Dylan McDermott is an American film and television actor born on October 26, 1961 in Waterbury, Connecticut. The son of an Italian-American mother and an Irish-American father, his parents divorced when he was very young, and his mother was accidentally shot and killed when he was five years old. He was later adopted by Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues. With his foster mother’s encouragement, he pursued an acting career and studied at Fordham University, as well as The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. Among the movies he’s acted in are In the Line of Fire, Where Sleeping Dogs Lie, and Jersey Girl.
Bobby Donnell is portrayed by Dylan McDermott in the Emmy Award-winning legal drama series The Practice. The head of the Donnell and Associates law firm, he claims that his father Stephen Donnell is also a rich and successful lawyer who likewise works at his own firm. However, Stephen is actually a janitor. Bobby was raised in a Roman Catholic home, and though he often feels conflict about his faith, he tries to remain devout in his childhood beliefs. His parish priest is one of his longtime friends and counselors, who gave him guidance after his mother passed away. He studied at Suffolk University Law School.
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