# Will McCormack
**Will McCormack** (born 1974) is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director who won the [Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film](https://www.edgepedia.org/academy-award-for-best-animated-short-film) as co-writer and co-director of *[If Anything Happens I Love You](https://www.edgepedia.org/if-anything-happens-i-love-you)* (2020), and who is known in film for co-writing *Celeste & Jesse Forever* (2012) and in television for playing Jason La Penna on HBO's *The Sopranos*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | William Joseph McCormack Jr.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566489/) |
| Born | 1974, Plainfield, New Jersey, USA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566489/) |
| Education | B.A., Trinity College, Hartford, CT; studied acting and dance at Amakhosi Theatre, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mccormack-will-1974) |
| Signature work | *If Anything Happens I Love You* (2020), Academy Award winner, co-written and co-directed with Michael Govier[3](https://www.trincoll.edu/alumniandfamilies/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/03/Will-McCormack-Bio.pdf) |
| Other major credits | Co-writer of *Celeste & Jesse Forever* (2012) and original story writer on *Toy Story 4* (2019)[3](https://www.trincoll.edu/alumniandfamilies/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/03/Will-McCormack-Bio.pdf) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566489/) |
| Theater award | Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actor, 2004, for *The Long Christmas Ride Home*[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mccormack-will-1974) |
| Executive producer credits | *Claws* (2017–2022), *Kevin Can F**k Himself* (2021–2022)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566489/) |
## Background and training
McCormack is the son of William McCormack and the younger brother of actress [Mary McCormack](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-mccormack); IMDb's biographical notes also identify him as the brother of University of Michigan law professor Bridget Mary McCormack[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mccormack-will-1974) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566489/). He earned a B.A. at Trinity College in [Hartford, Connecticut](https://www.edgepedia.org/hartford-connecticut), and studied acting and dance at the Amakhosi Theatre in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mccormack-will-1974).
His film debut came in the 1997 indie comedy *Colin Fitz Lives!*, playing opposite his sister Mary[4](https://www.fandango.com/people/will-mccormack-440336).
## Acting career
McCormack built his screen profile largely through television. He played Jason La Penna on HBO's *The Sopranos*, Leo Spiller on FX's *Dirt*, Ethan Tavis on ABC's *Brothers & Sisters*, and Robert O'Conner on USA's *In Plain Sight*, with guest appearances on *The Office*, *Medium*, *CSI*, *CSI: NY*, and *The Shield*[5](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/will-mccormack). His film roles include *Boiler Room* (2000), *American Outlaws* (2001), *Elf*, *[Syriana](https://www.edgepedia.org/syriana)*, *Must Love Dogs*, *Right at Your Door*, and *A Wrinkle in Time*[5](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/will-mccormack) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566489/).
On stage, he debuted on Broadway in a revival of *Summer and Smoke* at the Criterion Center Stage, and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in 2004 for Paula Vogel's *The Long Christmas Ride Home* at the Vineyard Theatre[5](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/will-mccormack) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mccormack-will-1974).
## Writing and directing
**Celeste & Jesse Forever.** McCormack co-wrote the 2012 romantic dramedy *Celeste & Jesse Forever* with actor [Rashida Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/rashida-jones), his friend of many years; the two had dated briefly in the late 1990s and remained close friends. The film stars Jones and [Andy Samberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/andy-samberg) as separated spouses trying to preserve a friendship, and McCormack also appears on screen as Skillz, a pot-dealing friend of Celeste's[6](https://thescorecardreview.com/tsr/articles/interviews/2012/08/09/tsr-exclusive-celeste-and-jesse-forever-interview-with-writingacting-duo-rashida-jones-and-will-mccormack/33121) • [7](https://www.shockya.com/news/2012/08/01/exclusive-will-mccormack-talks-celeste-and-jesse-forever-frenemy-of-the-state/). Jones described their complementary process: McCormack was strong on dialogue and detail while she handled structure, and they wrote the script side by side on one computer[8](https://www.openlettersmonthlyarchive.com/hammer-and-thump/interview-celeste-and-jesse-forevers-co-writers-and-co-stars-rashida-jones-and-will-mccormack). The screenplay brought McCormack an Independent Spirit Award nomination[3](https://www.trincoll.edu/alumniandfamilies/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/03/Will-McCormack-Bio.pdf).
The partnership continued on NBC's short-lived series *A to Z*, which Jones produced with McCormack as her writing partner[9](https://time.com/93212/cristin-milioti-a-to-z/), and on story work for Pixar's *[Toy Story](https://www.edgepedia.org/toy-story-franchise) 4* (2019)[3](https://www.trincoll.edu/alumniandfamilies/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/03/Will-McCormack-Bio.pdf).
**If Anything Happens I Love You.** McCormack's directorial debut was the animated short *If Anything Happens I Love You* (2020), about parents grieving a daughter killed in a school shooting, co-written and co-directed with Michael Govier; the film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and McCormack and Govier adapted it into a graphic novel published in 2022[3](https://www.trincoll.edu/alumniandfamilies/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/03/Will-McCormack-Bio.pdf).
## Producing
McCormack has worked extensively as an executive producer in television, including 40 episodes of TNT's *Claws* (2017–2022) and 16 episodes of *[Kevin Can F**k Himself](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-can-f-k-himself)* (2021–2022), along with the podcast series *The Don: Don Simpson* (2022)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566489/). He also directed the 2024 short *A Swim Lesson*[10](https://followthecredits.com/creator/will-mccormack).
Later projects named in a Trinity College alumni profile include the animated feature *Sandcastle* for [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max) and *The War and Treaty*, a screenplay written with Craig Borten (*Dallas Buyers Club*) to be produced by [John Legend](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-legend) and directed by Numa Perrier[3](https://www.trincoll.edu/alumniandfamilies/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/03/Will-McCormack-Bio.pdf).
## Personal life
McCormack has been married to actor Emily Arlook since September 24, 2013, and they have two children[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566489/).
## References
1. [Will McCormack, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566489/)
2. [McCormack, Will 1974–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mccormack-will-1974)
3. [Will McCormack '96, Trinity College alumni bio](https://www.trincoll.edu/alumniandfamilies/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/03/Will-McCormack-Bio.pdf)
4. [Will McCormack biography, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/will-mccormack-440336)
5. [Will McCormack, LA Theatre Works artist profile](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/will-mccormack)
6. [TSR Exclusive: 'Celeste and Jesse Forever' Interview with Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, The Scorecard Review](https://thescorecardreview.com/tsr/articles/interviews/2012/08/09/tsr-exclusive-celeste-and-jesse-forever-interview-with-writingacting-duo-rashida-jones-and-will-mccormack/33121)
7. [Exclusive: Will McCormack Talks Celeste and Jesse Forever, Frenemy of the State, ShockYa](https://www.shockya.com/news/2012/08/01/exclusive-will-mccormack-talks-celeste-and-jesse-forever-frenemy-of-the-state/)
8. [Interview: Celeste and Jesse Forever's Co-Writers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, Open Letters Monthly](https://www.openlettersmonthlyarchive.com/hammer-and-thump/interview-celeste-and-jesse-forevers-co-writers-and-co-stars-rashida-jones-and-will-mccormack)
9. [Watch the Trailer for How I Met Your Mother's Mother's New Show, A to Z, TIME](https://time.com/93212/cristin-milioti-a-to-z/)
10. [Will McCormack, Follow The Credits](https://followthecredits.com/creator/will-mccormack)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Film and television directors › Directors of the United States and Canada › Contemporary film directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; 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