---
name: "Tom McGowan"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/tom-mcgowan"
fi1m_id: "tom-mcgowan"
imdb_id: "nm0569711"
tmdb_id: 77338
wikidata_id: "Q452991"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 July 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-05T00:35:42.357461+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Tom McGowan

## Identity

Tom McGowan

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tom-mcgowan
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** tom-mcgowan
- **IMDb ID:** nm0569711
- **TMDB ID:** 77338
- **Wikidata ID:** Q452991
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_McGowan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q452991, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569711/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/77338

Actor. Born 26 July 1959 in Belmar, New Jersey, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 July 1959, Belmar, New Jersey, USA
- **Active:** 1992–2001
- **Also known as:** Thomas McGowan, Thomas John McGowan
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 76 (5), 2000s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 67 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Drama 4, Romance 3, Adventure 1, Family 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,063m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_McGowan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q452991, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569711/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/77338

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Ghost World*](https://film.one/film/ghost-world.md) (84), [*The Birdcage*](https://film.one/film/the-birdcage.md) (81)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Tom McGowan is an American actor. He trained at Hofstra University and the Yale School of Drama, and first became known for his stage work. His Broadway debut in the 1991 production of *La Bête* earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play.

McGowan has appeared in films including *The Birdcage* (1996) as Harry Radman, *As Good as It Gets* (1997), *Sleepless in Seattle* (1993), *Ghost World* (2001) and *Bad Santa* (2003). On television he had recurring roles as Kenny Daly on *Frasier* (1993–2004) and as Bernie on *Everybody Loves Raymond* (1996–2004), and has guest-starred in series such as *Modern Family*, *Desperate Housewives* and *Veep*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Ghost World* (2001), Fi1m 84, as Joe — [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-world.md)
- *As Good as It Gets* (1997), Fi1m 77, as Maitre'd — [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md)
- *Bean* (1997), Fi1m 60, as Walter Merchandise — [page](https://film.one/film/bean.md)
- *The Birdcage* (1996), Fi1m 81, as Harry Radman — [page](https://film.one/film/the-birdcage.md)
- *Sleepless in Seattle* (1993), Fi1m 78, as Keith — [page](https://film.one/film/sleepless-in-seattle.md)
- *The Last of the Mohicans* (1992), Fi1m 84, as Rich Merchant — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-of-the-mohicans.md)

## Complete filmography (55)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Doctor Odyssey* (2024), series, as Burt Rubens
- *American Auto* (2021), series, as Ed
- *One Royal Holiday* (2020), as Ed Jordan
- *The Good Fight* (2017), series, as Jax Rindell
- *She Loves Me* (2016), as Sipos
- *Freeheld* (2015), as Bill Johnson
- *Veep* (2012), series, as Congressman Moyes — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md)
- *Just Peck* (2011), as Mr. Kuhner
- *Hot in Cleveland* (2010), series, as Robert
- *Modern Family* (2009), series, as Principal Roth — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md)
- *Eli Stone* (2008), series, as Donnie Griffiths
- *Greek* (2007), series, as Fred
- *Brothers and Sisters* (2006), series, as Luther Reeves
- *12 and Holding* (2006), as Patrick Fisher
- *Hannah Montana* (2006), series, as Leo
- *The War at Home* (2005), series, as Joe
- *After the Sunset* (2004), as Ed
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, as Mayor Franklin — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Noris Milk — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Complete Savages* (2004), series, as Reverend Dave
- *Dog Gone Love* (2004), as Bill
- *Bad Santa* (2003), as Harrison
- *The Pitts* (2003), series, as Officer Peltz
- *Oliver Beene* (2003), series, as Bob
- *8 Simple Rules* (2002), series, as Frank
- *Reba* (2001), series, as Inspector
- *Ghost World* (2001), as Joe — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-world.md)
- *The Family Man* (2000), as Bill
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as John Tyler — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Mark
- *Bull* (2000), series, Actor
- *The Huntress* (2000), series, Actor
- *Snoops* (1999), series, as Dirty Marty
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Mr. Moran
- *True Crime* (1999), as Tom Donaldson
- *As Good as It Gets* (1997), as Maitre'd — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md)
- *Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show* (1997), series, Actor
- *Bean* (1997), as Walter Merchandise — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/bean.md)
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as William Wright
- *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Dr. Newman / Dave (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md)
- *Sabrina, the Teenage Witch* (1996), series, as Principal Larue
- *Everybody Loves Raymond* (1996), series, as Bernie Gruenfelder
- *The Show* (1996), series, Actor
- *The Birdcage* (1996), as Harry Radman — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-birdcage.md)
- *Heavyweights* (1995), as Pat
- *ER* (1994), series, as Joe Bernero — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle* (1994), as Alexander Woollcott
- *Monty* (1994), series, as Clifford Walker
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Kenny Daly — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Searching for Bobby Fischer* (1993), as Reporter
- *Sleepless in Seattle* (1993), as Keith — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/sleepless-in-seattle.md)
- *Captain Ron* (1992), as Bill
- *The Last of the Mohicans* (1992), as Rich Merchant — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-of-the-mohicans.md)
- *Down the Shore* (1992), series, as Eddie Cheever
- *Coach* (1989), series, as Edgar

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1991: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/tom-mcgowan