Sean Hayes (actor)

Infobox actor
name = Sean Hayes


caption =
birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1970|06|26
location = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
birthname = Sean Patrick Hayes
othername =
homepage =
academyawards =
emmyawards = Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
2000 "Will & Grace"
sagawards = Best Actor - Comedy Series
2002 "Will & Grace"
2003 "Will & Grace"
2006 "Will & Grace"

Sean Patrick Hayes (born June 26, 1970) is a six- time Golden Globe nominee and a Emmy award-winning American actor and comedian. He is perhaps best known for his role as Jack McFarland in the sitcom "Will & Grace".Stated in interview on "Inside the Actors Studio"]

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. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/68/Sean-Hayes.html Sean Hayes Biography (1970-2008) ] ] He is of Irish descent and was raised Roman Catholic, [ [http://www.angelfire.com/il3/rachelzworld/latimes.html L.A. Times article ] ] 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.

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 "" 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, [ [http://www.hazymills.com HazyMills.com Coming Soon - Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner Production Company ] ] 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." [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/theater/06mcge.html?8dpc=&_r=3&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1218596404-GpRhqaBreKmsEu7JVLJb1Q] - New York Times Interview]

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.” [cite web | author= | title=Queer Lesbian Gay Arts & Entertainment: Celebrities --Sean Hayes | url=http://www.gay.com/entertainment/celebrities/package.html?sernum=161| work=Gay.com | date=2004 | accessdate=2008-04-06]

References

*"Sean Hayes". Biography Resource Center Online. Gale Group. 1999.

External links

*imdb name|0005003|Sean Hayes
* [http://www.nndb.com/people/582/000044450/ Sean Hayes] at the Notable Names Database
*tvtome person|1224|Sean Hayes
* [http://www.bravotv.com/Situation_Comedy Bravo's Situation: Comedy]
* [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C69961%7C1%7C,00.html Zap2It - Sean Hayes Shows 'Grace' Under Pressure]
* [http://www.advertisementave.com/tv/ad.asp?adid=192 Doritos "Laundromat" ad starring Sean Hayes]