# Tate Donovan

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), recovering drug addict Donald Towle in Clean and Sober (1988), 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 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, the titular character's father.

### 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. He married Corry Scheuerman in 2015.
Donovan supported Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | No Small Affair | Bob | |
| 1986 | SpaceCamp | Kevin Donaldson | |
| 1988 | Clean and Sober | Donald Towle | |
| 1988 | Dangerous Curves | Chuck Upton | |
| 1988 | Vietnam War Story II | Russell Sommers | Video Nominated – CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie |
| 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 | |
| 1995 | Never Say Goodbye AIDS Benefit by Yoko Ono | Man from Jersey | Video short |
| 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 |
| 1999 | Hercules: Zero to Hero | Hercules | Video; voice |
| 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 | |
| 2025 | Crime 101 | | Filming |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Family Ties | Clancy | Episode 53: "Best Man" |
| 1985 | Not My Kid | Ricky | Television film |
| 1985 | Hill Street Blues | Shamrock | Episode: "The Life and Time of Dominic Florio Jr." |
| 1985 | Into Thin Air | Brian Walker | Television film |
| 1985 | North Beach and Rawhide | Sean Connelly | Television film |
| 1986 | Magnum, P.I. | R.J. Masters | Episode: "Summer School" |
| 1986 | A Case of Deadly Force | Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. | Television film |
| 1987 | Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder | Marc Schreuder-Gentile | Miniseries |
| 1990 | Rising Son | Des | Television film |
| 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 | Television film 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 | Television film |
| 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 | Hercules | Main voice role |
| 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 | Television film |
| 2003–2006 | The O.C. | Jimmy Cooper | 39 episodes |
| 2005 | Silver Bells | Christy Byrne | Television film |
| 2005 | Painkiller Jane | Dr. Graham Knight / Lucas Insley | Television film |
| 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 |
| 2015 | Masters of Sex | Graham | Episode: "Undue Influence" |
| 2015 | Red Oaks | Martin van Diem | Episode: "Doubles |
| 2016 | Elementary | Wilson Trager | Episode: "Alma Matters" |
| 2016 | Limitless | John | Episode: "Fundamentals of Naked Portraiture" |
| 2016 | The Mysteries of Laura | Detective Malcolm Harris | Episode: "The Mystery of the Unknown Caller" |
| 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 | Television film |
| 2019 | Alternatino with Arturo Castro | Unknown | Episode: "The Neighbor" |
| 2023 | FBI | Jake Reed | Episode: "Second Life" |
| 2024 | Blue Bloods | Terry Friendly | Episode: "Bad Faith" |
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" |
Video games :
| Year | Title | Voice role |
| 1997 | Hercules | Hercules |
| 1998 | Hercules Animated Storybook | 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 |