Desmond Harrington
Desmond Harrington | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 19, 1976 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1999–present |
Desmond Harrington(born October 19, 1976)[1]is an American actor. He made his film debut in 1999, playingJean d'AuloninThe Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.His later credits includeRiding in Cars with Boys,The Hole(both 2001),Ghost Ship,We Were Soldiers(both 2002),Love Object,Wrong Turn(both 2003),The Dark Knight Rises(2012), andThe Neon Demon(2016).
On television, Harrington played"Joey" QuinnonShowtime'sDexter(2008–2013), Jack Bass onthe CW'sGossip Girl(2009–2012),Alan Shepardin theABCminiseriesThe Astronaut Wives Club(2015), Michael Rowan onCBS'sElementary(2018), andLouis Freehon thesecond seasonofSpectrum'sManhunt(2020).
Early life
[edit]Harrington was born inSavannah, Georgia,and raised in theKingsbridgesection ofthe Bronx,New York City.[2]He attendedSt. Margaret's SchoolandFordham Preparatory School.[2]He later attendedManhattan College,but dropped out after six weeks.[2]He worked as a waiter and bartender while taking acting classes at theHB StudioinGreenwich Village.[2]
Career
[edit]1999–2002: Film debut and horror genre work
[edit]Harrington made his professional debut when he was picked from 350 hopefuls to playJean d'Aulon,bodyguard toJoan of Arc,inLuc Besson's epic historical dramaThe Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc(1999).[2]Following smaller parts in the comedy-dramasRiding in Cars with BoysandMy First Mister(both 2001),[3]he had major roles in a succession of genre features: British psychological thrillerThe Hole(2001),Dark Castle's commercially successfulGhost Ship(2002),[4]rural teen slasherWrong Turn(2003),[5]and the independent dark comedy-horror,Love Object(2003).[6]For his portrayal of Kenneth in the latter—an introvert who forms an obsessive relationship with a sex doll—Harrington was awarded Best Actor at theMálaga Fantastic Film Festival.[7]During this same time, he played the recurring role ofJesse Keys,an abductee of aliens, in theSteven Spielberg-produced sci-fi miniseriesTaken(2002).[8]
2003 onwards: Move into television
[edit]Following his headline appearance as Det. Jimmy McCarron on the second season ofL.A. Dragnet(2003–2004), Harrington starred on the short-livedABCsitcomSons & Daughters(2006), which drew attention for its use ofimprovisationand absence of a traditionallaugh track.[9][10]He then joined the cast of theShowtimecrime thriller seriesDexterin itsthird season,playing"Joey" Quinn,a smart-mouthed detective. During his five years on the show (2008–2013), he was nominated on four occasions—along with his co-stars—for theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble.Between 2009 and 2012, Harrington played the recurring role of Jack Bass, an irresponsible businessman, onthe CW'sGossip Girl.[11]
In March 2012, Harrington guest-starred in theseason three premiereof theneo-Westerndrama seriesJustified,playing Fletcher "the Ice Pick" Nix. In his review of the episode forEntertainment Weekly,Ken Tuckercommented, "In a very nice performance utterly unlike anything he does onDexter,Harrington let his hair get all bed-heady and spoke in a mumble-mouth drawl as he set up his favorite sadistic game: He lays a gun on a table, and has someone count down from 10. At "1," you're invited to reach for the gun, but that's when Ice Pick earns his nickname: He pulls out an ice pick, stabs your hand to the table, picks up the gun, and shoots you ".[12]Next, Harrington featured in a small but pivotal role inChristopher Nolan'sThe Dark Knight Rises(2012),[13]co-starred asAlan Shepard—the first American astronaut to travel to space—in theCBSminiseriesThe Astronaut Wives Club(2015), and appeared as Jack, a lecherous photographer, inNicolas Winding Refn's critically divisivearthousethriller,The Neon Demon(2016).[14]
On thesixth seasonofElementary(2018), a contemporary spin onSherlock Holmes,Harrington played Michael Rowan, a serial killer struggling with sobriety.[15]His next role wasLouis Freeh,formerhead of the FBI,on thesecond seasonofSpectrum'sManhunt(2020).[16]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc | Aulon | |
| 2000 | Boiler Room | JT Marlin Trainee | Uncredited |
| 2000 | Massholes | Bing | |
| 2000 | Drop Back Ten | Spanks Voley | |
| 2001 | Riding in Cars with Boys | Bobby | |
| 2001 | The Hole | Mike Steel | |
| 2001 | My First Mister | Randy Harris, Jr. | |
| 2002 | Life Makes Sense If You're Famous | Jay | |
| 2002 | Ghost Ship | Jack Ferriman | |
| 2002 | We Were Soldiers | Sp4. Bill Beck | |
| 2003 | Wrong Turn | Chris Flynn | |
| 2003 | Love Object | Kenneth Winslow | |
| 2004 | Three Way | Ralph Hagen | |
| 2006 | Taphephobia | Mike Hollister | |
| 2006 | Bottoms Up | Rusty #1 | |
| 2007 | Fort Pit | Mike Sokeletski | |
| 2008 | Exit Speed | Sam Cutter | |
| 2009 | Timer | Dan the Man | |
| 2009 | Life Is Hot in Cracktown | Benny | |
| 2009 | Not Since You | Sam Nelson | |
| 2012 | The Dark Knight Rises | Uniform | |
| 2016 | The Neon Demon | Jack McCarther |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Taken | Jesse Keys – Adult | 3 episodes |
| 2003–2004 | L.A. Dragnet | Det. Jimmy McCarron / Det. Dexter McCarron | Main cast (Season 2) |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Tim Rainey | Episode: "Vacancy" |
| 2006 | Kidnapped | Kenneth Cantrell | Episode: "Special Delivery" |
| 2006–2007 | Sons & Daughters | Wylie Blake | 9 episodes |
| 2007 | Rescue Me | Troy Vollie | Recurring (season 4) |
| 2008–2013 | Dexter | Det. Joseph Quinn | Recurring (season 3); main cast (seasons 4–8) |
| 2009–2012 | Gossip Girl | Jack Bass | Recurring (seasons 2–3, 5); guest (seasons 4, 6) |
| 2012 | Justified | Fletcher 'The Ice Pick' Nix | Episode: "The Gunfighter" |
| 2014 | Those Who Kill | Det. Nico Bronte | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | The Astronaut Wives Club | Alan Shepard | 10 episodes |
| 2015 | Limitless | Agent Casey Rooks | 3 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Shooter | Lon Scott | Recurring (season 1) |
| 2017–2018 | Sneaky Pete | Joe | Recurring (seasons 1–2) |
| 2017 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Officer Maldack | Episode: "Moo Moo" |
| 2018 | Elementary | Michael Rowan | Main cast (season 6) |
| 2020 | Manhunt | FBI HeadLouis Freeh | Recurring (season 2) |
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Málaga Fantastic Film Festival | Best Actor | Love Object | Won |
| 2005 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Best Actor | Love Object | Nominated |
| 2009 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Dexter | Nominated |
| 2010 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Dexter | Nominated |
| 2011 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Dexter | Nominated |
| 2012 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Dexter | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^"Desmond Harrington".TV Insider.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
- ^abcdeNew York Daily NewsStaff (November 14, 1999)."From St. Margaret's to St. Joan, Bronx Actor Gets His Big Break in 'The Messenger'".New York Daily News.Archivedfrom the original on November 13, 2023.
- ^Vice, Jeff (October 26, 2001)."Film review: My First Mister".Deseret News.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
(That's not meant to slight veteran comic character actors Kane, Michael McKean, Mary Kay Place and John Goodman, as well as newcomer Desmond Harrington, all of whom lend able support.)
- ^"Ghost Ship (2002)".The Numbers.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
- ^"Wrong Turn review".Total Film.June 27, 2003.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
And while there's a smattering of bad dialogue and the obligatory emphasis on pert breasts straining in tiny tops, the two leads (Desmond Harrington and Eliza Dushku) emerge as intelligent, capable characters, consistently exhibiting resourcefulness to outwit their pursuers.
- ^Gingold, Michael (February 17, 2003)."Review: Love Object".Fangoria.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
Most crucially, he and Harrington maintain a level of empathy for Kenneth; for all his social awkwardness, he's a likable guy at first, and the understanding the director and actor build for him keep the audience rooting for his and Lisa's relationship to work out.
- ^"Love Object".Pressman Film.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
- ^"Taken - The Keys Family".BBC Cult.RetrievedApril 23,2024.
- ^"Improvisation is the key to 'Sons & Daughters'".Today.com.February 27, 2006.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
- ^"Improv sparks 'Sons & Daughters,' a family sitcom easy to adopt".SFGate.March 7, 2006.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
- ^"Gossip Girl brings back 'Jack'".TVLine.com.January 12, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon March 19, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 4,2012.
- ^Tucker, Ken (January 17, 2012)."'Justified' season premiere review ".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
- ^"'Dark Knight Rises' Cast: Who 'Was' That Guy ".MTV.com.July 22, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon March 28, 2023.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
- ^"The Neon Demon".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedMarch 25,2024.
- ^Saclao, Christian (May 2, 2018)."'Elementary' EP On What Makes Desmond Harrington's Michael A Unique Villain ".International Business Times.RetrievedMarch 26,2024.
- ^Petski, Denise (June 13, 2019)."'Manhunt: Lone Wolf': Arliss Howard, Desmond Harrington, Kelly Jenrette & Ness Bautista Join Spectrum-Lionsgate Anthology Series ".Deadline.RetrievedApril 23,2024.
