# Tom Irwin (actor)
**Tom Irwin** (Thomas Edward Irwin) is an American actor born in 1956 in [Peoria, Illinois](https://www.edgepedia.org/peoria-illinois), known for stage work as a longtime ensemble member of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company and for television roles as Graham Chase on *My So-Called Life* (1994–95), Adrian Powell on *[Devious Maids](https://www.edgepedia.org/devious-maids)* (2013–2016), and Fred Micklen on *The Morning Show* (2019–2025).[1](https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Tom_Irwin) • [2](https://www.steppenwolf.org/people/tom-irwin)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956, Peoria, Illinois, United States[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/irwin-tom-1956) |
| Training | Illinois State University; joined Steppenwolf Theatre Company after graduation[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410464/) |
| Steppenwolf | Ensemble member since 1979; involved in over 50 productions as actor or director[2](https://www.steppenwolf.org/people/tom-irwin) |
| Breakout TV roles | Ben Miller in *My Life and Times* (1991); Graham Chase in *My So-Called Life* (1994–95, 19 episodes)[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410464/) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/13883/tom-irwin) |
| Later series roles | Father John Hanadarko in *Saving Grace* (2007–2010); Adrian Powell in *Devious Maids* (49 episodes, 2013–2016); Fred Micklen in *The Morning Show* (18 episodes, 2019–2025)[6](https://www.mafab.hu/people/tom-irwin-86804.html) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/13883/tom-irwin) |
| Stage awards | Joseph Jefferson Award, best supporting actor, 1982, for *The Glass Menagerie*; Drama Desk Award, outstanding ensemble performance, 1985, for *Balm in Gilead*[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/irwin-tom-1956) |
| Teaching | Faculty of the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University and Columbia College Chicago; class instructor at Steppenwolf Theater West in Los Angeles[2](https://www.steppenwolf.org/people/tom-irwin) |
## Stage career
Irwin trained at [Illinois State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/illinois-state-university) and joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company of Chicago after graduation, working alongside ensemble members including [Laurie Metcalf](https://www.edgepedia.org/laurie-metcalf), John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, and [Joan Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/joan-allen).[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410464/) He has been involved in more than 50 Steppenwolf productions as an actor or director.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410464/) His Steppenwolf acting highlights include *The Grapes of Wrath* (also performed at La Jolla and the Royal National Theatre in London), *Balm in Gilead* (also Off-Broadway), *My Thing of Love* (also Broadway), *The Homecoming*, *Three Sisters*, *Hedda Gabler*, *Frank's Wild Years* with Tom Waits, *Space*, *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof*, *The Seafarer* (also at the Geffen Playhouse), and *A Parallelogram* (also at the Mark Taper Forum).[2](https://www.steppenwolf.org/people/tom-irwin) He was last seen on the Steppenwolf stage in *The Christians*, which ran from December 2016 to January 2017.[2](https://www.steppenwolf.org/people/tom-irwin)
**Broadway and London.** Irwin made his Broadway debut in Steppenwolf's Tony Award-winning production of *The Grapes of Wrath* in 1990, originating the role of the narrator/ragman.[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/tom-irwin/) In the summer of 2002 he co-starred with Madonna in [David Williamson](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-williamson)'s play *Up for Grabs* at the Wyndham's Theatre in London, playing Gerry.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410464/) His other stage work outside Chicago includes *Fiction* at the Roundabout Theatre Company, *New England* at Manhattan Theatre Club, and *Much Ado About Nothing* with [Helen Hunt](https://www.edgepedia.org/helen-hunt) and *Pyrenees* at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles.[2](https://www.steppenwolf.org/people/tom-irwin)
He has described theater as his first love, telling *Backstage* that it requires more stamina and focus than screen work, though he stressed that television demands the same preparation and concentration.[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/keys-keep-stage-tom-irwin-15343/)
## Television
Irwin first came to primetime attention on the ABC series *My Life and Times* (1991), playing [Ben Miller](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-miller), an elderly man reminiscing in flashbacks on key moments of his life; the series ran six episodes.[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/tom-irwin/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410464/) His best-known television role followed on *My So-Called Life* (1994–95), the acclaimed ABC teen drama, in which he played Graham Chase, the father of Angela Chase ([Claire Danes](https://www.edgepedia.org/claire-danes)), opposite [Bess Armstrong](https://www.edgepedia.org/bess-armstrong) as his wife Patty.[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/tom-irwin/) The series gave substantial screen time to the parents' storylines, in part because Claire Danes was 13 when cast and her working hours were limited by child labor laws; producers ramped up plots for Patty and Graham, who experience a rocky patch in their marriage.[9](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-12-02/my-so-called-life-30th-anniversary) The show aired 19 episodes before cancellation on low ratings.[10](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/08/bess-armstrong-my-so-called-life) In its June 20, 2004 issue, *TV Guide* ranked Graham Chase number 49 on its list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time."[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410464/)
**Recurring and series-regular work.** Irwin played the Catholic priest Johnny Hanadarko, brother of the title character, in *Saving Grace* between 2007 and 2010.[11](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/tom-irwin/12251/) From 2013 to 2016 he was a main cast member of *Devious Maids* as Adrian Powell, the secretive husband of Evelyn Powell ([Rebecca Wisocky](https://www.edgepedia.org/rebecca-wisocky)), appearing in 49 episodes across the show's four seasons.[6](https://www.mafab.hu/people/tom-irwin-86804.html) • [12](https://deviousmaids.fandom.com/wiki/Tom_Irwin) Since 2019 he has played Fred Micklen, president of the network UBA, on Apple TV+'s *The Morning Show*, appearing in 18 episodes through 2025.[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/13883/tom-irwin) • [13](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/called-life-turns-30-see-133000770.html)
He has also made many guest appearances, including *ER*, *Frasier*, *24*, *Lost*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *Angel*, *Without a Trace*, *Grey's Anatomy*, *The Closer*, *Castle*, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *House of Lies*, *Criminal Minds*, and *How to Get Away with Murder*, where he played Justice Mark Spivey in 2018.[11](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/tom-irwin/12251/) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/13883/tom-irwin)
## Film
Irwin's film credits include FBI Agent Perry in *Midnight Run* (1988), Harvey in *Deceived* (1991), Patrick in *Mr. Jones* (1993), Lou in *The Haunting* (1999), Dr. Jones in *21 Grams* (2003), Dr. Sherman in *Marley & Me* (2008), Detective Archie Fishman in *The Bling Ring* (2011), Greene in *On the Basis of Sex* (2018), and Mr. Belport in *Amsterdam* (2022).[14](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/tom-irwin/) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/tom-irwin/)
## Teaching
Irwin has served on the faculty of the Goodman School of Drama at [DePaul University](https://www.edgepedia.org/depaul-university) and at Columbia College in Chicago, and he is a class instructor at Steppenwolf Theater West School of Drama in Los Angeles.[2](https://www.steppenwolf.org/people/tom-irwin) He makes his home in Los Angeles.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410464/)
## References
1. [Tom Irwin, Criminal Minds Wiki](https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Tom_Irwin)
2. [Tom Irwin, Steppenwolf Theatre](https://www.steppenwolf.org/people/tom-irwin)
3. [Irwin, Tom 1956–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/irwin-tom-1956)
4. [Tom Irwin, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410464/)
5. [Tom Irwin, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/13883/tom-irwin)
6. [Tom Irwin, Mafab.hu](https://www.mafab.hu/people/tom-irwin-86804.html)
7. [Tom Irwin, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/tom-irwin/)
8. [Actor Tom Irwin's 4 Keys to Keep You on Stage, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/keys-keep-stage-tom-irwin-15343/)
9. ['My So-Called Life' at 30, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-12-02/my-so-called-life-30th-anniversary)
10. [What Would Have Happened on My So-Called Life Season 2, Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/08/bess-armstrong-my-so-called-life)
11. [Tom Irwin: Filme, Serien und Biografie, Serienjunkies](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/tom-irwin/12251/)
12. [Tom Irwin, Devious Maids Wiki](https://deviousmaids.fandom.com/wiki/Tom_Irwin)
13. ["My So-Called Life" turns 30: See the cast then and now, Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/called-life-turns-30-see-133000770.html)
14. [Tom Irwin, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/tom-irwin/)
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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 I to Kh*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license