With a career that spans nearly four decades, playing opposite Julia Roberts.

Mulroney was featured in several popular shows like Friends, New Girl, and Shameless. He has also had roles in several big franchise projects, such as Insidious: Chapter 3, Scream VI, and Secret Invasion.

10 Lovely & Amazing (2001)

Dermot Mulroney as Kevin McCabe

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Lovely & Amazing
Release Date
August 31, 2001
Runtime
91 minutes
Director
Nicole Holofcener
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Brenda Blethyn
    Jane Marks
  • Headshot Of Catherine Keener
    Catherine Keener
    Michelle Marks
  • Headshot Of Emily Mortimer
    Emily Mortimer
    Elizabebeth Marks
  • Headshot Of Raven Goodwin
    Raven Goodwin
    Annie Marks

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Lovely & Amazing is a film directed by Nicole Holofcener that focuses on the complexities of an eccentric family, exploring the lives of four women as they navigate personal challenges and aspire for redemption. Set against a backdrop of emotional turbulence, the story provides insight into their intertwined and tumultuous relationships.

Producers
Anthony Bregman, Eric d'Arbeloff, Jason Kliot, Joana Vicente, Ted Hope, Michael Kafka, Charles J. Rusbasan, Michael Escott

Lovely & Amazing was a strong sophomore outing for director Nicole Holofcener. Like most of Holofcener's filmography, Lovely & Amazing concerns itself with the relationships between men and women, as well as focusing on the workings of mother-daughter dynamics. It results in a touching, subdued film that feels as natural as watching friends have a conversation. It's quietly powerful, featuring a variety of complex characters who are just trying to figure everything out.

Dermot Mulroney doesn't have that much screen time in Lovely & Amazing, as the focus is on the four main female characters, but he is an integral character in the story. He plays heartthrob actor Kevin McCabe, whom Emily Mortimer's Elizabeth auditions alongside, eventually meeting for dinner and sleeping together despite her having a partner already. While he doesn't have a lot of complexity as a character, Mulroney exhibits all the charm that made him so appealing as an actor at the time.

9 The Grey (2011)

Dermot Mulroney as Jerome Talget

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The Grey
Release Date
January 27, 2012
Runtime
117 minutes
Director
Joe Carnahan

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

The Grey follows a group of oil workers who fend off a pack of hungry wolves in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash leaves them stranded in the Alaskan wilderness. The cast includes Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Nonso Anozie, and Joe Anderson.

Writers
Joe Carnahan, Ian Mackenzie Jeffers
Main Genre
Action
Budget
$25 million
Studio(s)
Open Road Films
Distributor(s)
Open Road Films

Underrated at the time of its release, The Grey is a gripping, survival thriller that stars Liam Neeson and ends with him fighting wolves. Released in 2011, The Grey tells of a group of oil men who are stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after their plane crashes. Not only must they contend with the freezing temperatures, but they are being hunted by a pack of Canadian grey wolves. Tense all the way through, the film was a vehicle for Neeson to show his star power.

Related
The Grey Ending Explained: Liam Neeson Vs The Alpha Wolf

The Grey's post-credit scene offers some closure as to Liam Neeson's fate with the alpha wolf, but it's incidental in the broader context of the film.

While The Grey focuses heavily on Liam Neeson's character, there are still a number of other important players. Among them is Dermot Mulroney's Jerome Talget, an openly Christian man who speaks highly of his daughter back home. Unfortunately, like every character besides Neeson's, Talget is eventually killed by the wolf pack after falling from a significant height. His death is one of the saddest in the film, as he pictures his daughter right before he dies.

8 Scream VI (2023)

Dermot Mulroney as Detective Wayne Bailey

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Scream VI
Release Date
March 10, 2023
Runtime
123 minutes
Director
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Scream VI, the next installment in the Scream horror franchise, follows four survivors of the latest Ghostface killings as they leave Woodsboro in search of a new beginning. Released in 2023, the film explores their efforts to escape their past while facing new threats in a different setting.

Writers
Guy Busick, James Vanderbilt, Kevin Williamson
Prequel(s)
Scream 4
Franchise(s)
Scream
Main Genre
Horror
Prequel
Scream 5
Budget
33–35 million
Studio(s)
Paramount Pictures
Distributor(s)
Paramount Pictures

Scream is one of the best horror franchises ever, and the original film is considered one of the most influential slashers of all time. After a successful trilogy and a fourth film a decade after that, the franchise was revived in 2022, with Scream 5, eventually taking the franchise to New York City in Scream 6. Despite being the sixth film in the series, Scream 6 was a strong one, containing all the meta-commentary and carnage fans of the series could hope for.

Scream 6 is the only film in the franchise where Neve Campbell didn't return as Sidney, but she'll be back for Scream 7.

Despite not appearing in a lot of horror films, Dermot Mulroney was an important character in Scream 6, playing Detective Wayne Bailey, who is assigned to work on the recent Ghostface case. Guessing who the killers are in a Scream film is part of the fun, and it was revealed that Mulroney was one of three this time around, working alongside his daughter and son to avenge his other son, Richie, one of the killers from Scream 5. It's fun to see Dermot Mulroney reveal himself to be one of the film's villains, and he's clearly having a blast.

7 New Girl (2012-2018)

Dermot Mulroney as Russell Schiller

New Girl Poster

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New Girl
TV-14
Comedy
Release Date
2011 - 2018-00-00
Network
FOX
Showrunner
Elizabeth Meriwether

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Zooey Deschanel stars as Jess in New Girl, a comedy series that follows a group of twentysomething roommates in their day-to-day lives. When Jess decides to leave her boyfriend of seven years after discovering he's been unfaithful, she finds a craigslist ad and becomes the roommate of three men around her age who desperately need to rent a room in their loft. Occasionally ed by Jess' best friend, the group builds a quirky, dysfunctional family dynamic as they enjoy life in Los Angeles. 

Writers
Elizabeth Meriwether
Number of Episodes
146
Seasons
7
Cinematographer
Russ T. Alsobrook
Creator
Elizabeth Meriwether
Distributor
20th Television
Main Characters
Jessica Day, Winston Bishop, Schmidt, Coach, Nick Miller, Cece
Production Company
Meriwether Productions, Chernin Entertainment, American Nitwits, Elizabeth Meriwether Pictures, 20th Century Fox Television

Premiering in 2011, New Girl was a popular sitcom revolving around the quirky performance of Zooey Deschanel's Jess as she moves into an apartment with three guys, finding love and friendship along the way. The series ran for seven seasons, and was incredibly funny, while also being heartfelt a lot of the time. The dynamics between the characters and their random humor are what made New Girl such an endearing show during its run.

Related
New Girl: All 7 Of Jess Day's Boyfriends Explained

New Girl saw Jess moving on from a painful break-up, and before settling down, she dated various men, all with a different story. Let's take a look.

Dermot Mulroney plays Russell Schiller, a wealthy single father to one of Jess' students. Introduced in season 1, Russell and Jess quickly start a relationship together, and he falls in love with her. Mulroney has all of his signature charm in the show, playing the older, more distinguished guy quite well. It's no wonder Nick Miller looked up to him, and was also a bit jealous at the same time.

6 Longtime Companion (1989)

Dermot Mulroney as John

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Longtime Companion
Release Date
October 11, 1989
Runtime
96 minutes
Director
Norman René
Writers
Craig Lucas
Producers
Lindsay Law

Cast

  • Headshot Of Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    David
  • Headshot Of Campbell Scott
    Campbell Scott
    Willy
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Patrick Cassidy
    Howard
  • headshot Of Mary-Louise Parker
    Mary-Louise Parker
    Lisa

Longtime Companion, released in 1989, is a drama depicting a group of friends in New York grappling with the emergence of the AIDS crisis during the summer of 1981. The film chronicles the impact of the epidemic on their lives as they confront fear, loss, and enduring bonds.

One of the earliest films in Dermot Mulroney's career, Longtime Companion chronicles the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. Telling the story over the course of nearly a decade, Longtime Companion is a heartbreaking look at the effects the epidemic had on gay men at the time, revolving around a group of friends. It's a sympathetic look at an incredibly tragic period, resulting in a poignant, understanding film.

It's a heartbreaking performance but one of the most important in his career.

Dermot Mulroney plays John, the first character to be diagnosed with AIDS, contracting pneumonia in the process. He dies shortly after being itted to the hospital, changing things forever. Mulroney is incredible in Longtime Companion despite it being so early in his career, giving John so much depth, as he tries to navigate his new diagnosis. It's a heartbreaking performance but one of the most important in his career.

5 Shameless (2015-2017)

Dermot Mulroney as Sean Pierce

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Shameless
Release Date
2011 - 2021-00-00
Network
Channel 4
Showrunner
John Wells

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Shameless is a Black Comedy, Family Drama created by Paul Abbott and starring William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, and Justin Chatwin. The premise follows the Gallagher family and their closest friends as they deal with a not-so-helpful father, Frank Gallagher. His children each find their own path, growing into their own flawed people without much guidance or help from the family patriarch.

Directors
John Wells
Writers
Paul Abbott
Producers
Charles Pattinson, Rob Glassborow, Claire Ingham, Michelle s, Johann Knobel, Jean Holdsworth, Tom Higgins, Tim Whitby, Susan Dunn, Paul Abbott, David Threlfall, Nick Goding, Matt Jones, Jonathan Leather, George Faber, Emma Burge, Ed McCardie, Diana Barton
Seasons
11
Story By
paul abbott
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix

First premiering in 2011, Shameless became one of the best modern television shows, running for a total of 11 seasons. The series revolves around the poor, dysfunctional Gallagher family, with William H. Macy's Frank as the head of the household, neglectful of his six children. Shameless is a black comedy and drama series, regularly depicting harrowing situations with a sense of levity and humor, although it can get quite serious at times. It's an incredible show that explores its characters in great depth.

Dermot Mulroney comes onto the show in season 5, playing Sean Pierce, a man recovering from heroin addiction who eventually begins a relationship with Fiona Gallagher, Frank's oldest daughter and one of the most important characters on the show. Eventually, Sean and Fiona get engaged before they ultimately split due to Sean's relapse. Mulroney is excellent in the role, tapping into the depth of Sean and how his past continues to inform his present.

4 Zodiac (2007)

Dermot Mulroney as Captain Marty Lee

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Zodiac
Release Date
March 2, 2007
Runtime
157 minutes
Director
David Fincher

WHERE TO WATCH

Zodiac is a crime thriller directed by David Fincher, detailing the true story of the unsolved Zodiac Killer case. Centered on journalist Paul Avery, detective David Toschi, and cartoonist Robert Graysmith, the narrative follows their intersecting paths as they attempt to uncover the identity of the elusive murderer.

Writers
James Vanderbilt
Main Genre
Crime
Budget
$65 million
Studio(s)
Phoenix Pictures
Distributor(s)
Paramount Pictures

Zodiac is one of the best films in David Fincher's career, an impressive feat given how incredible his filmography is. Zodiac is based on the real life case of the Zodiac killer, who was active in San Francisco in the late-60s and early-70s. The movie revolves around the detectives desperately trying to solve the mystery of who the killer is, featuring incredible performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr.

Related
Every David Fincher Movie, Ranked From Worst To Best

Over the course of his 28 year long career, David Fincher has crafted a distinct style that taps into humanity's most sinister and primal urges.

Dermot Mulroney doesn't have that big of a role in Zodiac, playing Marty Lee, the captain of the San Francisco Police Department. Despite not having a significant role, Mulroney fits right into the world that David Fincher crafted with Zodiac. He also had to wear a fat suit for his performance, given that Fincher thought he looked too fit for the role. Mulroney was fully committed to his character, even with the few scenes he had.

3 Friends (2003)

Dermot Mulroney as Gavin Mitchell

Friends TV Series Poster

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Friends
Release Date
1994 - 2004-00-00
Network
NBC
Showrunner
Marta Kauffman

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Friends is the popular sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, released back in 1994 and ran for ten seasons. The show follows a group of six twentysomethings through their lives in New York City and their time spent between their two apartments and their local coffee shop. The show features the group navigating tricky relationships with one another and comical misadventures.

Directors
David Crane, Marta Kauffman
Writers
David Crane, Marta Kauffman
Franchise(s)
Friends
Seasons
10
Story By
Marta Kauffman
Where To Watch
M

Friends is one of the most influential sitcoms of all time, and one of the best TV shows ever made. Enjoying immense popularity over the course of its 10-season run, Friends revolves around a group of six friends and their daily lives in New York City. The series is immensely funny, with some of the best-defined characters in the genre, with each playing a distinct role within the friend group. Few sitcoms have been able to recapture the magic of Friends.

Like most of his appearances on major TV shows, Mulroney doesn't have that big of a role in Friends, only appearing in three episodes in season nine. Despite that, he still gives a great performance with all the signature charm he is known for. Mulroney plays Gavin Mitchell, a coworker of Rachel's, and eventually starts a brief romantic fling with her.

2 My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Dermot Mulroney as Michael O'Neal

My Best Friends Wedding Film Poster

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My Best Friend's Wedding
Release Date
June 19, 1997
Runtime
105 Minutes
Director
P.J. Hogan

WHERE TO WATCH

Upon hearing of her friend Michael's engagement, Julianne Potter realizes she loves him and schemes to disrupt his wedding to win his heart.

Writers
Ronald Bass
Main Genre
Comedy
Budget
38000000.0
Studio(s)
TriStar Pictures, Zucker Brothers Productions, Predawn Productions
IMDb ID
tt0119738
TMDB Rating
6 .602

Alongside being arguably the most important role in Dermot Mulroney's career, My Best Friend's Wedding is just a really great romantic comedy, led by a fantastic performance by Julia Roberts. Just a few weeks after her 28th birthday, Julia Roberts' Julianne learns that her best friend is getting married, and discovers her feelings for him. After this realization, Julianne sets out to sabotage the wedding, leading to a hilarious series of events.

While Dermot Mulroney was regularly getting great roles prior to My Best Friend's Wedding, it was the Julia Roberts-led film that gave him his major breakthrough in Hollywood, becoming a leading man in the romantic comedy genre. He plays Michael O'Neal, best friend to Julianne and engaged to Cameron Diaz's Kimmy Wallace. His chemistry with Roberts is so good throughout, and Mulroney perfectly portrays the conflicted feelings Michael has throughout the movie.

1 Living In Oblivion (1995)

Dermot Mulroney as Wolf Überman

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Living in Oblivion
Release Date
July 21, 1995
Runtime
90 minutes
Director
Tom DiCillo

WHERE TO WATCH

Living in Oblivion follows Nick, a beleaguered director managing the chaotic production of a low-budget indie film. He contends with challenges including an insecure actress, a demanding star, a pretentious director of photography, and lackluster catering, all contributing to the ongoing turbulence on set.

Producers
Frank von Zerneck, Hilary Gilford, Marcus Viscidi

Just a few years before My Best Friend's Wedding made Dermot Mulroney a major Hollywood name, he was in his best film, Living in Oblivion. The movie stars Steve Buscemi as a low-budget indie film director trying to keep the production of his film together while dealing with a variety of issues. Living in Oblivion is a hilarious satirical black comedy with some incredible performances from Buscemi, Catherine Keener, and Dermot Mulroney.

Dermot Mulroney plays Wolf Überman, the pretentious cinematographer for Buscemi's film, who also happens to be immensely talented at his job. Mulroney is hilarious in the movie, really leaning into the character's narcissism to great effect. Dermot Mulroney's role as Wolf might not be his most emotionally demanding performance, but it is one of his best, showing his range as an actor with an incredibly funny turn as the character.