Sean Hayes (actor)
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| Born | Sean Patrick Hayes June 26, 1970 (1970-06-26) (age 38) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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Sean Patrick Hayes (born June 26, 1970) is a six- time Golden Globe-nominated and Emmy award-winning American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Jack McFarland in the sitcom Will & Grace.[1]
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Biography
Early life
Hayes was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Mary, a director of a non-profit food bank, and Ronald Hayes, a lithographer.[2] He is of Irish descent and was raised Roman Catholic,[3] attending high school in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, at Glenbard West High School. Hayes studied piano performance and conducting at Illinois State University but left before graduating. He worked as a classical pianist and served as a music director at the Pheasant Run Theater in St. Charles, Illinois. He also composed original music for a production of Antigone at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. He participated in The Second City improvisational comedy troupe.
Hayes moved to Los Angeles in 1995, where he found work as a stand-up comedian, stage actor and as an actor in television commercials, including a 1998 Doritos ad featuring model Ali Landry.
Career
As a teenager, he was an extra in Winona Ryder's first movie, Lucas (1986), which was filmed at his high school, Glenbard West. He made his professional film debut in the independent film Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998), which brought him wide attention and caught the attention of executives who cast him in the NBC comedy television series Will & Grace, as Jack McFarland, a flamboyantly gay, frequently unemployed actor. The show became a long-running hit and Hayes’ performance as Jack earned him seven consecutive Emmy Award nominations (2000–06) as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He won the Emmy for his first nomination.[1]
Hayes’ success led to film appearances in Cats & Dogs (2001), as Jerry Lewis in the made-for-TV movie Martin and Lewis (2002), Pieces of April (2003), The Cat in the Hat (2003) and Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! (2004). He has also guest starred in several television programs, including Scrubs and 30 Rock.
In 2005, Hayes was executive producer for Situation: Comedy for Bravo, a reality show like Project Greenlight but for sitcoms. He also executive produced the two winning scripts, chosen by NBC: The Sperm Donor and Stephen's Life. He guest-starred in 2006 in the Adult Swim cameo-filled show Tom Goes to the Mayor. The actor currently is busy with his own production company, Hazy Mills, with Todd Milliner,[4] his producing partner from college.
In 2007, Hayes was featured in a major role as Thomas in Rob Reiner's film The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.
On July 5, 2008, Hayes made his New York stage debut as Mr. Applegate / Devil in New York City Center's Encores! production of Damn Yankees opposite Jane Krakowski and Cheyenne Jackson.
In a 2008 New York Times interview, Hayes revealed he is working on a television project called BiCoastal about "a guy with a wife and kids in California and a boyfriend in New York."[5]
Personal life
Hayes has played gay and straight characters during his time as an actor, and will be playing a bisexual in the upcoming BiCoastal, but he has refused to discuss his sexual orientation in public. He has stated, “When you see me play Jack, I want you to believe that that’s a gay character. After Will & Grace is over, when I play a straight character, I want you to believe that, too.”[6]
References
- ^ a b Stated in interview on Inside the Actors Studio
- ^ Sean Hayes Biography (1970-2008)
- ^ L.A. Times article
- ^ HazyMills.com Coming Soon - Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner Production Company
- ^ [1] - New York Times Interview
- ^ "Queer Lesbian Gay Arts & Entertainment: Celebrities --Sean Hayes". Gay.com (2004). Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
- Sean Hayes. Biography Resource Center Online. Gale Group. 1999.
External links
- Sean Hayes at the Internet Movie Database
- Sean Hayes at the Notable Names Database
- Sean Hayes at TV.com
- Bravo's Situation: Comedy
- Zap2It - Sean Hayes Shows 'Grace' Under Pressure
- Doritos "Laundromat" ad starring Sean Hayes
| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by Robert Downey Jr. for Ally McBeal |
Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor - Comedy Series for Will & Grace 2002, 2003 |
Succeeded by Tony Shalhoub for Monk |
| Preceded by Tony Shalhoub for Monk |
Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor - Comedy Series for Will & Grace 2006 |
Succeeded by Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock |
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