Dylan McDermott Net Worth

What is Dylan McDermott's Net Worth and Salary?

Dylan McDermott is an American actor who has a net worth of $12 million. Dylan McDermott is a versatile and charismatic actor whose career spans more than three decades across television, film, and stage. He rose to prominence in the mid-1990s with his breakout role as bipolar detective Bobby Goren on the hit TV series "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," earning critical acclaim and a loyal fan base. Prior to that, he made impactful early appearances in films such as "In the Line of Fire" and "Steel Magnolias," showcasing his capacity for both dramatic intensity and emotional vulnerability. His success on the big screen continued with noteworthy parts in "The Practice," where he portrayed the drives and moral conflicts of attorney Bobby Donnell, and later in the beloved ensemble film "American Horror Story," where he brought depth to characters like Ben Harmon. McDermott has skillfully navigated genre shifts—from psychological thrillers to legal drama—while maintaining a compelling screen presence.

In addition to his screen work, McDermott has shown dedication to theater, earning acclaim for performances in productions like "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "American Buffalo." His commitment to his craft, emotional range, and consistently strong performances have cemented his place as a respected and adaptable actor in Hollywood. Whether leading a series, anchoring a courtroom drama, or tackling live theater, McDermott delivers roles with nuance, intelligence, and depth.

Early Life

Dylan McDermott was born Mark Anthony McDermott on October 26, 1961, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to teenage parents—his mother Diane was 15, and his father Richard was 17. After their divorce in 1967, Dylan and his younger sister were raised by their maternal grandmother, Avis Marino. That same year, tragedy struck when his mother was shot and killed under suspicious circumstances. Though originally ruled an accident, investigators later concluded there was enough evidence to charge Diane's boyfriend, John Sponza, with her murder. Sponza, who reportedly had ties to organized crime, was himself killed in 1972, his body found stuffed in the trunk of a car in Massachusetts.

During his teenage years, McDermott spent time in New York City with his father, who ran the West Fourth Street Saloon in Greenwich Village. There, he developed a fascination with classic Hollywood icons like Marlon Brando and Humphrey Bogart, mimicking their mannerisms and sparking an early interest in performance.

His life took a pivotal turn when his father's third wife, playwright Eve Ensler, legally adopted him at age 15. Just 23 at the time, Ensler would later rise to international fame as the creator of "The Vagina Monologues." She recognized McDermott's potential and became his creative champion—writing parts for him in her early plays and encouraging him to pursue a professional acting career. After taking the name "Dylan" in honor of a child Ensler had lost to miscarriage, McDermott enrolled at Fordham University and began formal acting training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.

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Acting Career

Dylan McDermott made his screen debut in the 1987 Vietnam War film "Hamburger Hill." By the end of the 1980s, he had landed roles in notable projects including "Steel Magnolias" (1989), in which he starred opposite Julia Roberts, as well as "Twister" and the TV movie "Neon Empire." His breakout moment came in 1993 with the political thriller "In the Line of Fire," where he earned praise for his performance alongside Clint Eastwood.

That success helped launch McDermott into television stardom. In 1997, he took on the role of attorney Bobby Donnell in the acclaimed ABC legal drama "The Practice." The series ran for eight seasons, with McDermott front and center through most of its run. His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Drama and a Primetime Emmy nomination. He was also twice named to People magazine's list of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World." Despite his popularity, he was unexpectedly dropped from the final season due to budget cuts and network pressure, according to creator David E. Kelley.

After leaving the show, McDermott starred opposite Julianna Margulies in the 2004 miniseries "The Grid" and returned to the stage in 2006 with Eve Ensler's play "The Treatment." He went on to headline several TV series throughout the 2000s and 2010s, including "Big Shots" (2007), "Dark Blue" (2009–2010), and the anthology hit "American Horror Story," in which he played multiple roles across several seasons, including Ben Harmon and Johnny Morgan.

In the 2010s, McDermott appeared in a range of feature films like "The Campaign," "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and "Nobody Walks" (all in 2012), while continuing to take on lead roles in network series. He starred in CBS thrillers "Hostages" (2013) and "Stalker" (2014), though both were short-lived.

More recently, McDermott found new career momentum with his performance as crime boss Richard Wheatley on NBC's "Law & Order: Organized Crime," which later led to him taking over as the new lead of "FBI: Most Wanted." His commanding screen presence and brooding intensity have allowed him to successfully reinvent himself as a staple of modern network procedurals.

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Other Projects and Pursuits

McDermott launched his first photography exhibition, "The Dylan Project, Make Some Noise!" in Montreal, Quebec, at Avenue Art Gallery. The exhibition was a collaboration with Art Agent Marina Cutler in support of The V-Day Organization, which supports women who have suffered violent acts of aggression. The exhibition was a way for McDermott to combine his support for the organization with his love of photography and raise funds and awareness for a good cause.

Personal Life

Dylan McDermott married actress Shiva Rose on November 19, 1995. They have two daughters together, Colette and Charlotte. Reflecting McDermott's close relationship with playwright Eve Ensler, his daughter Colette's birth features prominently in Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues." McDermott filed for divorce in May 2008, and it was finalized in January 2009. McDermott began dating his "Stalker" co-star Maggie Q after meeting on-set in early 2014, and they announced their engagement in January 2015. However, the couple split after a four-year engagement in February 2019.

Real Estate

Over the years, Dylan McDermott has made several notable real estate moves on both coasts. In 1999, he purchased a Spanish-style hacienda in Brentwood, Los Angeles for around $4 million—a home previously owned by Michelle Pfeiffer and Antonio Banderas. Following his 2009 divorce from Shiva Rose, he listed the property for $11 million but ultimately sold it later that year for approximately $6.5 million after multiple price reductions. In 2010, McDermott bought a one-bedroom co-op in New York's Chelsea neighborhood for $701,000, signaling a shift toward a more modest East Coast lifestyle. In 2022, he was spotted touring a $2.8 million Manhattan condo, though it's unclear whether he completed the purchase.

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