Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin | Rescue Me on FX

Denis Leary

Tommy Gavin

Denis Leary is "Tommy Gavin." Tommy has come to terms with his involvement in his nephew's accident, but Damian's haunting presence is a constant reminder that one false move could be Tommy's last. With a dry spell at the firehouse and things running like clockwork without him at home, Tommy jumps at the opportunity to spend time with a vibrant old friend. But after a devastating five-alarm fire, Tommy decides that he's ready for a change of pace in his life.

Career Highlights

Leary is a five-time loser at the Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences’ annual Emmy® Awards. Most recently, he lost in the category of Best Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or Movie for his role as Michael Whouley in HBO’s Recount. He was then nominated for a Golden Globe® for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for his role in Recount - but he lost. Leary has previously lost four times in the categories of Best Actor In A Drama and once for Best Writing In A Drama emanating from his work on FX’s critically acclaimed New York City firefighter drama, Rescue Me. He was also nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe® by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the same show, which he also acts as executive producer. 

Once again - he lost. Leary hopes to one day get nominated for - and more than likely not win - an Oscar®, a Grammy® and a Tony® Award. He has received some accolades, however. In 2006, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate In The Fine Arts from his obviously well-informed and very selective alma mater, Emerson College, located in Boston, Massachusetts. To celebrate this achievement and share his wit and wealth of knowledge with the rest of America, Dr. Denis Leary wrote Why We Suck - A Feel Good Guide To Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy And Stupid, which was published by Viking Press in November 2008. 

It spent almost six full months on the New York Times Bestseller List - much of that time in the top ten, including several weeks at the number four spot, thanks to an appearance on Oprah during which Winfrey simultaneously laughed at one of Dr. Leary’s comments and then hugged him. Denis’s mom - a practicing Catholic who ranks Oprah second only to the Pope in terms of earthly power - immediately forgave her son for every sin, slight and snide comment he committed during his childhood. Several days after his appearance on the show, Leary received a gift package in the mail from Harpo Productions. Now - at least three times a week – he can be found at the kitchen table sipping hot coffee from his Oprah mug while wearing a large fluffy bathrobe with the letter “O” emblazoned across the right breast pocket. 

Dr. Leary is pleased that Why We Suck not only changed the world, but also sold enough copies to pay for the university educations of his two children. And a boat. Denis really, really wants a boat. One of those big ones with people whose job it is to just be on the boat all the time in case - on some sudden whim or just a champagne bender - you decide you want to go for a ride on the ocean and look at giant fish. Like whales. Who are actually mammals. (What any mammal is doing still hanging around underwater while the rest of us are up here on dry land enjoying cheeseburgers, Heidi Klum and the internet is way beyond Leary’s area of expertise.) Leary thinks having full-time, boat-bound butlers would be pretty goddamn cool. 

Also, the more copies of Why We Suck he sells, the more likely it is he could get nominated for - and, of course, not receive - The National Book Award®. In his long and storied entertainment career Leary has also never won The Stanley Cup, The Nobel Peace Prize or an argument with his wife. 

John Scurti

as Lt. Kenny 'Lou' Shea

Though his health teeters in the balance, he takes on a godfather role for Tommy's children.