Tim DeKay

Timothy Robert DeKay was born on June 12, 1963, in Ithaca, New York. His early life involved a balance of athletics, playing both basketball and baseball during high school, alongside an emerging interest in the arts, highlighted by his participation in a high school production of “Oliver!”. He pursued higher education at Le Moyne College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After gaining some professional experience with Marcellus Casket Co., DeKay shifted his focus to acting, enrolling in Rutgers University where he obtained his Master of Fine Arts degree and met his wife, actress Elisa Taylor.

DeKay’s acting career spans stage, film, and television. He gained significant recognition for his role as FBI agent Peter Burke in the USA Network series “White Collar,” which aired from 2009 to 2014 across 81 episodes. Beyond his acting, DeKay also contributed behind the camera, notably serving as a producer for 19 episodes and directing 3 episodes of “White Collar,” including “Stealing Home” in 2012. His film credits include roles in “Peaceful Warrior” (2006) as Coach Garrick, “Get Smart” (2008) as a Secret Service Agent, and more recently, as Senator Pastore in “Oppenheimer” (2023).

Throughout his career, DeKay has appeared in a wide array of television shows, taking on diverse roles. He was a cast member on “Party of Five” (1997–1999) and featured prominently in “Carnivàle” (2003–2005) and “Tell Me You Love Me” (2007). He made notable guest appearances in series such as “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “CSI,” “My Name Is Earl,” “NCIS,” “Scrubs,” and “Chuck.” His recent television work includes playing Bob Strafford in “1923” (2022) for three episodes, and Griffin Lancer in “Chicago Med” (2025) for two episodes, underscoring his ongoing presence and adaptability in the industry.