Larry Sullivan

Actor Larry Sullivan was a ubiquitous if somewhat anonymous presence on network television for more than a decade, playing bit and supporting roles in series ranging from "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000-15) and "24" (Fox, 2001-10) to "Will & Grace" (NBC, 1998-2006) and "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" (ABC Family, 2008-13). A former cast member in various Walt Disney parks, Sullivan began appearing on television in the late 90s, quickly amassing a large body of minor, occasionally uncredited roles. His big break came as Eric McCormack's dancer boyfriend on "Will & Grace," which increased his visibility in the industry tenfold. Supporting roles on television, as well as an award-winning turn in the gay romance "The Trip" (2002), soon followed. To Sullivan's credit, he was able to successfully transition from gay roles to straight and non-specified characters throughout his lengthy career, which underscored his status as a valuable, if unsung player, in episodic television. Born Lawrence Edward Sullivan, Jr., on September 10, 1970 in New Haven, Connecticut, Larry Sullivan and his younger sister were raised by their parents in Kissimmee, Florida. He caught the acting bug after watching his sister perform in a recital, and like many aspiring actors in the Sunshine State, landed his first professional acting job at Walt Disney World. Sullivan quickly advanced from performing in the park as Winnie-the-Pooh to singer-dancer with the long-running "Kids of the Kingdom" vocal group, as well as stints at Epcot Center and Tokyo Disneyland. When his contract with Disney came to an end, Sullivan made his first screen appearances with uncredited bit parts in low-budget features lensed in the Florida area. He then relocated to Missouri, where he performed at the St. Louis Muny. This prompted a move to New York, where Sullivan appeared in the 1992 national tour of the Tony-winning musical "Miss Saigon." In the late '90s, Sullivan relocated to Los Angeles, where he found regular work on episodic television. Frequently billed as Larry Sullivan, Jr., he appeared in bit and supporting roles on "The Young and the Restless" (CBS, 1973- ) and "Beverly Hills, 90210" (Fox, 1990-2000), as well as occasional features like "Rush Hour" (1998). In 2001, he received his first big break as Robert, Will's ballet-loving boyfriend, on "Will & Grace." The exposure afforded by that show's enormous popularity led to increased opportunities for Sullivan, including a rare chance at a leading role in "The Trip," a drama about a romance between two men set against the backdrop of the gay rights movement in the early 1970s and 1980s. Sullivan drew excellent reviews for his performance, as well as the Best Actor Award from the Dallas OUT TAKES Festival. From there, he enjoyed regular work as a guest performer on network series, as well as recurring turns on such shows as "Six Feet Under" (HBO, 2001-2005), "Commander in Chief" (ABC, 2005-06) and "CSI." In 2009, he had a prominent role on "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" as one half of a gay couple seeking to adopt the unborn child carried by series lead Shailene Woodley. Sullivan then segued to recurring work on "24" and "Days of Our Lives" (NBC, 1965- ), as well as supporting turns in features like "Argo" (2012), in which he played the secretary to government advisor Adam Engell.