Thomas Joseph McCarthy
,
New Jersey, United States
Birthday
1966-06-07
Occupation
Director, Screenplay
Spouse(s)
Years Active
1992-present
Biography
Thomas Joseph "Tom" McCarthy (born June 7, 1966) is an American film director, screenwriter, and actor who has appeared in several films, including Meet the Parents and Good Night, and Good Luck, and television series such as The Wire, Boston Public, Law & Order, and the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of Saint Maybe. McCarthy has received critical acclaim for his writing/direction work for the independent films The Station Agent (2003), The Visitor (2007), Win Win (2011), and Spotlight (2015), the latter of which he was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Academy Award for Best Director. Additionally, McCarthy co-wrote the film Up (2009) with Bob Peterson and Pete Docter, for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. McCarthy also wrote the film Million Dollar Arm (2014).
McCarthy was raised in New Providence, New Jersey, one of five children of Carol and Eugene F. "Gene" McCarthy. His father worked in the textile industry. He was raised Catholic, in a family of Irish descent. McCarthy is a graduate of New Providence High School in New Providence, New Jersey; Boston College, Class of 1988; and the Yale School of Drama, where he studied under Earle R. Gister. McCarthy also starred in Flags of Our Fathers as James Bradley. McCarthy starred in the final season of The Wire as a morally challenged reporter named Scott Templeton. He made his Broadway debut in the 2001 Revival of Noises Off!
McCarthy's directorial debut, The Station Agent, which he also wrote, won the Audience Award and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. The film also won the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award. The Station Agent also won awards at film festivals ranging from San Sebastian to Stockholm, Mexico City, and Aspen.
McCarthy's second feature film was The Visitor, which premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. For The Visitor, McCarthy won the 2008 Independent Spirit Award for Best Director. McCarthy appeared in the 2009 dramas The Lovely Bones and 2012. In 2010, McCarthy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the animated film Up. He also co-wrote and directed 2011's Win Win based on his experiences as a wrestler at New Providence High School. McCarthy's most recent film, the independent drama film Spotlight, received widespread acclaim following its release in 2015. The film received 6 Academy Awards nominations, 3 Golden Globe Awards nominations, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, and 8 Critics' Choice Movie Awards nominations.
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