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Denis Leary

Denis Leary

Actor and producer, also writer and director · Born August 18, 1957 (69) · Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee

Denis Colin Leary (born August 18, 1957) is an American actor, comedian, writer, director and film producer. Leary is known for his biting, fast paced comedic style and chain smoking. He is the star and co-creator of the television show Rescue Me, which ended its seventh and final season on September 7, 2011. Leary has starred in many motion pictures, most recently as Captain George Stacy in Marc Webb's 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man and the voice of Diego in the animated Ice Age series.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 18, 1957 (69)
From
Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also writer and director
Titles
66 on MovieCove · 88 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 13% in 30 days

What are Denis Leary's films like?

Across their 61 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Self
21%
Society
17%
Morality
15%
Survival
9%
Power
7%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds22 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 54 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 33 · Serious 11 · Dark 10

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 29 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 11

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 18 · Charged 24 · Intense 12

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 24 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 8

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 20 · Funny 25

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 31 · Relentless 6

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 30 · Engaged 20 · Full focus 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 43 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

38 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 10 of 38 analyzed roles.

Shadow
10 of 38
Ally
10 of 38
Hero
7 of 38
Trickster
4 of 38
Shapeshifter
3 of 38
Herald
2 of 38
Mentor
1 of 38
Threshold guardian
1 of 38
Show the 38 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
25
Tense
23
Absurd
23
Warm
22
Thrilling
15
Other
53

How their films linger

Feel-good25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy28
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous12

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Denis Leary's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 46 of their 66 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Denis Leary's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

88 credits, 66 with a MovieCove page; 41 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Ice Age: Boiling Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    as Diego (voice)

  • Top of the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Joe Baum (voice)

  • Oh. What. Fun.(2025)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Going Dutch(2025)

    Show 22 episodes · Executive Producer · as Colonel Patrick Quinn

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • No Good Deed(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · as Mikey Morgan

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse(2023)

    as George Stacy (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Organized Crime(2021)

    Show 9 episodes · as Frank Donnelly

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Moodys(2019)

    Show 14 episodes · Executive Producer · as Sean Moody Sr.

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Ice Age: Collision Course(2016)

    as Diego (voice)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Animal Kingdom(2016)

    Show 10 episodes · as Billy

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade(2016)

    as Diego (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Gary Gulman: It's About Time(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Diego (voice)

  • Freaks of Nature(2015)

    as Rick Wilson

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll(2015)

    Show 20 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer · as Johnny Rock

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Ice Age: No Time for Nuts 4-D (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Diego (voice)

  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2(2014)

    as Captain Stacy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Draft Day(2014)

    as Vince Penn

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Sirens(2014)

    Show 23 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Teleplay · Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Ice Age: Continental Drift(2012)

    as Diego (voice)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Amazing Spider-Man(2012)

    as Captain Stacy

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Burn(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas(2011)

    as Diego (voice)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Scrat's Continental Crack-Up: Part 2(2011)

    as Diego (voice)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Denis Leary & Friends Presents: Douchbags & Donuts(2011)

    Producer · as Himself

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs(2009)

    as Diego (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Recount(2008)

    as Michael Whouley

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Canterbury's Law(2008)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Rachael Ray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Ice Age: The Meltdown(2006)

    as Diego (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Denis Leary's Merry F#%$in' Christmas(2005)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Comedy Central Roast of Jeff Foxworthy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Executive Producer · as Self

  • NHL: Vintage Collection: Greatest Goals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • 2004 Boston Red Sox: The Official World Series Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • Father of the Pride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Chaz (voice)

  • Rescue Me(2004)

    Show 93 episodes · Creator · Producer · Teleplay · Writer · as Tommy Gavin

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Shorties Watchin' Shorties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 13 episodes · Producer

  • Lord Stanley's Cup: Hockey's Ultimate Prize (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Comedy Central Roast of Denis Leary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Executive Producer · as Self

  • Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 57 episodes · Actor

  • The Secret Lives of Dentists(2002)

    as Slater

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Contest Searchlight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Crank Yankers(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Ice Age(2002)

    as Diego (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Dawg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Douglas 'Dawg' Menford

  • Double Whammy(2001)

    Producer · as Ray Pluto

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Final(2001)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Blow(2001)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Job (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 19 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer · as Mike McNeil

  • Sand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Teddy

  • Jesus' Son(1999)

    as Wayne

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Lakeboat(2000)

    as Fireman

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Company Man(2000)

    as Officer Fry

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Do Not Disturb(1999)

    as Simon

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Thomas Crown Affair(1999)

    as Det. Michael McCann

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • True Crime(1999)

    as Bob Findley

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Car Mechanic (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • A Bug's Life(1998)

    as Francis (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Monument Ave.(1998)

    Writer · as Bobby O'Grady

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Small Soldiers(1998)

    as Gil Mars

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Wide Awake(1998)

    as Mr. Beal

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Real Blonde(1997)

    as Doug

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Wag the Dog(1997)

    as Fad King

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Second Civil War(1997)

    as Vinnie Franco

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The MatchMaker(1997)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Suicide Kings(1997)

    as Lono Veccio

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • SubwayStories: Tales from the Underground(1997)

    as Wheelchair Man (segment "The Red Shoes")

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Love Walked In(1997)

    Producer · as Jack Hanaway

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Underworld(1996)

    as Johnny Crown / Johnny Alt

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Two If by Sea(1996)

    Story · Writer · as Francis 'Frank' O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Favorite Deadly Sins(1995)

    Director · as Jake

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Neon Bible(1995)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Operation Dumbo Drop(1995)

    as Lt. David Poole

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Additional Writing · as Dennis (voice)

  • Space Ghost Coast to Coast(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • The Ref(1994)

    as Gus

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Judgment Night(1993)

    as Fallon

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Demolition Man(1993)

    as Edgar Friendly

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Gunmen(1993)

    as Armor O'Malley

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Who's the Man?(1993)

    as Sgt. Cooper

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Sandlot(1993)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Denis Leary: No Cure for Cancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Composer · Writer · as Himself

  • Loaded Weapon 1(1993)

    as Mike McCracken

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Strictly Business(1991)

    as Jake

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Denis Leary (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • A Long Walk To Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Newt

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 85 titles, 84 of them dated from 1987 to 2026; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)

$887M worldwide

Highest rated

The Sandlot (1993)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Rescue Me (2004)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutNomination
19872026

Peak 1998 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 15 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 1 more milestone
  • 2008Primetime Emmy nomination· Recount

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting78 of 85: 69 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thDirecting2 of 85: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting6 of 85: 0 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing12 of 85: 5 only producing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score43rdMusic1 of 85: 0 only music, 1 with another roleOther crew5 of 85: 0 only other crew, 5 with another role

85 titles, 11 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1980s3 · acting1990s33 · 32 acting · 5 crew2000s27 · 22 acting · 7 crew2010s15 · 14 acting · 3 crew2020s6 · 6 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 12% of 43 roles
91960106

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

6 major nominations and no wins, 2005–2009.

  1. 2009
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  2. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
  3. 2007
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
  4. 2006
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
  5. 2005
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Denis Leary's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 53; across their 54 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 54

Approval · how many liked their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 54

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 54

Midcredits score across 66 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

30 of their 66 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser30
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed22

Most divisive · actor, writer, producer

Denis Leary's Merry F#%$in' Christmas (2005)

82nd percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 43 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Denis Leary's work okay for kids?

Across up to 24 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore20 titles8–71 · median 46 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity24 titles25–65 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity21 titles28–82 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs18 titles22–56 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense17 titles9–54 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Denis Leary work with?

People who share at least 2 of Denis Leary's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ray Romano shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Ray Romano9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Ray Romano
  • John Leguizamo8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with John Leguizamo
  • Josh Peck6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Josh Peck
  • Queen Latifah5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Queen Latifah

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles