Will McCormack

Last updated

Will McCormack
Born
William Joseph McCormack Jr.

(1974-01-13) January 13, 1974 (age 51)
Other namesWilliam McCormack
Education Trinity College
Occupations
Years active1996–present
Partner Emily Arlook (engaged)
Children2 [1]
Relatives

William Joseph McCormack Jr. (born January 13, 1974) is an American actor, executive producer, screenwriter, and film director. He is best known for his short film If Anything Happens I Love You (2020), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Contents

McCormack is also known for writing the screenplay for Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012) and the story for Toy Story 4 (2019), the former of which earned him nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay, Adapted or Original. He appeared in the television series The Sopranos (1999–2001), Brothers & Sisters (2008–2009), and In Plain Sight (2008–2012), as well as the films American Outlaws (2001), Syriana (2005), and A Wrinkle in Time (2018). He won a Lucille Lortel Award for his role in the off-Broadway one-act play The Long Christmas Ride Home (2003).

Early life and education

McCormack was born on January 13, 1974, in Plainfield, New Jersey, to William Sr. and Norah Magdalene (née Ross) McCormack. He has two older sisters, Mary, an actress, and Bridget, a Michigan Supreme Court Justice and former University of Michigan law professor. He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. [2] [3]

Career

McCormack's key television roles include Jason La Penna on The Sopranos (1999–2001). More recently, he played the role of Leo Spiller, brother of lead character Lucy Spiller (Courteney Cox), in the FX series Dirt . [4] He also played a recurring role as the FBI agent in the television drama In Plain Sight , which stars his older sister, Mary. [5]

In 1996, McCormack appeared on Broadway at the Criterion Center Stage Right as a member of the ensemble in a revival of the drama play Summer and Smoke (1948) by Tennessee Williams, produced by The Roundabout Theatre Company. [6] He has also appeared in two Off-Broadway theatre productions, Chinese Friends and The Long Christmas Ride Home. [7] McCormack and Rashida Jones worked on the script of Toy Story 4 . They ultimately withdrew from the project in November 2017, and received "story by" credit. [8]

Personal life

As of 2018, he is engaged to actress Emily Arlook. [9]

Filmography

Film and television

YearTitleRoleNotes
19992001 The Sopranos Jason La PennaTelevision series
2000 Boiler Room Mike
2001 American Outlaws Bob Younger
2002 Abandon August
2002 A Midsummer Night's Rave Greg
2002 The Shield Steve HanrattyTelevision series
2005 Prime Palmer
2005 Must Love Dogs Jason
2005 Syriana Willy
2006 Right at Your Door Jason
2006 CSI: NY Todd MillerTelevision series
20072008 Dirt Leo SpillerTelevision series
2008 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Langston WellerTelevision series
20082009 Brothers & Sisters Ethan TavisTelevision series
20082012 In Plain Sight Robert O'ConnerTelevision series
2011Paul the Male MatchmakerHarryTelevision series
2011 Alphas Marcus AyersTelevision series
2012 Celeste and Jesse Forever SkillzAlso credited as co-screenwriter
2012 Mob City GunmanTelevision series
2013 The Office WolfTelevision series
2014 Among Ravens Chad Whitlock
2018 A Wrinkle in Time Mr. Teacher
2019 Toy Story 4 Co-story writer
2020 If Anything Happens I Love You Director and writer
2024 A Swim Lesson DirectorDocumentary Short film [10]

Stage work

YearTitleGenreRoleTheatreLocationNotes
1996 Summer and Smoke dramaEnsemble (member) Criterion Center Stage Right New York City, New York Broadway revival by The Roundabout Theatre Company
2003 The Long Christmas Ride Home dramaStephen Vineyard Theatre New York City, New York Off-Broadway; recipient, 2004 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Featured Actor
2004Chinese FriendsStephan Playwrights Horizons New York City, New York Off-Broadway

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2013 13th Black Reel Awards Best Screenplay, Adapted or Original (shared with Rashida Jones) Celeste and Jesse Forever Nominated
28th Independent Spirit Awards Best First Screenplay (shared with Rashida Jones)Nominated
2021 Academy Awards Best Animated Short If Anything Happens I Love You Won

See also

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References

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  2. "Biodata". IMDb.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  3. Catlin, Roger. "Behind The Scenes Success Story; Trinity College Alum McCormack Makes His Own Work As Writer And Producer", Hartford Courant , October 19, 2014. Accessed March 17, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "When Will McCormack was attending Trinity College in the mid-1990s as a performing arts minor, 'I was in every play I could be in there.' A role model for the Plainfield, N. J., native was his older sister, Mary McCormack, a Trinity grad, who was by then starting her movie career that would bring her to starring roles in The West Wing and In Plain Sight."
  4. Terrace, Vincent (June 8, 2009). The Year in Television, 2008: A Catalog of New and Continuing Series, Miniseries, Specials and TV Movies. McFarland. p. 756. ISBN   9780786453368.
  5. CATLIN, ROGER (October 16, 2014). "Trinity College Alum Will McCormack Building Hollywood Credits". courant.com. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  6. "Summer and Smoke". IBDb.com. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  7. Will McCormack at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
  8. "Disney-Pixar Hires New Screenwriter for 'Toy Story 4'". January 18, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  9. "Emily Arlook Dishes on Playing a Bisexual Jewish College Student on 'grown-ish'". Alma. February 14, 2018.
  10. Kimberly Nordyke, Beatrice Verhoeven (December 17, 2024). "Academy Unveils Shortlists in 10 Oscar Categories". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 13, 2025.