John C. McGinley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John C. McGinley
McGinley in 2022
Born	John Christopher McGinley (1959-08-03) August 3, 1959 (age 65) New York City, U.S.
Education	Syracuse University (BFA) New York University (MFA)
Occupation	Actor voice actor producer author activist spokesman writer
Years active	1985 (1985)–present
Spouse(s)	Lauren Lambert ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2001)​ Nichole Kessler ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	3

John Christopher McGinley (born August 3, 1959) is a well-known American actor. He has played many different characters in movies and TV shows. Some of his most famous roles include Dr. Perry Cox in the TV series Scrubs, Bob Slydell in Office Space, and Sergeant Red O'Neill in the movie Platoon. He is also known for his voice acting in cartoons and video games.

Early Life and Education

John McGinley was born in New York City. He was one of five children in his family. His father was a stockbroker and his mother was a schoolteacher. John grew up in Millburn, New Jersey.

He went to Millburn High School and played football there. After high school, he studied acting at Syracuse University. He then went on to get a master's degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1984. Before becoming famous, he worked in plays on and Broadway stages. He also spent two years on the TV show Another World.

Acting Career Highlights

John McGinley has had a very busy acting career. He often plays important supporting characters. He got his first big movie role as Sergeant Red O'Neill in the Oscar-winning film Platoon (1986). This happened after a casting scout saw him in a play.

He continued to act in many movies throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Some of these films include Wall Street (1987), Point Break (1991), Seven (1995), and The Rock (1996). He also appeared in the popular comedy Office Space (1999).

McGinley in 2008

Voice Acting and TV Roles

McGinley has also lent his voice to many animated TV shows. He voiced the superhero The Atom in Justice League Unlimited. He was also "The White Shadow" in The Boondocks and The Whammer in WordGirl. He even voiced the main character in the video game Dead Head Fred.

In 2001, John McGinley started playing Dr. Perry Cox in the TV series Scrubs. This role became one of his most famous. Dr. Cox was a tough but caring mentor to the main character, J.D. (Zach Braff). McGinley often added his own ideas to the character, like using girls' names for J.D. and whistling.

He has also appeared in commercials, like for Miller Lite and ESPN.com. In 2008, he narrated a documentary about the Detroit Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup.

Recent Work

In 2012, McGinley joined the TV show Burn Notice as Tom Card. He also appeared in a State Farm insurance commercial. In 2013, he acted in a Broadway play called Glengarry Glen Ross. He also starred in the TV series Ground Floor from 2013 to 2015.

From 2016 to 2018, he played the main character, Stanley Miller, in the horror-comedy TV series Stan Against Evil. In this show, he played a retired sheriff who helps fight demons.

McGinley speaking at the Stan Against Evil panel during the 2017 Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center

Personal Life and Advocacy

John McGinley married Lauren Lambert in 1997. They had a son named Max, who has Down syndrome. They later divorced in 2001. In 2006, John got engaged to Nichole Kessler, a yoga instructor. They married in 2007 and have two daughters together.

John McGinley is a strong supporter of people with Down syndrome. He is on the board of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. He is also a celebrity Ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society. He helped create the "R-word: Spread The Word, To End The Word" campaign for Special Olympics. This campaign works to stop the use of a hurtful word.

He is a big fan of the NHL team, the Detroit Red Wings. He sometimes wears a Red Wings jersey in Scrubs episodes. He also enjoys playing golf.

On September 11, 2001, during the 9/11 attacks, John's brother, Mark McGinley, was working in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Mark was able to escape the building safely, even though he was injured. John was very relieved when his brother was found after being missing for several hours.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: John C. McGinley para niños