Thomas Everett Scott (born September 7, 1970) 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, Danger One, La La Land, and Clouds.

In television, he played Detective Russell Clarke in the series Southland, Charles Garnett in Z Nation, and the recurring roles of Eric Wyczenski in ER, Sam Landon in Beauty & the Beast, Kevin Duval in the series Scream, William in Reign, Mr. Down in 13 Reasons Why, and Adam Fisher in The Summer I Turned Pretty. He also co-starred in the truTV sitcom I'm Sorry.

Early life

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), a civil engineer. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1992, where he started out as a communications major, but eventually majored in drama.

Career

After appearing in an episode of Law & Order and a commercial for Crest toothpaste in 1993, Scott's first notable role was as Matthew for several seasons 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' wife, Rita Wilson, encouraged Hanks to cast Scott in the role.

Scott has had several other 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. He played Bert Cates in the film Inherit the Wind (1999) with George C. Scott and Jack Lemmon. 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 television film Surrender Dorothy. He appeared as one of Mandy Moore's character's boyfriends in the comedy Because I Said So, and starred in a Broadway theatre comedy, The Little Dog Laughed, as closeted film star Mitchell Green, written by Douglas Carter Beane. 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 the second season, he became a recurring character appearing in three of six episodes. In the third and fifth seasons, 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, Sister Cities, and portrayed an affable but amoral paramedic in Danger One. 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 2017, he co-starred in the film Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, and was a series regular on the TruTV sitcom I'm Sorry, starring alongside Andrea Savage for two seasons.

Personal life

Scott married Jenni Gallagher, whom he met at Syracuse University, on December 13, 1997. They have two children.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996That Thing You Do!Guy Patterson
1997An American Werewolf in ParisAndy McDermott
1998One True ThingBrian Gulden
Dead Man on CampusJosh Miller
River RedDave HoldenAlso producer
1999The Love LetterJohnny Howell
Top of the Food ChainGuy Fawkes
2000AttractionGarrett
Boiler RoomMichael Brantley
2002Van WilderElliot Grebb
2005Sexual LifeTodd
2006Air BuddiesBuddyVoice
2007Because I Said SoJason Grant
2008Snow BuddiesBuddyVoice
2009Race to Witch MountainMr. Matheson
Tanner HallGio
2011Mars Needs MomsMilo's DadVoice
2012Parental GuidancePhil Simmons
Santa Paws 2: The Santa PupsSanta PawsVoice
2013Enemies CloserHenry Taylor
2015BravetownJim
ForeverFred
2016Pup StarCharlieVoice
La La LandDavid
Vanished – Left Behind: Next GenerationDamon
2017The Last WordRonald Odom
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long HaulFrank Heffley
Pup Star: Better 2GetherCharlieVoice
2018CollusionsMartin
Danger OneDean
Back RoadsBrad Mercer
2019I Hate KidsNick Pearson
2020CloudsRob Sobiech
Sister of the GroomEthan
2021Finding YouMontgomery Rush
2023One True LovesMichael

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993Law & OrderCharles WilsonEpisode: "Pride and Joy"
1994CBS Schoolbreak SpecialMatt HansenEpisode: "Love in the Dark Ages"
1995–1997Grace Under FireMatthew5 episodes
1999Inherit the WindBertram CatesTelevision film
2000–2001The $treetJack T. Kenderson12 episodes
2001–2002PhillyWill FromanMain role, 22 episodes
2002–2003Do OverAdult Joel LarsenVoice, 13 episodes; uncredited
EREric Wyczenski8 episodes
2003Will & GraceAlexEpisode: "Strangers with Candice"
2004Justice League UnlimitedBooster GoldVoice, episode: "The Greatest Story Never Told"
Karroll's ChristmasAllen KarrollTelevision film
2005StackedGavin P. MillerEpisode: "Unaired Pilot"
2006SavedWyatt ColeMain role, 13 episodes
2008Cashmere MafiaJack Cutting3 episodes
Sons of AnarchyRosen
2008–2009Law & OrderGovernor Donald Shalvoy4 episodes
2009–2011Batman: The Brave and the BoldBooster GoldVoice, 8 episodes
2009–2013SouthlandDetective Russell ClarkeMain role, 17 episodes
2010The Devil's TeardropParker KincaidTelevision film
2011Bad MomTed Lacey
2012GCBAndrew Remington3 episodes
2013Independence DaysasterSam GarsetteTelevision film
BloodlineDr. Christopher Benson
2014Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, OhioJoe Matthews / Micah Matthias
Beauty and the BeastSam Landon5 episodes
Z NationCharles Garnett6 episodes
2015How to Get Away with MurderFather Andrew CrawfordEpisode: "The Night Lila Died"
Criminal MindsGreg SullivanEpisode: "Beyond Borders"
2015–2016ScreamKevin Duval6 episodes
ReignWilliam Cecil
2016ElementaryHenry BaskervilleEpisode: "Hounded"
Sister CitiesChief Barton BradyTelevision film
2017–201913 Reasons WhyMr. Down8 episodes
2017Christmas ConnectionJonathan MurphyTelevision film
2017–2019I'm SorryMike HarrisMain role, 20 episodes
2019God Friended MePaul LevineEpisode: "Prophet and Loss"
2020The Healing Powers of DudeMarvin FerrisMain role
Council of DadsScott PerryGuest role
2021Rise and Shine, Benedict StoneBen StoneTelevision film
The Good Father: The Martin MacNeill StoryMartin MacNeill
2022–2025The Summer I Turned PrettyAdam FisherSeries regular
2022Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic ChristmasSam HeskelTelevision film
2026ElleWyatt WoodsFilming

Video games

YearTitleRole
2004Call of Duty: Finest Hour
2010Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The VideogameBooster Gold

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
1998Stinkers Bad Movie AwardsWorst On-Screen Couple (shared with Mark-Paul Gosselaar)Dead Man on CampusNominated
1999Teen Choice AwardsChoice Hissy FitNominated
2009Tribeca Festival AwardsBest Narrative ShortGlockNominated
2017Gold Derby AwardsEnsemble Cast (shared with the cast)La La LandNominated

External links