Denis Leary [Actor/Comedian]

By: Editor | June 21, 2011 | Ten by Ten

Poisoning the pop-culture well of drivel of the mid-’90s with his sardonic, almost hostile sense of humor, the foul-mouthed, Massachusetts native Denis Leary was a shot to the gut for unexpecting audiences. Wearing a trademark black leather jacket, Leary ranted his way through the stand-up comedy circuit to a self-produced one-man act for Showtime and a series of MTV shorts, which then led him into film roles including his standout performance in The Ref opposite Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis in 1994. In 1996, he starred alongside Sandra Bullock in Two if By Sea, for which he wrote the screenplay. And later, in 1997, Leary, under the direction of Barry Levinson, starred alongside Robert DeNiro in Wag the Dog. From there, his film career would come to include voicing memorable characters in Ice Age and A Bug’s Life. Leary currently stars in the FX drama Rescue Me (which begins its seventh season July 12) as the complicated New York City firefighter Tommy Gavin. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and kids, and the unabashed antihero of Hollywood will star next in the 2012 series reboot of The Amazing Spider-Man opposite Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

What do you consider your most marked characteristic?
My nose. It shows up on Google Maps.

What historic event do you find most interesting and why?
The Boston Red Sox winning the 2004 World Series after 86 years — almost as long as Regis Philbin has been on TV.

What natural gift would you most like to possess?
Breasts.

What is your present state of mind?
Irish.

So far this year, what is your favorite …
Book: Suck On This Year by Denis Leary (Amazon)
Song: Bless Me Father by Denis Leary (iTunes)
Restaurant: Any firehouse at supper time.
Film: The Amazing Spiderman (which I’m filming right now)
TV Show: Rescue Me (final season on FX this summer)

What cause do you most identify with?
Stealing one of Michael J. Fox’s numerous Emmys. I’m 0 for 5 at that awards show. He’s got about 15 of them — one of which he won for his work on Rescue Me. He’s so selfish.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Operation Dumbo Drop.

Who are your favorite characters in literature?
Jon Stewart. I know he’s not in literature, but he reminds me of a Dickens character. He’s very troll-like. Plus he’s such an egomaniac that even though I just called him a troll in Malibu Magazine, the next time I see him he’ll mention how he found the troll/Dickens thing funny, and then bust my chops for being in a magazine named after a beach.

What do you consider your greatest career achievement?
Not doing a sequel to Operation Dumbo Drop. Seriously, though — they were never going to make a sequel. The elephant wanted too much money. Even more seriously? My greatest career achievement is my marriage and my two hilarious and wonderful kids.

What do you value most about your friends?
Stock tips. Or steak tips. Either one, really.

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