Denis Leary

Denis Leary is an actor, comedian, writer and producer best known for creating and starring in Rescue Me and voicing Diego in the Ice Age franchise. Leary was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and he attended Emerson College in Boston, graduating in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in acting. While in college, he helped establish the Emerson Comedy Workshop and later taught at the school for five years.

Leary began his career in Boston’s comedy scene, writing for local television and performing stand-up. He gained national attention through MTV appearances and his comedy special No Cure for Cancer, which debuted at the Edinburgh International Arts Festival in 1990. His rapid-fire delivery and outspoken humor helped establish him as a stand-up performer before he moved into film and television roles.

His film credits include Demolition Man (1993), The Ref (1994), The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012). He also voiced Francis in A Bug’s Life (1998) and Diego in the Ice Age franchise. Leary also cocreated and starred as firefighter Tommy Gavin in Rescue Me, which ran from 2004 to 2011. The role earned him two primetime Emmy nominations for acting, while his writing on the series earned another. He also received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his role in the television film Recount. In 2000, he founded the Leary Firefighters Foundation to support firefighters and their families.

Leary married author Ann Leary in 1989 after meeting her at Emerson College, where he taught a class she attended. They have two children: son Jack (born in 1990) and daughter Devin (born in 1992).