Bruce McGill

Bruce Travis McGill (born July 11, 1950) is an American actor. He worked with director Michael Mann in the films The Insider, Ali (2001), and Collateral (2004). McGill's other notable film roles include Daniel Simpson "D-Day" Day in John Landis's Animal House, and Sheriff Dean Farley in My Cousin Vinny.

Bruce McGill's television roles include Jack Dalton on MacGyver (1985–1992) and Det. Vince Korsak on Rizzoli & Isles (2010–2016). He also portrayed an older Captain Braxton in one episode of Star Trek: Voyager (1999) and voiced Lloyd Waterman, the owner of Waterman Cable, on The Cleveland Show (2009–2013). He played Ralph Houk in Billy Crystal's made-for-television film 61* (2001). In 2021, he had a recurring role in the NASCAR comedy series The Crew on Netflix.

Early life McGill was born in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Adriel "Squeaky" Rose (née Jacobs), an artist from San Antonio, and Woodrow Wilson McGill, a real estate and insurance agent. His mother was Jewish. He graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School in the northeastern part of San Antonio and from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in drama. He is related to former Texas State Senator A. R. Schwartz.

Career Film McGill has starred in many films, perhaps his most well-known role being "D-Day" in the 1978 comedy classic National Lampoon's Animal House, a role McGill was desperate to take at the time, recalling his days as a young unemployed actor sitting in a New York City casting office. In Animal House, he played the William Tell Overture by drumming his fingers on his windpipe. He duplicated this talent in MacGyver, playing "Rock-The-Cradle" to lull a child in his care to sleep.

McGill is a favorite of director Michael Mann, having worked with him on three of his films: 1999's The Insider, 2001's Ali and 2004's Collateral. He has also appeared in four HBO TV films, first playing Yankees manager Ralph Houk in Billy Crystal's film 61* in 2001, then diplomat George Ball in the 2002 film Path to War; journalist Peter Arnett in Live from Baghdad later that year; and most recently Mac Stipanovich in the 2008 film Recount about the 2000 Presidential election in Florida. He portrayed CIA Director George Tenet in Oliver Stone's film W. and, in 2012, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln.

Television

McGill reprised his role as D-Day from National Lampoon's Animal House in the short-lived 1979 ABC TV Spinoff Delta House. His other television guest appearances include Quantum Leap (in both the pilot and final episodes); Walker, Texas Ranger; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Crime Story; Miami Vice (featured in a 1985 episode widely considered by critics as the best episode of the series' run); and Star Trek: Voyager as Captain Braxton in the episode "Relativity". He was a recurring guest star in MacGyver as the title character's comical best friend, soldier of fortune/bush pilot Jack Dalton. Echoing that role, McGill often plays friends of the lead character in film and television. In 1994 he made a guest appearance with Jay Leno in the Emmy nominated TV series, Home Improvement. He played Willard Cates in the short-lived series Wolf Lake. He was scheduled to join the cast of Bionic Woman in the fall of 2007. He also voiced Agent Buford in the video game Mercenaries. In 2009, McGill appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Gordon Garrison, a zealously bigoted anti-immigration talk-show host who, after sparking a mini-riot in court, sets up the acquittal of the killer. McGill also appeared on ABC's 2010 TV show, No Ordinary Family.

McGill also played Major Ed Ryan in the third season Babylon 5 episode "Severed Dreams" (which won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation). Babylon 5 producer J. Michael Straczynski originally intended for Everett McGill to play the role. However he did not know McGill's first name, so when he asked to have McGill contacted, Straczynski was asked if he meant Bruce McGill, to which he replied yes. Even though it became apparent to Straczynski when Bruce McGill met him to discuss the role that he was not the McGill Straczynski had in mind, Straczynski decided to use him instead.

McGill also had a small role in a season 3 episode of Numb3rs as well as a season 3 episode of Psych.

McGill portrayed the character of veteran Boston Police Homicide Detective Vince Korsak on the TNT television crime drama, Rizzoli & Isles. The character of Korsak is the mentor and friend of Detective Jane Rizzoli, portrayed by Angie Harmon. Korsak saved Rizzoli's life from serial killer, Charles Hoyt. Korsak shot Hoyt's partner just before Hoyt was about to kill Rizzoli with a knife. In the episode "She Works Hard for the Money" (season 1 episode 4) Korsak is asked where he went to college. He responds "Didn't. Watched Animal House a few times."

McGill also had a recurring voice role on The Cleveland Show as Lloyd Waterman, the homosexual owner of Waterman Cable, where Cleveland Brown is employed as a cable installer.

In March, 2017, he guest starred as a decorated Vietnam War veteran in the television series NCIS.

McGill narrated the 2018 season of the Fox News documentary series Scandalous.

McGill is a skilled guitarist and played on set in season 4, episode 14, of Rizzoli & Isles.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1977 Handle with Care "Blood" 1978 F.I.S.T. Hitman Uncredited National Lampoon's Animal House Daniel Simpson "D-Day" Day 1981 The Hand Brian Ferguson 1982 The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez Reporter Blakely 1983 Silkwood Mason "Mace" Hurley 1985 Into the Night Charlie 1986 Wildcats Dan Darwell No Mercy Lieutenant Hall Club Paradise Dave, Jack's Fireman Buddy 1987 Waiting for the Moon Ernest Hemingway End of the Line Billy Haney The Secret of My Success W. Shaw Uncredited 1989 Three Fugitives Charlie Out Cold Ernie 1991 The Last Boy Scout Mike Matthews 1992 My Cousin Vinny Sheriff Dean Farley 1993 Cliffhanger Treasury Agent A Perfect World Paul Saunders 1994 Timecop Director Eugene Matuzak 1996 Black Sheep Neuschwander Courage Under Fire McQuillan 1997 Rosewood Duke Purdy Lawn Dogs Nash 1998 Letters from a Killer Brinker Ground Control T.C. Bryant 1999 The Insider Ron Motley A Dog of Flanders William, The Blacksmith 2000 Deep Core Sam Dalton The Legend of Bagger Vance Walter Hagen 2001 Exit Wounds Frank Daniels Shallow Hal Reverend Larson Ali Agent Bradley 2002 The Sum of All Fears National Security Advisor Gene Revell Path to War George Ball 2003 Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Stanford "Stan" Marks Matchstick Men Chuck Frechette Runaway Jury Judge Frederick Harkin 2004 Collateral FBI Agent Frank Pedrosa 2005 Cinderella Man James Johnston Elizabethtown Bill Banyon Valley of the Heart's Delight Horace Walsh Slow Burn Godfrey 2006 Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy Garrison Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil General Norman T. Vance 2007 The Good Life Frank Jones The Lookout Robert Pratt 2008 Vantage Point Phil McCullough W. George Tenet 2009 Obsessed Joe Gage From Mexico with Love Billy Jenks The Perfect Game Mr. Tanner Law Abiding Citizen District Attorney Jonas Cantrell 2010 Fair Game Jim Pavitt 2011 Apart Dr. Thomas Abner 2012 Me Again Earl "Big Earl" Lincoln Edwin Stanton For Greater Glory President Calvin Coolidge FDR: American Badass! Louis Unconditional Detective Miller 2014 Ride Along Lieutenant Brooks 2015 Run All Night Pat Mullen 2016 Ride Along 2 Lieutenant Brooks 2019 Waiting Game Mel Won for Best Actor at the Pasadena International Film Festival The Best of Enemies Carvie Oldham Poms Chief Carl 2020 The Big Ugly Milt, Preston's Right-Hand Man 2021 American Underdog Jim Foster Blue Miracle Walter Bisbee

Television Year Title Role Notes 1979 Delta House Daniel Simpson "D-Day" Day Spin-off of National Lampoon's Animal House 1981 A Whale for the Killing Glenn Television film 1985 Miami Vice Hank Weldon Episode: "Out Where the Buses Don't Run" 1986–1992 MacGyver Jack Dalton Recurring, 18 episodes 1986 As Summers Die V.D. Skinner Television film 1987 The Last Innocent Man Burt Matson Television film The Man Who Fell to Earth Vernon Gage Television film Crime Story Nathan Hill Episode: "Love Hurts" 1989 The Easter Story (Video short) (voice) Hardball "Dutch" Episode: "Time Bomb" Let's Get Mom Bruce Television film Quantum Leap Ernie "Weird Ernie" Episode: "Genesis" (Pilot) 1990 Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston O'Meara Television film The Flockens Philip Flocken Television film 1991 Davis Rules Mike 2 episodes Shoot First: A Cop's Vengeance Shifton Television film The Perfect Tribute Lamon Television film Tales from the Crypt Lou Paloma Episode: "The Trap" 1992 A Thousand Heroes Flight Engineer Dudley Dvorak Television film 1993 Quantum Leap Al, The Bartender Episode: "Mirror Image" (series finale) Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story Morgan Television film Walker, Texas Ranger Boone Waxwell 2 episodes 1995 Home Improvement Doug O'Brien Episode: "Brother, Can You Spare a Hot Rod?" 1995 Live Shot Joe Vitale 13 episodes 1996 Tracey Takes On... Michael Morris Daveen Episode: "Law" Babylon 5 Major Ed Ryan Episode: "Severed Dreams" 1998 Everything That Rises Alan Jamison Television film 1999 Tracey Takes On... Richard Templeton Episode: "Scandal" Star Trek: Voyager Captain Braxton Episode: "Relativity" 2000 Running Mates Senator Mitchell Morris Television film 2001 Inside the Osmonds George Osmond 61* Ralph Houk 2001 The Ballad of Lucy Whipple Jonas Scatter 2002 Path to War George Ball Live from Baghdad Peter Arnett The Practice Judge Charles Fleming Episode "Judge Knot" CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jimmy Tadero Episode "Felonious Monk" (S2E17) 2003 Justice League General McCormick Voice, episode: "Eclipsed" 2007 Numb3rs Austin Episode: "Contenders" 2008 Recount Mac Stipanovich Television film 2009 Psych Fire Chief Dan Trombly Episode: "Earth, Wind and... Wait for It" 2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Gordon Garrison Episode: "Anchor" 2009–2013 The Cleveland Show Lloyd Waterman Voice, recurring role 2010–2016 Rizzoli & Isles Detective Vince Korsak Main cast 2010 No Ordinary Family Allan Crane Episode: "No Ordinary Visitors" 2010–2011 Family Guy Santa Claus, John Williams Voice, 2 episodes 2012 The Good Wife Jeremy Breslow Episode: "A Defense of Marriage" 2012–2013 Ben and Kate Randy Fox 2 episodes 2013 The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents The Narrator Miniseries 2016 Blue Bloods Rick "Big Rick" Wolf Episode: "Unbearable Loss" 2017 NCIS Henry Rogers Episode: "The Wall" MacGyver Detective Greer Episode: "Bullet & Pen" 2018 Suits Stanley Gordon Recurring role; Season 7 Scandalous The Narrator Shades of Blue Jordan Ramsey Recurring role; 9 episodes 2019 High & Tight Jerry McMillan Television film The I-Land Warden Wells Miniseries 2021 The Crew Bobby Spencer Recurring role; 4 episodes 2022 Reacher Mayor Grover Teale Recurring; Season 1 2022 Buried in Barstow Von Television film 2023 Love & Death Judge Tom Ryan Miniseries 2027 Scooby-Doo: Origins Filming

Awards and nominations