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Tate Donovan
Tate Donovan Photo Op GalaxyCon Raleigh 2023.jpg
Donovan in 2023
Born
Tate Buckley Donovan

(1963-09-25) September 25, 1963 (age 61)
Education University of Southern California
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • television director
Years active 1984–present
Known for Hercules
The O.C.
Damages
Argo
Spouse(s)
Corinne Kingsbury
(m. 2005; div. 2008)
Partner(s) Sandra Bullock (1990–1994)
Jennifer Aniston (1995–1998)

Tate Buckley Donovan (born September 25, 1963) is an American actor, comedian and television director. He is known for portraying Tom Shayes in Damages, Jimmy Cooper in The O.C., and the voice of the title character in the 1997 Disney animated film Hercules, the animated television series of the same name and in a few Kingdom Hearts video games. He starred opposite Sandra Bullock in the 1992 film, Love Potion No. 9.

He also had supporting roles in films, such as Good Night, and Good Luck and Argo. Donovan also played Brian Sanders in Hostages and White House Chief of Staff Mark Boudreau in 24: Live Another Day. He has been a guest star in a number of television series, notably Friends portraying the character Joshua Burgin. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in the film Inside Monkey Zetterland.

He has also worked as a producer of 30 for 30 Shorts, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series.

Early life

Donovan was born on September 25, 1963, in Tenafly, New Jersey, to John Timothy Donovan, a surgeon, and Eileen Frances (née McAllister), both Roman Catholics of Irish descent. Donovan is the youngest of six children. He attended Dwight-Englewood School in Englewood, New Jersey, before transferring to Tenafly High School and attending the University of Southern California. He has appeared on television since his teenage years.

Career

Film

Donovan's earliest film roles included Kevin Donaldson in SpaceCamp (1986), 1st Lieutenant Luke Sinclair in Memphis Belle (1990) and Paul Matthews in Love Potion No. 9 (1992). Donovan voiced the title character in the Disney animated film Hercules (1997). Donovan played Jesse Zousmer in the Best Picture nominated film Good Night, and Good Luck (2005). In 2007, Donovan starred in the film Nancy Drew alongside Emma Roberts. Later, he played Bob Anders, one of the key supporting roles in the Oscar-winning film Argo (2012). In 2019, Donovan portrayed the role of Doug Weston in Rocketman.

Television

Donovan portrayed Joshua Burgin, the love interest of Rachel Green, for several episodes of Season 4 of Friends. Ironically, he had recently broken up with Jennifer Aniston in real life. He also portrayed 'Cheanie' in 1997, who was a client of and also dated Ally McBeal in season 1 of the show. He later portrayed the priest-son of a large Catholic family in Trinity (1998). He has appeared as a guest star in several television series, such as Magnum, P.I. (1986), The Guardian (2001), Mister Sterling (2003), Exposed (2003), and The O.C. (2003), where he appeared as Jimmy Cooper. From 2007 to 2010, he portrayed Tom Shayes on Damages. In 2005, Donovan began directing episodic television when he directed an episode of The O.C.. In 2007 he guest starred on a season 6 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In 2009, he directed an episode of the sixth season of Medium. He also directed two episodes of Damages in its third season and an episode of Nip/Tuck in its sixth season. In 2010, Donovan directed the third episode in the sixth season of Weeds, the tenth episode in the fourth season of Gossip Girl, the fourth episode of the fifth season, and one episode of Damages from the third season. In 2011, Donovan directed the Valentine's Day-themed episode of Glee and the episode "I Kissed a Girl" in the third season. In March 2010, he joined the cast of No Ordinary Family. However, after only one season, the series was cancelled. Donovan guest appeared in the series, Red Oaks. Starting in 2017, Donovan appeared in CBS's MacGyver as James MacGyver, father to the main character.

Stage

Donovan starred on stage with Amy Ryan in the Los Angeles production of Rabbit Hole. On Broadway, he played Alan Seymour in the 1994 Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Picnic and appeared in Amy's View with Judi Dench in 1999. Off Broadway, Donovan appeared with Glenn Fitzgerald in the 2001 production of Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan, playing the role of the crooked cop Bill. Donovan has appeared in numerous productions at the Williamstown Theater Festival, including Once in a Lifetime, Under the Blue Sky, and The Glass Menagerie. He has also appeared at the Irish Repertory Theater in New York City. In 2011, he starred with Frances McDormand in the world premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire's play Good People at the Manhattan Theatre Club.

Other work

Donovan had a regular gig with traditional Irish band the McGuffins, with whom he released an album titled Wake Amusements. He plays the bodhrán and fiddle.

As of May 2011, Donovan voices radio and video advertising for PNC Financial Services and volunteers with the Young Storytellers Program.

Personal life

Donovan was in a relationship with Sandra Bullock from 1990 to 1994, and Jennifer Aniston for two and a half years from 1995 to 1998. He later married writer Corinne Kingsbury on a Malibu, California beach in 2005. They divorced in 2008.

In 2008, Donovan announced his support and campaigned for Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential election of 2008. Donovan also supported Obama in the 2012 presidential election.

Filmography

Key
Not yet released Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1984 No Small Affair Bob
1986 SpaceCamp Kevin Donaldson
1988 Dangerous Curves Chuck Upton
1989 Dead Bang John Burns
1990 Memphis Belle 1st Lt. Luke Sinclair
1992 Little Noises Elliott
1992 Inside Monkey Zetterland Brent Zetterland Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
1992 Equinox Richie Nunn
1992 Love Potion No. 9 Paul Matthews
1993 Ethan Frome Reverend Smith
1994 Holy Matrimony Peter
1997 The Only Thrill Eddie
1997 Murder at 1600 Kyle Neill
1997 Hercules Hercules Voice
1998 The Thin Pink Line Simon
1998 October 22 Peter
1998 Waiting for Woody David Short
1999 4 a.m.: Open All Night Man Short
2000 Drop Back Ten Wally Bixer
2000 G-Men from Hell Mike Mattress
2000 The Office Party Bill Short
2000 Jesus & Hutch Hutch Short
2001 Swordfish Senator Reisman's Assistant Uncredited cameo
2001 Get Well Soon Mark
2001 Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse Hercules Voice
2002 West of Here Dexter Anderson
2003 Exposed Bob Smith
2005 The Pacifier Howard Plummer
2005 Good Night, and Good Luck Jesse Zousmer Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2006 The Lather Effect Will
2007 Shooter Russ Turner
2007 Nancy Drew Carson Drew
2007 Neal Cassady Neal Cassady
2008 Tony Michael Short
2009 Wild About Harry Harry Goodhart
2010 Below the Beltway Paul Gibson
2012 Argo Bob Anders Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best Cast
Palm Springs International Film Festival Award for Best Cast
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
2014 Sun Belt Express Allen King
2015 3 Generations Craig Walker
2016 Manchester by the Sea Hockey Coach
2016 Elvis & Nixon H. R. Haldeman
2017 It Happened in L.A. Tom
2017 Blame Robert McCarthy
2017 The Only Living Boy in New York George
2017 The Upside Carter Locke
2018 Blood Fest Dr. Conway
2018 Grace Charlie Ellison
2019 Rocketman Doug Weston
2019 The Nomads Mark Nolin
2020 Worth Lee Quinn
2021 Respect John Hammond
2023 Ghosted Dad
2023 The Holdovers Stanley Clotfelter

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Family Ties Clancy Episode 53: "Best Man"
1985 Not My Kid Ricky Movie
1985 Hill Street Blues Shamrock Episode: "The Life and Time of Dominic Florio Jr."
1985 Into Thin Air Brian Walker Movie
1985 North Beach and Rawhide Sean Connelly Movie
1986 Magnum, P.I. R.J. Masters Episode: "Summer School"
1986 A Case of Deadly Force Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. Movie
1987 Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder Marc Schreuder-Gentile Miniseries
1990 Rising Son Des Movie
1994 Tales from the Crypt Nelson Episode: "Operation Friendship"
1994 Philly Heat Kevin Gaffney
1995–1996 Partners Owen 22 episodes
1996 America's Dream David Movie
Segment: "Long Black Song"
1997 Homicide: Life on the Street Greg Kellerman Episode: "Wu's on First"
1997 Ally McBeal Ronald Cheanie 3 episodes
1998 Tempting Fate Dr. Ben Creed Movie
1998 Friends Joshua Burgin 5 episodes
1998 Trinity Kevin McCallister 3 episodes
1998 Godzilla: The Series Lawrence Cohen Voice; Episode: "Bird of Paradise"
1998–1999 Hercules: The Animated Series Hercules Voice; 58 episodes
2000 The Outer Limits Tom Seymour Episode: "Glitch"
2001 Max Steel Voice; Episode: "Spear-Carriers"
2001 House of Mouse Hercules Episode: "Jiminy Cricket"
2001 The Legend of Tarzan Gobu Voice; Episode: Tarzan and the Enemy Within"
2002 The Guardian Lou Caffey Episode: "The Innocent"
2003 Mister Sterling Barry Reed Movie
2003–2006 The O.C. Jimmy Cooper 39 episodes
2005 Silver Bells Christy Byrne Movie
2005 Painkiller Jane Dr. Graham Knight / Lucas Insley Movie
2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Commander Luke Nelson Episode: "Rocket Man"
2007–2010 Damages Tom Shayes 36 episodes
2008 The Cleaner Richard Hoffler Episode: "Meet the Joneses"
2009 Head Case Himself Episode: "Tying the Not"
2010 No Ordinary Family Mitch McCutcheon Episode: "Pilot"
2013 Deception Edward Bowers 11 episodes
2013–2014 Hostages Brian Sanders 15 episodes
2014 24: Live Another Day Mark Boudreau 12 episodes
2016 Elementary Wilson Trager Episode: "Alma Matters"
2016 Limitless John 1 episode
2016 The Man in the High Castle George Dixon Season 2 (recurring role)
2017 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Eli Colton Episode: "Net Worth"
2018–2020 MacGyver James MacGyver / OVERSIGHT 12 episodes
2019 Love You to Death Travis Stoller TV film
2022 FBI Jake Reed Season 5 Episode 10: "Second Life"
Television Director
Year Title Role
2005 The O.C. Episode: "The Game Plan"
2009 Medium Episode: "Pain Killer"
2009–2010 Nip/Tuck 2 episodes
2009–2013 Damages 5 episodes
2010 Weeds Episode: "A Yippity Sippity"
2010 The Good Guys Episode: "Old Dogs"
2010–2011 Gossip Girl 2 episodes
2011 Glee 2 episodes
2013 Deception Episode: "Tell Me"
2015 Bloodline Episode: "Part 7"
2015 Madam Secretary 2 episodes
2017 The Fosters Episode: "Too Fast, Too Furious"
2020 Hawaii Five-0 Episode: "Nalowale i ke 'ehu o he kai"
Direct-to-video
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Vietnam War Story II Unknown Nominated – CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1995 Never Say Goodbye AIDS Benefit by Yoko Ono Man from Jersey Short
1999 Hercules: Zero to Hero Hercules Voice
Video games
Year Title Voice role
1997 Disney's Hercules Action Game Hercules
1998 Disney's Hades Challenge Hercules
2006 Kingdom Hearts II Hercules
2010 Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Hercules
2013 Disney Magical World Hercules
2014 Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix Hercules
2019 Kingdom Hearts III Hercules
2023 Disney Speedstorm Hercules

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tate Donovan para niños

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