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Sean Hayes

Sean Hayes

Actor and producer, also writer · Born June 26, 1970 (56) · Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA

2 Primetime Emmys · 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards · Golden Globe nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Sean Patrick Hayes (born June 26, 1970) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. Known for his performances on stage and screen, he gained acclaim for his role as Jack McFarland on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has also received nominations for six Golden Globe Awards and two Tony Awards, winning one. He also runs a television production company called Hazy Mills Productions, which produces shows such as Grimm, Hot in Cleveland, The Soul Man, and Hollywood Game Night. He portrayed Jerry Lewis in the CBS film Martin and Lewis (2002). He is known for his appearances in films such as Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998), Cats & Dogs (2001), Pieces of April (2003), The Cat in the Hat (2003), Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004), The Bucket List (2007), Igor (2008), The Three Stooges (2012), Monsters University (2013), and Am I OK? (2022). Since July 2020, he has co-hosted the comedy podcast SmartLess alongside Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. Hayes made his Broadway debut playing Chuck Baxter in the musical revival Promises, Promises in 2010, for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He portrayed God in the comedy An Act of God from 2015 to 2016. Oscar Levant in the Doug Wright play Good Night, Oscar in 2022, the latter of which earned him the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play. He hosted the 64th Tony Awards in 2010, for which he was awarded a Primetime Emmy Award. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sean Hayes, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 26, 1970 (56)
From
Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also writer
Titles
51 on MovieCove · 73 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 21% in 30 days

What are Sean Hayes' films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
36%
Society
26%
Self
24%
Morality
6%
Ideas
4%
Power
3%
Survival
1%
Community12 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 18 · Serious 4 · Dark 1

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 5

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 15 · Charged 7 · Intense 1

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

Steady 18 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 13

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 20 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 5 of 13 analyzed roles.

Trickster
5 of 13
Ally
3 of 13
Hero
2 of 13
Mentor
2 of 13
Shadow
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
20
Warm
12
Absurd
10
Hopeful
9
Contemplative
7
Other
20

How their films linger

Feel-good19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet11
  • Ambiguous2

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 Sean Hayes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 51 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sean Hayes' 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

73 credits, 51 with a MovieCove page; 32 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Wilbur Wright

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • The Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Elliott

  • Is This Thing On?(2025)

    as Stephen

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Running Man(2025)

    as Gary Greenbacks

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Billy Joel: And So It Goes(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Am I OK?(2022)

    as Stu

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • SmartLess: On the Road(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery(2022)

    as Johnny Blaze

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Q-Force(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer · as Steve Maryweather (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Lazy Susan(2020)

    Writer · as Susan

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Morning Show(2019)

    Show as Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons'(2019)

    as Mr. Lorenzo

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • So Close (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Executive Producer

  • Secret of the Sundrop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Pete the Guard

  • Will & Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 52 episodes · as Jack McFarland

  • The Emoji Movie(2017)

    as Steven (voice)

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Pete the Guard (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Tangled: Before Ever After(2017)

    as Pete the Guard (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Hairspray Live!(2016)

    as Mr. Pinky

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Crowded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 13 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Must See TV: A Tribute to James Burrows(2016)

    Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • How Murray Saved Christmas(2014)

    as Edison Elf (voice)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Party Central(2013)

    as Terri (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Sean Saves the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 15 episodes · as Sean

  • The Millers(2013)

    Show 11 episodes · as Kip Finkle

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Hollywood Game Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Creator · as Self

  • Monsters University(2013)

    as Terri (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Hit and Run(2012)

    as Sandy Osterman

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Soul Man(2012)

    Show 12 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Three Stooges(2012)

    as Larry

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Smash(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · as Terry Falls

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Grimm(2011)

    Show 66 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Up All Night(2011)

    Show 4 episodes · as Walter

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Portlandia(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Sean

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore(2010)

    as Mr. Tinkles (voice)

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Hot in Cleveland(2010)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer · as Chad · as Self

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Saturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again(2010)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Parks and Recreation(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Buddy Wood

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Soul Men(2008)

    as Danny Epstein

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Igor(2008)

    as Brain (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Bucket List(2007)

    as Thomas

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Jesse Parcell

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lovespring International(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Campus Ladies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Showbiz Show with David Spade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Weekends at the D.L. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Roberto the Insect Architect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Foster (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Tom Goes to the Mayor(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Tour Guide (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!(2004)

    as Richard Levy the Shameless

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Cat in the Hat(2003)

    as Mr. Humberfloob / Fish (voice)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Pieces of April(2003)

    as Wayne

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Martin and Lewis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Jerry Lewis

  • Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Clerk (archive footage)

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

    as Punk Nikolai

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Nick

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Dinner for Five (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cats & Dogs(2001)

    as Mr. Tinkles (voice)

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Christopher Mantle

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins(2000)

    as Brain Pod #13 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Jackie's Back!(1999)

    as Sean Hayes

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 194 episodes · as Jack McFarland

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss(1998)

    as Billy Collier

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Dancing on the Moon(1997)

    as Young man

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • A & P (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Sammy

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Silk Stalkings(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Eight Days a Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Producer

  • St. Donatus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer

  • Untitled Grimm Reboot Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 72 titles, 69 of them dated from 1991 to 2026; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

Monsters University (2013)

$744M worldwide

Highest rated

Billy Joel: And So It Goes (2025)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Will & Grace (1998)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19912026

Peak 2013 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 4 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.

  • 1998Screen debut· Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss
  • 1998First top-billed film· Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss
  • 1998Primetime Emmy win· Will & Grace
  • 2012Career best· The Three Stooges
  • 2021Career best· Q-Force

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting61 of 72: 58 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thWriting1 of 72: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing12 of 72: 9 only producing, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thOther crew2 of 72: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

72 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1990s8 · acting2000s24 · acting2010s26 · 21 acting · 6 crew2020s11 · 8 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 9% of 23 roles
98081318

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

2 Primetime Emmys and 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards from 30 major nominations, 2000–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television
  2. 2019
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
  3. 2018
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
  4. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Special Class Programs
  5. 2006
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
  6. 2005
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  7. 2004
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  8. 2003
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Show 3 earlier years
  1. 2002
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  2. 2001
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
  3. 2000
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

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 Sean Hayes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 51 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 51 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic7
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

The Cat in the Hat (2003)

95th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Billy Joel: And So It Goes (2025)

Midcredits 97th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 46. 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 Sean Hayes' work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles6–59 · median 31 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles12–60 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles12–87 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles8–54 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles6–58 · median 35 · 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 Sean Hayes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sean Hayes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Todd Milliner shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles