Michael McGrady

Michael Steven McGrady is an actor, artist, musician, and motivational speaker. McGrady has nearly four decades of experience in theater, film, and television, including roles in popular shows such as "Beyond," "24," "Murder She Wrote," "CSI: Miami," "Leverage," and "Prison Break." He is known for playing Tom Matthews in the TV show "Beyond" and Sal Salinger on the TNT drama "Southland," and had a recurring role as Frank Barnes on Showtime's "Ray Donovan." He has also given his voice and likeness to the video game "L.A. Noire" as Rusty Galloway and made a cameo in the movie "Iron Man."

McGrady was raised in the Washington State area of the Pacific Northwest. He studied Business Administration at the University of Washington and planned to attend law school. However, after overcoming malignant melanoma at the age of 19, the same cancer his late father had, he decided to focus on his passion for acting. With the support of his family, he moved to Los Angeles in 1983 and has been a mainstay in Hollywood since.

McGrady has worked with several notable actors in various roles throughout his career. Noteworthy performances include starring in "Low Winter Sun" for AMC as Brendan McCann, playing Detective John Gentile in "The Frozen Ground," and appearing as Detective Philip Vanatter on FX's "American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson."

Apart from acting, McGrady is a collected fine artist specializing in easel works in oil. He has painted large-scale murals in celebrity and sports stars' homes, as well as commercial and residential buildings. He is the founder of the Los Angeles-based Actors Workshop, where he offers guidance on acting both behind and in front of the camera.

Moreover, McGrady is a public speaker, focusing on topics like overcoming adversity, achieving a balance in life and work, and fatherhood. He is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and the front singer of The Sonic Groove Band, which occasionally invites celebrity artists to join their sets. His philanthropic efforts include the establishment of the Tynan McGrady Foundation, a nonprofit scholarship and funding organization for STEM endeavors, created in honor of his late son.

When not working, McGrady spends time with his wife, Ilka, either at the McGrady Fine Art Gallery or performing with his band, Michael McGrady's Sonic Groove Band, around Los Angeles. He is also a keen outdoor enthusiast, enjoying activities such as sailing, surfing, riding his Harley, or soaring his hang glider above the mountains of beautiful Santa Barbara. He divides his time between Thousand Oaks, California, and his vacation home on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula of Washington state.