Thomas Everett Scott (born September 7, 1970)[1] is an American actor. His film work includes a starring role as drummer Guy Patterson in the film That Thing You Do!, the protagonist in An American Werewolf in Paris, and notable roles in Boiler Room, One True Thing, Dead Man on Campus, The Love Letter, Because I Said So, and La La Land.
In television, he is well known for his role as detective Russell Clarke in the television series Southland, Charles Garnett in Z Nation, and for his recurring roles as Eric Wyczenski in ER, Sam Landon in Beauty & the Beast, Kevin Duval in Scream, and William in Reign. He currently stars in the truTV sitcom I'm Sorry.
Life and career
Scott was born in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, the son of Cynthia "Cindy" (née Pierce), an insurance sales representative, and William Joseph "Bill" Scott (died 2007),[2] a civil engineer.[3][4][5] He graduated from Syracuse University in 1992, where he started out as a communications major, but eventually majored in drama.[6]
His first notable role was appearing for several seasons in the recurring role of Matthew on the television situation comedy Grace Under Fire. He played the title character's illegitimate son, whom she had placed for adoption. In 1996, Scott landed the role of Guy Patterson in the film That Thing You Do! He was almost passed over because of his resemblance to the film's director, actor Tom Hanks, but Hanks's wife, Rita Wilson, encouraged Hanks to cast Scott in the role.[7]
Scott has had several other notable roles; he was the lead in the films An American Werewolf in Paris and Dead Man on Campus, and co-starred with Kate Capshaw and Tom Selleck in The Love Letter. He starred in the cult film Boiler Room and made an uncredited cameo in Van Wilder. While Scott did not realize his initial success and become a leading man, he has had recurring roles on the television series ER in 2002 and 2003 and has played numerous minor parts in other films and television shows such as Will & Grace and Sons of Anarchy. He co starred in the series Philly as a lawyer, partnering with Kim Delaney. The show was a critical success but suffered poor ratings and was cancelled after one season. He also starred in Saved, a medical drama series on TNT. He starred in the TV movie Surrender Dorothy. He appeared as one of Mandy Moore's character's boyfriends in the comedy Because I Said So,[8] and starred in a Broadway theatre comedy, The Little Dog Laughed, as closeted film star Mitchell Green, written by Douglas Carter Beane. He also appeared as Zip in an Off Broadway production of The Country Club, also written by Beane.[citation needed] He starred as Jack Cutting on the ABC's brief comedy drama series Cashmere Mafia (2008). In 2009, he appeared in four episodes of Law & Order playing the fictional Governor of New York, Don Shalvoy. He also played Detective Russell Clarke in the seven episodes of the first season of Southland, which was dropped by NBC and subsequently picked up by TNT. At the start of second season, he became a recurring character appearing in three of six episodes. In the third and fifth season of the series, he continued to appear in selected episodes.
Scott had supporting roles in other films such as Race to Witch Mountain, Tanner Hall, Mars Needs Moms, Parental Guidance, Enemies Closer, and Sister Cities. His former television roles include Sam Landon in Beauty and the Beast, Kevin Duval in Scream, Charles Garnett in Z Nation, and William in Reign. In 2016, he appeared in the film La La Land, in which he was cast by director Damien Chazelle. In 2017, he co-starred in the film Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, and is currently a series regular on the TruTV sitcom I'm Sorry, starring alongside Andrea Savage.[9]
Filmography
Film
1996 That Thing You Do! Guy Patterson
1997 An American Werewolf in Paris Andy McDermott
1998 One True Thing Brian Gulden
Dead Man on Campus Josh Miller
River Red Dave Holden
1999 The Love Letter Johnny Howell
Top of the Food Chain Guy Fawkes
2000 Attraction Garrett
Boiler Room Michael Brantley
2002 Van Wilder Elliot Grebb
2005 Sexual Life Todd
2006 Air Buddies Buddy (voice)
2007 Because I Said So Jason Grant
2008 Snow Buddies Buddy (voice)
2009 Race to Witch Mountain Matheson
Tanner Hall Gio
2011 Mars Needs Moms Milo's Dad (voice)
2012 Parental Guidance Phil Simmons
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups Santa Paws (voice)
2013 Enemies Closer Henry Taylor
2015 Bravetown Jim
Forever Fred
2016 La La Land David
Vanished – Left Behind: Next Generation Damon
2017 The Last Word Ronald Odom
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Frank Heffley
2018 Collusions Martin Post-production
Back Roads Brad Mercer
I Hate Kids Nick Pearson Post-production
TBC The Pleasure Of Your Presence Post-production
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Law & Order Charles Wilson Episode: "Pride and Joy"
1994 CBS Schoolbreak Special Matt Hansen Episode: "Love in the Dark Ages"
1995–1997 Grace Under Fire Matthew 5 episodes
1999 Inherit the Wind Bertram Cates Television film
2000–2001 The $treet Jack T. Kenderson 12 episodes
2001–2002 Philly Will Froman 22 episodes
2002–2003 Do Over Adult Joel Larsen (voice) 13 episodes; uncredited
ER Eric Wyczenski 8 episodes
2003 Will & Grace Alex Episode: "Strangers with Candice"
2004 Justice League Unlimited Booster Gold (voice) Episode: "The Greatest Story Never Told"
Karroll's Christmas Allen Karroll Television film
2005 Stacked Gavin P. Miller Episode: "Unaired Pilot"
2006 Saved Wyatt Cole 13 episodes
2008 Cashmere Mafia Jack Cutting 3 episodes
Sons of Anarchy Rosen 3 episodes
2008–2009 Law & Order Governor Donald Shalvoy 4 episodes
2009 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Booster Gold (voice) 8 episodes
2009–2013 Southland Detective Russell Clarke 17 episodes
2010 The Devil's Teardrop Parker Kincaid Television film
2011 Bad Mom Ted Lacey Television film
2012 GCB Andrew Remington 3 episodes
2013 Independence Daysaster Sam Garsette Television film
Bloodline Dr. Christopher Benson Television film
2014 Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio Joe Matthews / Micah Matthias Television film
Beauty and the Beast Sam Landon 5 episodes[10]
Z Nation Charles Garnett 6 episodes
2015 How to Get Away with Murder Father Andrew Crawford Episode: "The Night Lila Died"
Criminal Minds Greg Sullivan Episode: "Beyond Borders"
2015–2016 Scream Kevin Duval 6 episodes
Reign William Cecil 6 episodes
2016 Elementary Henry Baskerville Episode: "Hounded"
2016 Sister Cities Chief Barton Brady Television film
2017–2018 13 Reasons Why Mr. Down 7 episodes
2017 Christmas Connection Jonathan Murphy Television film
2017–present I'm Sorry Mike Warren 20 episodes