John Mcginley

John C. McGinley was born on August 3, 1959, in Greenwich Village, New York City, and raised in Short Hills, New Jersey. He pursued his education in acting at Syracuse University and later at New York University’s Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 1984. His early career involved work in off-Broadway and Broadway productions, and a two-year stint on the soap opera “Another World.” McGinley’s path to stardom began when director Oliver Stone cast him in “Platoon” after seeing his performance as an understudy in John Patrick Shanley’s “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.” This collaboration marked the beginning of a series of film roles with Stone, including “Wall Street” (1987), “Talk Radio” (1988), “Born on the Fourth of July” (1989), “Nixon” (1995), and “Any Given Sunday” (1999). His career has since spanned over seventy films and numerous television productions.

McGinley is widely recognized for his portrayal of Dr. Perry Cox in the medical comedy series “Scrubs,” which ran from 2001 to 2010. During its nine-season run, his character became a fan favorite, earning him an Emmy nomination. Beyond “Scrubs,” he has taken on diverse roles in notable films like “Point Break” (1991), “Se7en” (1995), “The Rock” (1996), “Office Space” (1999), and “42” (2013), where he received critical acclaim for his role as Red Barber. His television work also includes starring as Stanley Miller in IFC’s comedy-horror series “Stan Against Evil” (2016-2018), and roles in “Ground Floor” (2013-2015) and “Burn Notice” (2012).

In addition to his acting career, McGinley is an active advocate for people with Down syndrome, inspired by his son, Max, who has the condition. He serves as an Ambassador for Special Olympics and is a board member of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. He was a key figure in the creation of the “Spread the Word to End the Word” national campaign to eradicate the “R” word. His commitment to this cause also led him to deliver the keynote address at the University of California San Francisco’s School of Medicine commencement ceremony in 2005, highlighting his dedication to raising awareness and promoting acceptance.