Dylan McDermott biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Actor. Born Mark Anthony McDermott, on October 26, 1961, in Waterbury, Connecticut. His mother passed away when he was five years old, leaving him in the care of his grandmother. At age 17, he moved to New York City to live with his father, who owned several Irish pubs in Greenwich Village. Dylan’s world opened up to the intrigue of theatre and acting when his father married successful playwright Eve Ensler. Sensing the potential of her stepson (whom she eventually adopted), Ensler wrote a part for the young McDermott into her play Believe It, See It, Survival. Shortly after, he enrolled as a drama major at Fordham University, then continued studying with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

Broadway Debut

Upon completion of his studies, McDermott dove headfirst into the New York theatre scene, making his Broadway debut in a 1985 production of Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues. His impressive portrayal of Wykowski Selridge got him noticed, then cast in director John Irvin's raw Vietnam drama Hamburger Hill, for which he had to undergo several months of rigorous military training to prepare. Unfortunately, Dylan followed up his effective performance with several lukewarm roles: the 1988 comedies The Blue Iguana and Twister, and TV's The Neon Empire and Into the Badlands were all duds. This would set the pattern of McDermott's roller-coaster ride of a career for the next few years-alternating successes with disappointments.

Career Ups and Downs

His next film role, in 1989's Steel Magnolias, pushed McDermott into the spotlight as both the on-and-off-screen love interest of the comely Hollywood newcomer Julia Roberts. Their engagement following completion of the film ended abruptly when Roberts fell for co-star Keifer Sutherland on the set of her next film, Flatliners. Despite the incident, the movie's success made McDermott a recognizable Hollywood name. The actor subsequently weathered more flops with Hardware and Where Sleeping Dogs Lie to finally capture a small but exciting role alongside Clint Eastwood in the critically acclaimed action/drama, In the Line of Fire.

Unfortunately, the pendulum swung once again, and McDermott made yet more unfavorable career moves, appearing in a 1994 John Hughes remake of Miracle on 34th Street and alongside romantic foe Keifer Sutherland in the foolish comedy, The Cowboy Way.