season this fall.

He has authored the upcoming book, "The Untalkative Bunny: How To Be Heard Without Saying a Word." The book is a fascinating exploration of "active listening" and a guide to being a keener practitioner of non verbal communication.

John C. resides in Los Angeles and enjoys stand-up paddle surfing, weight lifting and golf. He married Nichole Kessler on April 7, 2007 at the couple's home in Malibu, and they have a newborn daughter, Billie Grace.

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