Tom Irwin (actor)
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Tom Irwin (born June 1, 1956) is an American film, television, and stage actor. Irwin is best known for his roles as Adrian Powell in the Lifetime
comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...
series '' Devious Maids'' and as Graham Chase in the mid-1990s drama '' My So-Called Life''.


Early life and education

Born in
Peoria, Illinois Peoria ( ) is a city in Peoria County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. Located on the Illinois River, the city had a population of 113,150 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Ill ...
, Irwin graduated from
Illinois State University Illinois State University (ISU) is a public research university in Normal, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University and is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teachin ...
in Normal, Illinois. He joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1979, where he performed alongside Laurie Metcalf, John Malkovich, Joan Allen, and
Gary Sinise Gary Alan Sinise (; born March 17, 1955) is an American actor, director, producer, musician and humanitarian. Among other awards, he has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has ...
.


Career

Irwin has been on the faculty of The Theatre School at DePaul University and Columbia College Chicago. He is a class instructor at Steppenwolf Theatre Company West School of Drama in
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
. He has appeared in over fifty Steppenwolf productions, and won a Joseph Jefferson Award for his performance as Tom in Steppenwolf's production of '' The Glass Menagerie''. His first starring television role was in 1991, in the short-lived ABC television series, '' My Life and Times''. He starred as Graham Chase, the soft-spoken father in the 1994 ABC television series '' My So-Called Life.'' He has had numerous television appearances, including ''
Angel An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...
'', '' ER'', and '' Lost''. He had a regular role on the television series '' Saving Grace'' for three seasons, beginning in 2007. He made his Broadway debut in 1990 in ''
The Grapes of Wrath ''The Grapes of Wrath'' is an American realist novel written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. The book won the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and it was cited prominently when Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize ...
''. Irwin, who has also appeared in various movie roles, lives in
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
. In 2002 he played the part of Gerry in London's West End production of '' Up for Grabs'' with
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...
. In 1999, he starred in ''No Higher Love'', with
Katey Sagal Catherine Louise Sagal (born January 19, 1954) is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing Peggy Bundy on '' Married... with Children'' (1987–1997), Leela on '' Futurama'' (1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023–present), Cate He ...
and Annabeth Gish, about a woman with a terminal illness who chooses someone to take over for her as wife and mother. From 2013 to 2016, Irwin starred opposite Rebecca Wisocky in the four seasons that were produced of the Lifetime television comedy-drama series '' Devious Maids''.


Filmography

*''Vital Signs'' (1986) (TV) as Dr. #2 *'' Crime Story'' as Mayor Billy Haynes (1 episode, 1986) *'' Jack and Mike'' as Hogan (1 episode, 1987) *'' Midnight Run'' (1988) as FBI Agent Perry *''
Light of Day ''Light of Day'' is a 1987 American musical drama film starring Michael J. Fox, Gena Rowlands and Joan Jett in her film debut. It was written and directed by Paul Schrader. The original music score was composed by Thomas Newman and the cine ...
'' (1987) as Reverend Ansley *'' China Beach'' as Bellows (1 episode, 1989) *'' In the Best Interest of the Child'' (1990) (TV) as Frank *''To My Daughter'' (1990) (TV) as Mark Sheridan *''
Men Don't Leave ''Men Don't Leave'' is a 1990 American comedy-drama film starring Jessica Lange as a housewife who, after the death of her husband, moves with her two sons to Baltimore. Chris O'Donnell, Arliss Howard, Joan Cusack, Charlie Korsmo and Kathy ...
'' (1990) as Gary *'' My Life and Times'' as Ben Miller (6 episodes, 1991) *'' Deceived'' (1991) as Harvey *''Ladykiller'' (1992) (TV) as Vinnie *''Country Estates'' (1993) (TV) as Sam Reed *'' Mr. Jones'' (1993) as Dr. Patrick Shaye *'' Nurses on the Line: The Crash of Flight 7'' (1993) (TV) as Eddie *'' Without Consent'' (1994) (TV) as Robert Mills *'' My So-Called Life'' as Graham Chase (19 episodes, 1994-1995) *''Innocent Victims'' (1996) (TV) as Jerry Beaver *'' A Step Toward Tomorrow'' (1996) as Dr. Decker *'' My Very Best Friend'' (1996) (TV) as Alex *'' Holiday Affair'' (1996) (TV) as Paul Davis *''When Husbands Cheat'' (1998) (TV) as Craig McCall *''In Quiet Night'' (1998) as Dr. Leonard Wolcott *''The Girl Next Door'' (1998) (TV) as Craig Mitchell *''God's New Plan'' (1999) (TV) as Brian Young *'' The Haunting'' (1999) as Lou *'' The Sky's on Fire'' (1999) (TV) as Dr. Aaron Schiffren *'' The Outer Limits'' as Dr. Ian Michaels (1 episode, 1999) *''The Sandy Bottom Orchestra'' (2000) (TV) as Norman Green *'' Touched by an Angel'' as Will Harris (1 episode, 2001) *''
The Division ''The Division'' is an American police procedural drama television series created by Deborah Joy LeVine starring Bonnie Bedelia. The series focuses on a team of female detectives and police officers in the San Francisco Police Department. Th ...
'' as FBI Agent Aubrey Harrick (1 episode, 2001) *''
Frasier ''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey (screenwriter), Peter Casey, and David Lee (scr ...
'' as Frank (1 episode, 2001) *'' Snow White: The Fairest of Them All'' (2001) (TV) as John *'' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' as Roy Logan (1 episode, 2002) *''
Angel An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...
'' as Elliot (1 episode, 2002) *''
Without a Trace ''Without a Trace'' is an American police procedural drama television series created by Hank Steinberg that aired on CBS from September 26, 2002, to May 19, 2009 with the total of seven seasons and 160 episodes. The series focuses the cases of ...
'' as Barry Mashburn (2 episodes, 2003) *'' Miracles'' as Larry Kettridge (1 episode, 2003) *'' 21 Grams'' (2003) as Dr. Jones *'' Exposed'' (2003) as Parsons, Erik *'' ER'' as Gabriel Milner (1 episode, 2005) *''
Numb3rs ''Numbers'' (stylized as ''NUMB3RS'') is an American crime drama television series that originally aired on CBS from January 23, 2005, to March 12, 2010, with a total of six seasons consisting of 118 episodes. The series was created by Nico ...
'' as Dr. Stephen Atwood (1 episode, 2005) *''
Judging Amy ''Judging Amy'' is an American legal drama television series that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS. This television series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly. Its main character (Brenneman) is a judge who serves ...
'' as Oliver Cecil (1 episode, 2005) *''
The Closer ''The Closer'' is an American police procedural television series starring Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Los Angeles Police Department Chief of police#United States, deputy chief. A CIA-trained interrogator originally from Atlanta, G ...
'' as Congressman Hilton (1 episode, 2005) *'' Reunion'' as Mr. Noll (1 episode, 2005) *''
Ghost Whisperer ''Ghost Whisperer'' is an American supernatural television series, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005, to May 21, 2010. The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon ( Jennifer Love Hewitt), who has the ability to see and communicate w ...
'' as Steve Harper (1 episode, 2005) *'' 7th Heaven'' as Rob (1 episode, 2005) *'' Related'' as Joe Sorelli (13 episodes, 2005-2006) *''Fool Me Once'' (2006) as Donald *''Who You Know'' (2007) as Karl *'' Private Practice'' as Father Mark (1 episode, 2007) *''Danny Fricke'' (2008) (TV) as Gary Stockwell *'' Marley & Me'' (2008) as Dr. Sherman *''
Eli Stone ''Eli Stone'' is an American Legal drama, legal Musical film, musical comedy drama television series that was created by Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, who also served as executive producers alongside Ken Olin who directed the pilot, with M ...
'' as Judge Gaitin (1 episode, 2008) *'' 24'' as John Brunner (1 episode, 2009) *''
Timer A timer or countdown timer is a type of clock that starts from a specified time duration and stops upon reaching 00:00. It can also usually be stopped manually before the whole duration has elapsed. An example of a simple timer is an hourglass ...
'' (2009) as Paul Depaul *'' Lost'' as Dan Norton (2 episodes, 2009) *'' Saving Grace'' as Father John Hanadarko (19 episodes, 2007-2010) *''Privileged'' (2010) as Mr. Carrington *''
Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical internship (medicine), interns, residency (medicine), residents, and attending physician, attendings at the fictional ...
'' as Marty Hancock (3 episodes, 2010-2011) *''
Castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...
'' as Simon Campbell (1 episode, 2011) *''
The Chicago Code ''The Chicago Code'' is an American crime drama television series created by Shawn Ryan that aired on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox in the United States. The series was filmed in Chicago, Illinois, originally airing from February 7 to May 23, 20 ...
'' as Ted Langley (1 episode, 2011) *'' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' as Jerry Bullard (1 episode, season 12 episode 19 "Bombshell") and as Roger Briggs (1 episode, season 24 episode "Bend the Law") *'' The Bling Ring'' (2011) (TV) as Detective Archie Fishman *'' Least Among Saints'' (2012) as Dr. Joseph Hunter *'' House of Lies'' as Matt (1 episode, 2012) *'' Devious Maids'' as Adrian Powell (2013-2016) *''
Criminal Minds ''Criminal Minds'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Jeff Davis that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005. It follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral ...
'' as Sgt. Joe Mahaffey (1 episode, 2013) *'' Chasing Life'' as Thomas Carver (2014-2015) *'' How to Get Away with Murder (season 4)'' as Spivey (1 episode, season 4, 2018) *'' The Morning Show'' as Fred Micklen (10 episodes, 2019)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Irwin, Tom 1956 births Living people American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from Peoria, Illinois Illinois State University alumni 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors DePaul University faculty Columbia College Chicago faculty Steppenwolf Theatre Company players