D. W. Moffett

Last updated

D. W. Moffett
D. W. Moffett - US Army (cropped).jpg
Moffett in Afghanistan, 2009
Born
Donald Warren Moffett

(1954-10-26) October 26, 1954 (age 70)
Highland Park, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater Stanford University
OccupationActor
Years active1984–present
Spouse
Kristal Rogers
​
(m. 1997)​

Donald Warren Moffett (born October 26, 1954) [1] is an American film, stage, and television actor. He began his career in stage productions in Chicago before starring in the original New York City production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart in 1985. He subsequently starred in a Broadway production of The Boys of Winter [2] the same year. He made his feature film debut in Bob Rafelson's thriller Black Widow (1987) before portraying a serial killer in the thriller Lisa (1990).

Contents

Moffett had a supporting role in Bernardo Bertolucci's drama Stealing Beauty (1996), and went on to star in the network series For Your Love (1998–2002). Other film credits from this time include Steven Soderbergh's Traffic (2000), which earned Moffett a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and the coming-of-age drama Thirteen (2003).

Beginning in 2008, Moffett had a recurring role on the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights , appearing in two seasons. From 2011 to 2017, he starred as John Kennish on the ABC Family series Switched at Birth .

Early life

Moffett was born in Highland Park, Illinois, and raised in nearby Wilmette. From 1969 to 1974, Moffett attended a private secondary school in Germany, and became fluent in German. [3]

After attending Stanford University, where he majored in international relations, Moffett returned to Chicago and began working as an investment banker. [3] [4] Moffett was unhappy with this career, and later reflected: "About halfway through my tenure at the bank, it became hellishly evident that going to a bar near the Board of Trade building to have double gimlets with secretaries was not my idea of life." [5] At the suggestion of a friend, Moffett enrolled in an acting class at the St. Nicholas Theater Company, where he began studying with William H. Macy. [5] Shortly thereafter, he started his own theater company, Remains Theater. [5]

Career

1984–1999

After appearing in numerous stage productions in Chicago, Moffett starred opposite John Malkovich in a New York City stage production of Balm In Gilead . He took the stage name of "D. W." to avoid confusion with British actor Donald Moffat. In 1984, he appeared in a Broadway production of The Real Thing . [6] He then starred opposite Brad Davis in the original stage production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart in 1985, playing a gay man dying of AIDS, [7] for which he won critical acclaim. The same year, he played opposite Matt Dillon in a Broadway production of The Boys of Winter. [2] He also starred opposite Aidan Quinn and Gena Rowlands in the television film An Early Frost , which also dealt with two male lovers during the HIV/AIDS crisis. [8]

In 1987, Moffett made his feature film debut in Bob Rafelson's thriller Black Widow . [9] He subsequently starred in the thriller film Lisa (1990), playing a serial killer whom a teenage girl becomes enamored with, unaware he is a dangerous predator. [10] The same year, he had a supporting part in the psychological horror film Pacific Heights . [11] He also starred in NBC's made-for-television film adaptation of Danielle Steel's novel Fine Things (also 1990), alongside Tracy Pollan.

Moffett subsequently starred opposite Liv Tyler, Jeremy Irons, and Rachel Weisz in Bernardo Bertolucci's Stealing Beauty (1996), [12] and in 1999, had a supporting role in the drama film Molly , starring Elisabeth Shue. [13] Beginning in 1998, Moffett was a main cast member on the NBC (and later, WB) sitcom For Your Love , which aired until 2002.

2000–present

In 2000, Moffett appeared in an ensemble cast in Steven Soderbergh's crime thriller Traffic (2000), which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. [14] He later had a small role in the drama Thirteen (2003), playing the absent father of a troubled teenage girl (played by Evan Rachel Wood), [15] and subsequently co-starred in the thriller Twisted (2004), portraying the attorney of a serial killer. [16]

In 2005, Moffett performed at the Old Vic theater in London, playing opposite Kevin Spacey in The Philadelphia Story . [15]

He played Bob Hardy in the series Hidden Palms for the CW Network and starred in the 2007 CW series Life Is Wild as Dr. Danny Clarke. Between 2008 and 2010, he co-starred in the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights . From 2011 to 2012, Moffett starred in the comedy series Happily Divorced as Elliot, an on/off love interest of the main character played by Fran Drescher. He also starred as John Kennish: Bay's and Toby's father and Daphne's biological father, in the ABC Family series Switched at Birth , which ran from 2011 until 2017.

In 2017, Moffett was named chair of the film and television program at the Savannah College of Art and Design. [16] [17]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987 Black Widow Michael
1987 The Misfit Brigade Capt. Von Barring
1989 Lisa Richard
1990 Pacific Heights Bill
1992 Miss Beatty's Children Alan Chandler
1993 Falling Down Det. Lydecker
1995 Rough Magic Cliff Wyatt
1996The Little DeathPaul Hannon
1996 Stealing Beauty Richard
1996Joe's WeddingJoe McCarthy
1999 Molly Mark Cottrell
2000 Traffic Jeff Sheridan
2001 Kill Me Later Mathew Richmond
2003 Thirteen Travis Freeland
2004 Twisted Ray Porter
2005Special EdSonny
2005Tennis, Anyone...?Courtney Conte
2008 Visioneers Jeffers
2008bgFATLdyJack Wagner
2009 The Smell of Success Agent Chestnut
2010 Skateland Steakhouse Manager
2011 The Sitter Dr. Pedulla
2011 Picture Paris Randy LarsonShort film
2014 Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn Velskudvoice
2018 The Year Of Spectacular Men Teacher
2023 May December Tom Atherton
2025 Alarum TBAPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 An Early Frost Peter HiltonTV movie
1986 The Equalizer MitchellEpisode: "No Conscience"
1986 As the World Turns Dr. Peter ChapinTV series
1986 Miami Vice Thomas WaldmanEpisode: "Forgive Us Our Debts"
1987–1988 The Oldest Rookie Det. Tony Jonas8 episodes
1988Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Closed SetCliff HarristonTV movie
1989Dream BreakersMark O'ConnorTV movie
1989 American Playhouse James RodkerEpisode: "Ask Me Again"
1989 Midnight Caller Robin Brigade / The IcemanEpisode: "Evil Is Live Spelled Backward: Parts 1 & 2"
1990 Tales from the Crypt Logan AndrewsEpisode: "'Til Death"
1990 Fine Things Bernard Stephen 'Bernie' FineTV movie
1990 Lifestories Steve BurdickEpisode: "Steve Burdick"
1991 Palace Guard Tommy Logan8 episodes
1992In the Deep WoodsFrank McCarryTV movie
1993 Lies and Lullabies GabrielTV movie
1994The Counterfeit ContessaDawson EverettTV movie
1994A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Smith StorySmittyTV movie
1994Star StruckColtonTV movie
1995 The Outer Limits James HeathertonEpisode: "Second Soul"
1995 The Naked Truth Dylan Michael MichaelsEpisode: "Comet Nails Star and Vice Versa!"
1996The Secret She CarriedMitch HaywardTV movie
1997 Fired Up James CollinsEpisode: "A Concurrent Affair"
1997 Chicago Sons Mike Kulchak13 episodes
1998 Union Square TomEpisode: "What Are Friends For?"
1998Perfect PreyDet. Jimmy CerulloTV movie
1998-2002 For Your Love Dean Winston84 episodes
1999A Song from the HeartGregory PavanTV movie
2001–2002 Crossing Jordan Det. Eddy Winslow4 episodes
2003 CSI: Miami Dr. James WelmontEpisode: "Bunk"
2003 An Unexpected Love Jack MayerTV movie
2003 Watching Ellie BillyEpisode: "Date"
2003 Cold Case Todd WhitleyEpisode: "Look Again"
2003 Without a Trace Alan HodgesEpisode: "Coming Home"
2003–2004 Skin Skip Ziti6 episodes
2004The DeeringsJack DennyTV movie
2004 Nip/Tuck Kevin Hotchkiss2 episodes
2005 Riding the Bus with My Sister RickTV movie
2005 Wild Card Miles JacobsEpisode: "Multiple Personality Fatality"
2005 Commander in Chief Mike StantonEpisode: "The Mom Who Came to Dinner"
2006 The Book of Daniel Worth Webster4 episodes
2006 Close to Home Joseph Wright2 episodes
2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Grant HarringtonEpisode: "Privilege"
2007 Brothers & Sisters Michael PellingtonEpisode: "Valentine's Day Massacre"
2007 Numb3rs Bob TombrelloEpisode: "Pandora's Box"
2007 Ghost Whisperer DaleEpisode: "Delia's First Ghost"
2007 Grey's Anatomy AllanEpisode: "The Other Side of This Life: Part 1"
2007 Hidden Palms Bob Hardy8 episodes
2007–2008 Life Is Wild Danny Clark13 episodes
2008–2010 Friday Night Lights Joe McCoy20 episodes
2009 Operating Instructions Brandon ZiskTV pilot
2009 Lie to Me Dr. Jeffrey BuchananEpisode: "The Best Policy"
2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Paul OlsenEpisode: "Shattered"
2010–2014 Hot in Cleveland Chester2 episodes
2010 The Closer Jeffrey WaltersEpisode: "Help Wanted"
2010 Covert Affairs Sen. JarvisEpisode: "Houses of the Holy"
2011 In Plain Sight Julian ConradEpisode: "Second Crime Around"
2011–2012 Happily Divorced Elliot11 episodes
2011–2017 Switched at Birth John KennishMain role, 103 episodes
2013 Criminal Minds James BlakeEpisode: "#6"
2015-2019 Chicago Med Cornelius Rhodes16 episodes
2017 How to Get Away with Murder Jeff Walsh4 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984 The Real Thing BillyReplacement
1985 The Normal Heart Felix Turner
1985The Boys of WinterBonney
1989 Speed-the-Plow
2001–2002 Contact Michael WileyReplacement
2005 The Philadelphia Story Mike Connor
2009Genesis Angels: The Saga of Lew Welch and the Beat Generation

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2024/10/famous-birthdays-list-for-today-october-26-2024-includes-celebrities-keith-urban-seth-macfarlane.html?outputType=amp
  2. 1 2 The Boys of Winter at IBDb
  3. 1 2 "Interview with D.W. Moffett". myFanbase. 2010. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ "D. W. Moffett". SCAD.edu. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Smith, Sid (June 30, 1985). "SUCCESS MAY NOT SPOIL D.W. MOFFETT, BUT WHAT ABOUT REMAINS THEATRE?". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ↑ "D. W. Moffett". Playbill . Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  7. ↑ Shirley, Don (March 9, 1995). "A Decade Later, 'Heart' Has New Meaning : Theater: 'The Normal Heart' pioneered AIDS-themed works. An original cast member, who will participate in readings for the play's anniversary, says events in the ensuing years alter the audience's response". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 7, 2021.
  8. ↑ Koennen, Joseph (February 20, 1990). "ACTOR FINDS FULFILLMENT PLAYING AIDS SUFFERERS". Orlando Sentinel . Archived from the original on March 7, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Black Widow (1987)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films . American Film Institute . Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Lisa (1990)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films . American Film Institute . Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Pacific Heights". TV Guide . Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ↑ Savlov, Marc (July 12, 1996). "Stealing Beauty". The Austin Chronicle . Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ Thomas, Kevin (October 22, 1999). "Shue's Performance Carries Liberating Message in 'Molly'". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ↑ SAG Awards official site, last accessed February 20, 2008 Archived September 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  15. 1 2 Inverne, James (March 31, 2005). "D.W. Moffett Joins Spacey's Philadelphia Story". Playbill . Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Campbell, Shanay J. (January 16, 2017). "Actor D.W. Moffett to head Savannah college film department". WSAV-TV. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021.
  17. ↑ D. W. Moffett. Savannah College of Art and Design. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
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