Tim Daly

James Timothy Daly (born March 1, 1956) is an American actor, producer and director, best known for his roles as Joe Hackett on the NBC sitcom Wings and his recurring role as drug-addicted screenwriter J.T. Dolan on The Sopranos. He starred as Pete Wilder on the ABC medical drama Private Practice from 2007 to 2012. He is also known for his voice role as Clark Kent/Superman in Superman: The Animated Series and several animated Superman movies. From 2014 until 2019, he portrayed Henry McCord, husband of the Secretary of State, on the CBS political drama Madam Secretary, starring Téa Leoni, his future real-life wife.

Early life and education

Daly was born at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, the only son and youngest of four children of actor James Daly (1918–1978) and actress Mary Hope Daly (; 1921–2009). He is of Irish descent, his ancestors being from Limerick and County Kerry. He is the younger brother of actress Tyne Daly. He has two other sisters, Mary Glynn (wife of Mark Snow) and Pegeen Michael. Daly attended The Putney School, where he started to study acting.

Daly began his professional career while a student at Vermont's Bennington College, where he studied Theatre and Literature, acted in summer stock, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He graduated from college in 1979, and returned to New York to continue studying acting and singing.

Career

Daly debuted on stage when he was seven years old in Jenny Kissed Me by Jean Kerr, together with his parents and two sisters. He appeared for the first time on TV when he was 10 years old in an American Playhouse adaptation of An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen, which starred his father James Daly. He dreamed about a sports or music career and also considered becoming a doctor or a lawyer, but finally decided to become an actor. Daly started his professional acting career when he appeared in a 1978 adaptation of Peter Shaffer's play Equus.

His first leading film role was in the film Diner, directed by Barry Levinson, in which he shared screen time with actors including Kevin Bacon and Mickey Rourke. Starring roles soon followed in Alan Rudolph's feature, Made in Heaven, the American Playhouse production of The Rise & Rise of Daniel Rocket, and the CBS dramatic series, Almost Grown created by David Chase.

In theatre he has starred in the Broadway production of Coastal Disturbances by playwright Tina Howe opposite Annette Bening and received a 1987 Theatre World Award for his performance. He has also starred in Oliver, Oliver at the Manhattan Theatre Club, Mass Appeal by Bill C. Davis and Bus Stop by William Inge at Trinity Repertory Company, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams at the Santa Fe Festival Theatre, A Knife in the Heart and A Study in Scarlet at the Williamstown Playhouse, and Paris Bound at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. During this time, Daly also starred in the CBS television miniseries I'll Take Manhattan as Toby Amberville.

Daly describes himself as being highly self-critical in regard to his career. In an interview with New Zealand 'ZM' radio personality Polly Gillespie, Daly was quoted as saying, "I think part of it (his self-critical nature) is passed down to me from my parents who are actors. The theatre was our temple... When you entered you were expected to live up to the example of this glorious place."

1990s Wings is an American sitcom that ran on NBC from April 19, 1990, to May 14, 1997. It starred Daly and Steven Weber as brothers Joe and Brian Hackett. The show was set at Tom Nevers Field, a small airport in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where the Hackett brothers operated the one-plane airline, Sandpiper Air.

In 1993, he gave a much-respected performance as David Koresh in In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco (TV). The film was controversial because it was already in production while the Waco standoff was on-going.

Daly also became noted for voicing Clark Kent/Superman in Superman: The Animated Series during this time.

In 1997, he and J. Todd Harris formed Daly-Harris Productions, through which he produced such films as: Execution of Justice (1999) (TV), Urbania (2000) and Tick Tock (2000). In 1998, Daly appeared in several episodes of the Emmy award-winning, Tom Hanks-produced HBO mini-series From the Earth to the Moon playing astronaut Jim Lovell. Hanks had portrayed that person in the film Apollo 13.

2000s During the 2000–2001 television season, Daly starred as Dr. Richard Kimble in a remake of the classic television series The Fugitive. The series lasted only one season.

In 2002, Daly guest-starred as himself in the TV series Monk in the episode "Mr. Monk and the Airplane", briefly reuniting with his Wings castmate Tony Shalhoub. In 2006, Daly returned to Broadway when he appeared on stage opposite David Schwimmer and Željko Ivanek in the Broadway revival of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial.

Daly made several appearances on The Sopranos as J.T. Dolan, an AA buddy of Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli). Daly received a 2007 Emmy nomination for his work on the series. He appeared on the midseason ABC crime series Eyes, which got good reviews but was canceled after only five episodes. In 2006, Daly played the role of Nick Cavanaugh on the new ABC drama The Nine. From 2007 to 2012, Daly played a love interest for Kate Walsh's character on the TV series Private Practice.

As a voice-actor, Daly portrayed superhero Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent in Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000). He was unable to return as Superman (and was replaced by Christopher McDonald in Batman Beyond or as George Newbern in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited), as he was under contract to star in a remake of the 1960s TV drama The Fugitive. He reprised his role as Superman in the video game Superman: Shadow of Apokolips and the direct-to-video releases Superman: Brainiac Attacks, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse and Justice League: Doom.

Daly heads Red House Entertainment. Films produced through the company include Edge of America, which won a Peabody Award and a Humanitas Prize, and Daly's directing debut, the independent film Bereft.

Daly also created Wandering Bark Productions, based at Paramount Pictures, a company designed to develop and produce a variety of film, television and theater projects. The company's producing credits include the Los Angeles premiere of Vincent J. Cardinal's play A Colorado Catechism, starring Daly. The play received favorable reviews and earned Daly the Drama-Logue Award for Best Actor. Daly co-produced a documentary, PoliWood, about the 2008 Democratic and Republican National conventions. The documentary, directed by Barry Levinson, had its premiere at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.

In 2014, Daly guest starred in recurring roles on The Mindy Project and Hot in Cleveland. From mid-2014 until 2019, he played Henry McCord, the husband of the title character on the TV series Madam Secretary, played by Tea Leoni, about a US Secretary of State.

Nonprofit work Daly is an activist in various liberal political and social causes.

In 2007, Daly joined The Creative Coalition (TCC), a liberal, politically active 501(c)(3) nonprofit consisting of members of the American film entertainment industry; since 2008, he has served as its president. As a member of TCC, Daly joined the National Task Force on Children's Safety, a program co-founded by TCC and Safety4Kids that calls itself "the first children's media brand focused solely on safety and health." In August 2007, Daly became one of the three chairs for TCC's activity at the 2008 Democratic and Republican conventions, along with actress Kerry Washington and writer/director Sue Kramer. In November 2007, Daly interviewed Senator John Edwards, one of the Democratic presidential candidates.

In June 2008, Daly, together with Chandra Wilson, was named the 2008 ambassador for Lee National Denim Day – a fundraiser for breast cancer benefiting the Women's Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Personal life Daly married actress Amy Van Nostrand in 1982. They have two children. In 2010, Daly and Van Nostrand divorced. In Madam Secretary, their son Sam Daly played the ex-fiancé of White House Press Secretary Daisy Grant, and their daughter, Emelyn, played the niece of Daly's character, Henry McCord.

Daly married Téa Leoni, his Madam Secretary co-star, on July 12, 2025, in New York. They had been dating since 2014.

In 2012, Daly climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. He was in the Virgin America first-class lounge during the 2013 Los Angeles International Airport shooting.

Filmography

Film +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released Year Title Role Notes 1982 Diner BillyCredited as Timothy Daly 1984 Just the Way You Are Frank Bantam 1987 Made in Heaven Tom Donnelly 1988 Spellbinder Jeff Mills 1989 The More You Know Himself 1990 Love or Money Chris Murdoch 1992 Year of the Comet Oliver Plexico 1994 Caroline at Midnight Detective Ray Dillon 1995 Denise Calls Up Frank Oliver Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde Doctor Richard Jacks 1996 The Associate Frank Peterson 1998 The Object of My Affection Dr. Robert Joley 1999 Seven Girlfriends Jesse Campbell 2003 Basic Colonel Bill Styles 2004 Against the Ropes Gavin Reese Bereft Uncle 'Happy' Also producer and director Return to Sender Martin North 2005 My Neighbor Totoro Professor Tatsuo Kusakabe Voice (Disney English dub) 2006 Superman: Brainiac Attacks Clark Kent / Superman Voice Jonathan After Darkness Raymond Beaty Sr. 2015 A Rising Tide Tom Blake 2023 Finestkind Dennis Sykes 2025 The Panic William Whitney Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1966 An Enemy of the People Morten Stockmann Film 1981 Hill Street Blues Dann Episode: "Gatorbait" 1983 Ryan's Four Dr. Edward Gillian Episode: "Ryan's Four" 1984 I Married a Centerfold Kevin Coates Television film 1985 Mirrors Chris Philips 1986 American Playhouse Richard Episode: "The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Scott Episode: "Enough Rope for Two" 1987 I'll Take Manhattan Toby Amberville 2 episodes 1988–1989 Almost Grown Norman Foley Main role 1989 Midnight Caller Elliot Chase Episode: "Watching Me, Watching You" Red Earth, White Earth Guy Pehrsson Film 1990–1997 Wings Joe Montgomery Hackett Main role 1993 Alex Haley's Queen Colonel James Jackson Jr. 2 episodes In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco David Koresh Television film 1994 Dangerous Heart Angel Perno Witness to the Execution Dennis Casterline 1995 The John Larroquette Show Thor Merrick Episode: "Bad Pennies" 1996–2000 Superman: The Animated Series Clark Kent / Superman, Bizarro Voice, main role

Theatre Broadway Year Production Playwright Role Notes 1987–88 Coastal Disturbances Tina Howe Leo Hart Circle in the Square Theatre (February 14, 1987 – January 3, 1988) 2006 The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Herman Wouk prosecutor Lt. Cmdr. John Challee Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (May 7, 2006 – May 21, 2006)

Off-Broadway Year Production Playwright Role Notes 1984 Fables For Friends Trevor/Chris/Nicky/Victor/Eddie Playwrights Horizons 1985 Oliver, Oliver Paul Osborn Oliver Oliver Manhattan Theatre Club (Stage 73) City Center 1986 The Rise & Rise of Daniel Rocket Peter Parnell Richard 1986–87 Coastal Disturbances Tina Howe Leo Hart McGinn-Cazale Theatre (Second Stage Theatre) (from November 19, 1986 – ran for 45 performances, then transferred to Broadway) 2003 Fear of Flying at 30 Erica Jong Manhattan Theatre Club (May 2003) 2003 The Exonerated Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen Theatres at 45 Bleecker/Bleecker Street Theatre 2023 The Night of the Iguana Tennessee Williams Rev. Shannon Pershing Square Signature Center (Dec 2023)

Other stage credits Year Production Playwright Role Notes 1963 Jenny Kissed Me Jean Kerr Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, Pennsylvania 1978 Equus Peter Shaffer Alan Strang Summer Stock (with Kevin McCarthy) 1981 The Fifth of July Lanford Wilson Trinity Square Repertory Company, Providence, Rhode Island 1981 Buried Child Sam Shepard Trinity Square Repertory Company, Providence, Rhode Island 1981 Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck Trinity Square Repertory Company, Providence, Rhode Island 1983 Mass Appeal Bill C. Davis Trinity Square Repertory Company, Providence, Rhode Island 1983 Bus Stop William Inge Trinity Square Repertory Company, Providence, Rhode Island 1983 The Cabaret Williamstown Playhouse 1983 A Knife in the Heart Susan Yankowitz Donald Holt Williamstown Playhouse A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens/Hall and Cumming adaptation Trinity Square Repertory Company, Providence, Rhode Island 1985 Paris Bound Philip Barry Berkshire Theatre Festival The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams Santa Fe Festival Theatre, Santa Fe, New Mexico The Lion in Winter James Goldman Windham Repertory 1987 A Study in Scarlet Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Jefferson Hope Williamstown Playhouse Dugout Mark Taper Forum Los Angeles 1993 The Colorado Catechism Vincent J. Cardinal Ty Wain Coast Playhouse Los Angeles Love Letters A. R. Gurney Andrew Makepiece Ladd III Canon Theater Los Angeles 2000 Ancestral Voices A. R. Gurney George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, New Jersey Love Letters A. R. Gurney Andrew Makepiece Ladd III Trinity Square Repertory Company, Providence, Rhode Island 2004 Cabaret & Main Darius de Haas Williamstown Playhouse 2010 Six Degrees of Separation John Guare Flan Kittredge Williamstown Theatre Festival, July 14–25 2016 The Ruins of Civilization2017DownstairsTheresa Rebeck Dorset Theatre Festival

Awards and nominations YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult 1987 Theatre World Awards Best Debut Performance in a Broadway production Coastal Disturbances 1993 Drama-Logue Awards Outstanding Actor The Colorado Catechism 2000 Golden Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Television Series Drama The Fugitive 2001 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series The Fugitive TV Guide Awards Actor of the Year in a New Series The Fugitive 2005 TV Land Awards Favorite Airborne Character(s) Wings Peabody Awards Peabody Award Edge of America 2006 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer in a Children/Youth/Family Special Edge of America 2007 Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Sopranos 2008 Vail Film Festival Excellence in Acting Award an annual award