Biography
Who is Denis Leary?
Early life and education
Denis Leary Colin Leary was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on August 18, 1957. His parents were Catholic immigrants who moved to the United States from Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. His mother worked as a maid, and his father was employed as an auto mechanic. Growing up, he attended Saint Peter-Marian High School in his hometown of Worcester before moving on to higher education.
For college, Denis attended Emerson College located in Boston. While studying there, he established the Emerson Comedy Workshop, a student troupe that remains active on campus. He graduated from Emerson in 1981 and subsequently taught comedy-writing classes at the institution for a period of five years. In May 2005, his alma mater awarded him an honorary doctorate.
Rise to fame and comedy career
Denis began his path as a stand-up comedian by performing at the Boston underground club Play It Again Sam's. His television debut took place at the Rascals Comedy Club on October 18, 1990. During his time in the local comedy scene, he developed a distinctive stage persona characterized by rapid-fire rants on various cultural topics. He earned wider attention through appearances on MTV, which included comedic sketches and commercials where he ranted at high speeds.
In 1993, his sardonic song titled Asshole achieved significant notoriety and topped the Triple J Hottest 100 poll. He released his first comedy record, No Cure for Cancer, in 1993, followed by Lock 'n Load in 1997. Later in his career, he launched the Rescue Me Comedy Tour and starred in the Comedy Central special titled Douchebags and Donuts, which premiered on television in January 2011.
Film and television success
Denis expanded his career into acting during the 1990s, taking on substantial roles in numerous feature films. His film credits include Judgment Night, Demolition Man, The Ref, Wag the Dog, Suicide Kings, and The Thomas Crown Affair. He also lent his voice to several animated projects, portraying Francis in A Bug's Life and Diego in the Ice Age film franchise.
In the 2000s, Denis developed and starred in the television series The Job. He then co-created and starred in the FX drama Rescue Me, which ran from 2004 to 2011 and earned him multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He received another Emmy nomination for his performance in the political drama film Recount. Later, he wrote and starred in the comedy series Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll and played a recurring role in Law & Order: Organized Crime.
Personal life
Denis married author Ann Lembeck Leary in 1989 after meeting her when he served as her instructor in an English class at Emerson College. The couple has two children together. They divide their time between a residence in Tribeca, Manhattan, and a house located in Katonah, New York. In addition to his entertainment career, Denis is known to be an avid sports fan, supporting Boston sports teams and narrating documentary projects related to the Boston Bruins.
Birthday and age
Denis Leary was born on August 18, 1957, which makes Denis 69 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Denis shares the date with 33 other famous people.
Explore more
