Tom Irwin

Tom Irwin is an American stage, film, and television actor born on June 1, 1956, in Peoria, Illinois. He attended Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, and in 1979 joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where he worked alongside ensemble members including Laurie Metcalf, John Malkovich, Joan Allen, and Gary Sinise.

Irwin has appeared in more than 50 Steppenwolf productions over the course of his career and received a Joseph Jefferson Award for his portrayal of Tom in the company's production of The Glass Menagerie. His work in theater has extended into education as well; he has served on the faculty of The Theatre School at DePaul University and Columbia College Chicago, and teaches at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company West School of Drama in Los Angeles.

On Broadway, Irwin made his debut in 1990 in The Grapes of Wrath, and returned to Broadway in 1995 with My Thing of Love. He also appeared in the 2002 West End production of Up for Grabs in London, playing the role of Gerry alongside Madonna.

His television career began with a starring role in the 1991 ABC series My Life and Times. He went on to play Graham Chase, the father at the center of the 1994 ABC drama My So-Called Life, a role for which he became widely recognized. Additional television credits include recurring and guest appearances on Angel, ER, Lost, and three seasons of Saving Grace beginning in 2007. From 2013 to 2016, Irwin starred opposite Rebecca Wisocky in the Lifetime comedy-drama series Devious Maids, playing Adrian Powell across all four produced seasons. In 1999, he appeared in the television film No Higher Love with Katey Sagal and Annabeth Gish. Irwin is based in Los Angeles, California.