# John C. McGinley
**John C. McGinley** (John Christopher McGinley, born 1959 in New York, NY) is an American actor best known for playing Dr. [Perry Cox](https://www.edgepedia.org/perry-cox), the acerbic attending physician on the medical comedy *Scrubs*, and for a long run of supporting film roles in [Oliver Stone](https://www.edgepedia.org/oliver-stone) pictures and 1990s features such as *Seven*, *The Rock*, and *Office Space*.[1](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621216643)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | New York, NY, 1959; raised in Milburn, New Jersey[1](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621216643) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/john-c-mcginley/) |
| Breakthrough | Spotted by an Oliver Stone scout while understudying John Turturro off-Broadway; cast in *Platoon* (1986) as Sgt. O'Neill[3](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/06/not-just-a-tough-guy-actor-bri/) |
| Signature role | Dr. Perry Cox on *Scrubs*, 2001–2010, 182 episodes; Donald Faison and John C. McGinley both appeared in every episode of the series, while Zach Braff did not.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/john-c-mcginley/) • [12](https://www.looper.com/849569/the-only-two-actors-to-star-in-every-episode-of-scrubs/) |
| Stone collaborations | *Platoon*, *Wall Street*, *Talk Radio*, *Born on the Fourth of July*, *Nixon*, and *Any Given Sunday*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525) |
| Recognition | Television Critics Association Award nomination (2002) and Golden Satellite Award nomination (2003) for *Scrubs*[5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mcginley-john-c-1959-john-mcginley) |
| Recent work | Recurring as Dr. Cox in the *Scrubs* revival on ABC (2026) and as a series regular in Bill Lawrence's *Rooster*[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1258986/) • [7](https://apnews.com/article/e6f6cf173d61faf248e5946beca187a8) |
## Early life and stage beginnings
McGinley was born in New York and raised in Milburn, New Jersey, where he was involved in sports at Milburn High School; he discovered acting while a student at [Syracuse University](https://www.edgepedia.org/syracuse-university).[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/john-c-mcginley/) He is a 1984 graduate of New York University's graduate acting program.[3](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/06/not-just-a-tough-guy-actor-bri/) His early New York theater work included *The Ballad of Soapy Smith* and the original cast of [Eric Bogosian](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-bogosian)'s *Talk Radio* at the Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, and he appeared on Broadway in *Requiem for a Heavyweight*; he has often cited the director and producer Joseph Papp as the most instrumental force behind his career.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525)
## Breakthrough with Oliver Stone
**The understudy's break.** While working as an understudy to [John Turturro](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-turturro) in the Circle-In-The-Square production of [John Patrick Shanley](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-patrick-shanley)'s *Danny and the Deep Blue Sea*, McGinley was spotted by a scout for director Oliver Stone, who asked him to audition for *Platoon*.[3](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/06/not-just-a-tough-guy-actor-bri/) He was initially cast in a small role, but by the time the low-budget film went into production two years later he had been promoted to the larger part of the loud-mouthed Sgt. O'Neill, a role originally meant for John Spencer, who was by then busy in a Broadway show.[3](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/06/not-just-a-tough-guy-actor-bri/) • [8](https://www.ucd.ie/tribune/archives/issue2_web.pdf)
*Platoon* became an unexpected box office success, and Stone cast McGinley in five more films: *Wall Street*, *Talk Radio*, *Born on the Fourth of July*, *Nixon*, and *Any Given Sunday*, in which he played a broadcast sports reporter.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525) • [3](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/06/not-just-a-tough-guy-actor-bri/) McGinley has described Stone as giving him considerable latitude across these different roles.[8](https://www.ucd.ie/tribune/archives/issue2_web.pdf)
## Film career
Through the late 1980s and 1990s McGinley built a filmography of more than seventy films, including *Point Break* (1991, as FBI Agent Ben Harp), *Seven* (1995), *The Rock*, *Nothing to Lose*, *Set It Off*, *Office Space* (1999, as corporate consultant Bob Slydell), *Wild Hogs* (2007), and *Alex Cross* (2012).[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525) • [9](https://www.metacritic.com/person/john-c-mcginley/) He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of [Brooklyn Dodgers](https://www.edgepedia.org/brooklyn-dodgers) radio broadcaster Red Barber in *42* (2013), the life story of [Jackie Robinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/jackie-robinson).[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525) Television work outside *Scrubs* has included a father-like mentor figure to Michael Westen in *Burn Notice*, a role the show's creator Matt Nix wrote with McGinley in mind.[10](https://www.tvguide.com/news/burn-notice-john-mcginley-1049048/)
## Dr. Cox and Scrubs
*Scrubs*, created by Bill Lawrence, ran on NBC and later ABC from 2001 to 2010, and McGinley's Dr. Perry Cox became the show's breakout supporting character: a world-weary physician who rages sarcastically at the interns but is written, in McGinley's account, to function from love.[3](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/06/not-just-a-tough-guy-actor-bri/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525) McGinley, who had never starred in a television series before, described his technical approach to the show's fast-paced style as "hit your mark a la Spencer Tracy and talk as fast as you can."[3](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/06/not-just-a-tough-guy-actor-bri/)
The role earned him a Television Critics Association Award nomination for individual achievement in comedy in 2002 and a Golden Satellite Award nomination in 2003.[5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mcginley-john-c-1959-john-mcginley) McGinley has said that taking the series let him stay in Los Angeles near his son Max, who has [Down syndrome](https://www.edgepedia.org/down-syndrome), instead of traveling for film shoots; he is committed to building awareness and acceptance of people with Down syndrome.[3](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/06/not-just-a-tough-guy-actor-bri/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525)
## Stage work
McGinley's theater background remains substantial. He starred as Dave Moss in the Broadway revival of [David Mamet](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-mamet)'s Pulitzer Prize-winning *Glengarry Glen Ross*, alongside [Al Pacino](https://www.edgepedia.org/al-pacino) and [Bobby Cannavale](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-cannavale); the production ran through January 20, 2013, and Newsday called McGinley "especially dazzling as the hothead who plans the office crime."[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525)
## Later television and the Scrubs revival
From 2016 McGinley starred as the title character in IFC's scripted comedy-horror series *Stan Against Evil*, on which he also served as a producer.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525) Later credits include *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2021), the miniseries *Holidazed* (2024), and voice roles in animated series such as *Hamster & Gretel* and the *Dragons: Rescue Riders* films.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525)
**The 2026 revival.** A *Scrubs* revival premiered in 2026 on ABC after more than a decade and a half away, with McGinley returning as Dr. Cox on a recurring basis opposite [Zach Braff](https://www.edgepedia.org/zach-braff), Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, and [Judy Reyes](https://www.edgepedia.org/judy-reyes); Christa Miller rejoined later in the season as Cox's ex-wife and current partner Jordan.[11](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/john-c-mcginley-christa-miller-reunite-scrubs-big-feelings) In the revival's penultimate episode, Cox was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, and the finale revealed that his treatment was not having the desired effect.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1258986/) McGinley has said his availability was limited during the first revival season because he was shooting *Rooster* on the Warner Bros. lot while *Scrubs* filmed in Vancouver, and that if ABC orders a second season he expects Cox to return "much more," this time as a patient cared for by the doctors he once trained.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1258986/)
In *Rooster*, the Bill Lawrence comedy co-starring [Steve Carell](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-carell), McGinley plays the president of Ludlow College with a penchant for gossip; Lawrence wrote the character's daily backyard cold plunge and sauna ritual around a practice McGinley has kept for about 25 years.[7](https://apnews.com/article/e6f6cf173d61faf248e5946beca187a8)
## Off screen
McGinley is a partner at McGinley Entertainment Inc., an independent film production company with projects in development.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525) In May 2005 he delivered the keynote address at the commencement ceremony for the University of California San Francisco's School of Medicine.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525)
## References
1. [John C. McGinley, Apple Snapshot](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621216643)
2. [John C. McGinley, TV Insider person page](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/john-c-mcginley/)
3. [Not just a tough guy: Actor brings depth to 'Scrubs' role, TVWeek (June 3, 2002)](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/06/not-just-a-tough-guy-actor-bri/)
4. [John C. McGinley, IMDb biography and credits](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525)
5. [McGinley, John C. 1959–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mcginley-john-c-1959-john-mcginley)
6. ['Scrubs': John C. McGinley Teases 'Much More' Dr. Cox if Revival Returns for Season 2 at ABC, TV Insider (April 17, 2026)](https://www.tvinsider.com/1258986/)
7. [Good dad intentions are at the heart of Steve Carell's new series 'Rooster', AP News](https://apnews.com/article/e6f6cf173d61faf248e5946beca187a8)
8. [The most surprising thing about McGinley is the voice, UCD University Tribune](https://www.ucd.ie/tribune/archives/issue2_web.pdf)
9. [John C. McGinley, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/john-c-mcginley/)
10. [Burn Notice's John C. McGinley on Playing Michael's Mentor, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/burn-notice-john-mcginley-1049048/)
11. [What Was It Like For John C. McGinley And Christa Miller To Reunite On Scrubs?, CinemaBlend (March 2026)](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/john-c-mcginley-christa-miller-reunite-scrubs-big-feelings)
12. [The Only Two Actors To Star In Every Episode Of Scrubs - Looper](https://www.looper.com/849569/the-only-two-actors-to-star-in-every-episode-of-scrubs/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Mc to Mi*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license