D. W. Moffett

Donald Warren Moffett (born October 26, 1954) is an American actor. He began his career in stage productions in Chicago before starring in the original New York City production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart in 1985. He subsequently starred in a Broadway production of The Boys of Winter the same year. He made his feature film debut in Bob Rafelson's thriller Black Widow before portraying a serial killer in the thriller Lisa (1990).

Moffett had a supporting role in Bernardo Bertolucci's drama Stealing Beauty (1996), and went on to star in the network series For Your Love (1998–2002). Other film credits from this time include Steven Soderbergh's Traffic (2000), which earned Moffett a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and the coming-of-age drama Thirteen (2003).

Beginning in 2008, Moffett had a recurring role on the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights, appearing in two seasons. From 2011 to 2017, he starred as John Kennish on the ABC Family series Switched at Birth.

Early life and education Moffett was born in Highland Park, Illinois, and raised in nearby Wilmette. From 1969 to 1974, Moffett attended a private secondary school in Germany, and became fluent in German.

After attending Stanford University, where he majored in international relations, Moffett returned to Chicago and began working as an investment banker. Moffett was unhappy with this career, and later reflected: "About halfway through my tenure at the bank, it became hellishly evident that going to a bar near the Board of Trade building to have double gimlets with secretaries was not my idea of life."

Career 1984–1999 After appearing in numerous stage productions in Chicago, Moffett starred opposite John Malkovich in a New York City stage production of Balm In Gilead. He took the stage name of "D.W." to avoid confusion with British actor Donald Moffat. In 1984, he appeared in a Broadway production of The Real Thing. He then starred opposite Brad Davis in the original stage production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart in 1985, playing a gay man dying of AIDS, for which he won critical acclaim. The same year, he played opposite Matt Dillon in a Broadway production of The Boys of Winter.

In 1987, Moffett made his feature film debut in Bob Rafelson's thriller Black Widow. He subsequently starred in the thriller film Lisa (1990), playing a serial killer whom a teenage girl becomes enamored with, unaware he is a dangerous predator. The same year, he had a supporting part in the psychological horror film Pacific Heights. He also starred in NBC's made-for-television film adaptation of Danielle Steel's novel Fine Things (also 1990), alongside Tracy Pollan.

Moffett subsequently starred opposite Liv Tyler, Jeremy Irons, and Rachel Weisz in Bernardo Bertolucci's Stealing Beauty (1996), and in 1999, had a supporting role in the drama film Molly, starring Elisabeth Shue. Beginning in 1998, Moffett was a main cast member on the NBC (and later, WB) sitcom For Your Love, which aired until 2002.

2000–present In 2000, Moffett appeared in an ensemble cast in Steven Soderbergh's crime thriller Traffic (2000), which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. He later had a small role in the drama Thirteen (2003), playing the absent father of a troubled teenage girl (played by Evan Rachel Wood),

In 2005, Moffett performed at the Old Vic theater in London, playing opposite Kevin Spacey in The Philadelphia Story.

He played Bob Hardy in the series Hidden Palms for the CW Network and starred in the 2007 CW series Life Is Wild as Dr. Danny Clarke. Between 2008 and 2010, he co-starred in the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights. From 2011 to 2012, Moffett starred in the comedy series Happily Divorced as Elliot, an on/off love interest of the main character played by Fran Drescher. He also starred as John Kennish: Bay's and Toby's father and Daphne's biological father, in the ABC Family series Switched at Birth, which ran from 2011 until 2017.

In 2017, Moffett was named chair of the film and television program at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1987 Black Widow Michael 1987 The Misfit Brigade Capt. Von Barring 1989 Lisa Richard 1990 Pacific Heights Bill 1992 Miss Beatty's Children Alan Chandler 1993 Falling Down Det. Lydecker 1995 Rough Magic Cliff Wyatt 1996 The Little Death Paul Hannon 1996 Stealing Beauty Richard 1996 Joe's Wedding Joe McCarthy 1999 Molly Mark Cottrell 2000 Traffic Jeff Sheridan 2001 Kill Me Later Mathew Richmond 2003 Thirteen Travis Freeland 2004 Twisted Ray Porter 2005 Special Ed Sonny 2005 Tennis, Anyone...? Courtney Conte 2008 Visioneers Jeffers 2008 bgFATLdy Jack Wagner 2009 Agent Chestnut 2010 Skateland Steakhouse Manager 2011 Dr. Pedulla 2011 Picture Paris Randy Larson Short film 2014 Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn Velskud Voice 2018 The Year of Spectacular Men Teacher 2023 May December Tom Atherton 2025 Alarum Director Burbridge 2025 One Battle After Another Bill Desmond

Television Year Title Role Notes 1985 Peter Hilton TV movie 1986 Mitchell Episode: "No Conscience" 1986 As the World Turns Dr. Peter Chapin TV series 1986 Miami Vice Thomas Waldman Episode: "Forgive Us Our Debts" 1987–1988 Det. Tony Jonas 8 episodes 1988 Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Closed Set Cliff Harriston TV movie 1989 Dream Breakers Mark O'Connor TV movie 1989 American Playhouse James Rodker Episode: "Ask Me Again" 1989 Midnight Caller Robin Brigade / The Iceman Episode: "Evil Is Live Spelled Backward: Parts 1 & 2" 1990 Tales from the Crypt Logan Andrews Episode: "'Til Death" 1990 Fine Things Bernard Stephen 'Bernie' Fine TV movie 1990 Lifestories Steve Burdick Episode: "Steve Burdick" 1991 Palace Guard Tommy Logan 8 episodes 1992 In the Deep Woods Frank McCarry TV movie 1993 Lies and Lullabies Gabriel TV movie 1994 Dawson Everett TV movie 1994 Smitty TV movie 1994 Star Struck Colton TV movie 1995 James Heatherton Episode: "Second Soul" 1995 Dylan Michael Michaels Episode: "Comet Nails Star and Vice Versa!" 1996 Mitch Hayward TV movie 1997 Fired Up James Collins Episode: "A Concurrent Affair" 1997 Chicago Sons Mike Kulchak 13 episodes 1998 Union Square Tom Episode: "What Are Friends For?" 1998 Perfect Prey Det. Jimmy Cerullo TV movie 1998–2002 For Your Love Dean Winston 84 episodes 1999 Gregory Pavan TV movie 2001–2002 Crossing Jordan Det. Eddy Winslow 4 episodes 2003 CSI: Miami Dr. James Welmont Episode: "Bunk" 2003 Jack Mayer TV movie 2003 Watching Ellie Billy Episode: "Date" 2003 Cold Case Todd Whitley Episode: "Look Again" 2003 Without a Trace Alan Hodges Episode: "Coming Home" 2003–2004 Skin Skip Ziti 6 episodes 2004 Jack Denny TV movie 2004 Nip/Tuck Kevin Hotchkiss 2 episodes 2005 Riding the Bus with My Sister Rick TV movie 2005 Wild Card Miles Jacobs Episode: "Multiple Personality Fatality" 2005 Commander in Chief Mike Stanton Episode: "The Mom Who Came to Dinner" 2006 Worth Webster 4 episodes 2006 Close to Home Joseph Wright 2 episodes 2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Grant Harrington Episode: "Privilege" 2007 Brothers & Sisters Michael Pellington Episode: "Valentine's Day Massacre" 2007 Numb3rs Bob Tombrello Episode: "Pandora's Box" 2007 Ghost Whisperer Dale Episode: "Delia's First Ghost" 2007 Grey's Anatomy Allan Episode: "The Other Side of This Life: Part 1" 2007 Hidden Palms Bob Hardy 8 episodes 2007–2008 Life Is Wild Danny Clark 13 episodes 2008–2010 Friday Night Lights Joe McCoy 20 episodes 2009 Operating Instructions Brandon Zisk TV pilot 2009 Lie to Me Dr. Jeffrey Buchanan Episode: "The Best Policy" 2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Paul Olsen Episode: "Shattered" 2010–2014 Hot in Cleveland Chester 2 episodes 2010 Jeffrey Walters Episode: "Help Wanted" 2010 Covert Affairs Sen. Jarvis Episode: "Houses of the Holy" 2011 In Plain Sight Julian Conrad Episode: "Second Crime Around" 2011–2012 Happily Divorced Elliot 11 episodes 2011–2017 Switched at Birth John Kennish Main role, 103 episodes 2013 Criminal Minds James Blake Episode: "#6" 2015–2019 Chicago Med Cornelius Rhodes 16 episodes 2017 How to Get Away with Murder Jeff Walsh 4 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1984 Billy Replacement 1985 Felix Turner 1985 Bonney 1989 Speed-the-Plow 2001–2002 Contact Michael Wiley Replacement 2005 Mike Connor 2009 Genesis Angels: The Saga of Lew Welch and the Beat Generation