Actor Neal McDonough was born on February 23, 1966 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Born to parents who emigrated from Ireland, he attended Syracuse University and eventually graduated with a BFA degree in 1988. From there, he trained briefly at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He quickly went to launch his acting career, making his debut as a bit player in the 1990 film Darkman. He went on to appear in numerous films and television movies, and also appeared as a guest in some prime time television series and as a voice actor in several animated television programs such as Aaahh!! Real Monsters and The Incredible Hulk.
McDonough became widely known to television viewers in the 2000s, when he appeared in numerous notable and memorable regular roles. After appearing in the acclaimed war miniseries Band of Brothers, he took a role in the crime drama Boomtown, where he played deputy district attorney David McNorris. Despite critical acclaim, the series never gained a foothold in the ratings and was cancelled in the middle of the second season. He then took the lead role in the short-lived medical drama Medical Investigation, where he appeared as former Army captain Stephen Connor.
In 2007, McDonough starred in the drama-thriller series Traveler, where he played homeland security official Jack Freed. It was cancelled after eight episodes, and fans’ petitions to bring the show back were unsuccessful. This was followed by a role in the miniseries Tin Man, a science fiction-themed reimagining of The Wizard of Oz; he appeared as Wyatt Cain, a former policeman who was locked up in an iron suit as a punishment for his opposition to the current regime. He most recently joined the cast of Desperate Housewives, playing Edie Britt’s (Nicollette Sheridan) new husband, Dave Williams.
McDonough also had a notable film career, with appearances in releases such as Minority Report, Walking Tall, Flags of our Fathers, The Guardian and I Know Who Killed Me.