Kevin Connolly (actor)

Kevin Connolly (born March 5, 1974)[1] is an American actor and director. He is best known for his role as Eric Murphy in the HBO series Entourage, and his role as the eldest son Ryan Malloy in the 1990s television sitcom Unhappily Ever After. Connolly is also a director, having directed many episodes of television as well as the films Gardener of Eden, Dear Eleanor and Gotti.

Kevin Connolly
Connolly in 2017
Born (1974-03-05) March 5, 1974
New York City, New York, U.S.
(or Patchogue, New York, U.S.)
EducationPatchogue-Medford High School
OccupationActor, director, executive producer
Years active1990–present

Life and career

Connolly was born either in New York City, New York,[2] or in Patchogue, New York,[3] (sources differ) and raised in Medford, New York,[4] on Long Island. His mother Eileen of Irish descent.[5] He has an older brother, Tim, who has been a police detective Suffolk County, New York.[6] Connolly graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School in 1992.[7][8]

He began his career at age six, appearing in television commercials, including the "Betcha bite a chip" campaign for Chips Ahoy!. In 1990, he landed his first film role, as Chickie in Rocky V. Two years later, Connolly was cast as Shaun Kelly in the film adaptation of Myron Levoy's novel Alan & Naomi, and co-starred with Tobey Maguire in the short-lived Fox sitcom Great Scott!. His appearance in the series later earned him a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series. He portrayed Dabney Coleman's son in the comedy film The Beverly Hillbillies. Connolly continued guest starring in television series including Wings, Getting By and the medical drama ER.

From 1995–96, Connolly starred in Don's Plum alongside Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio. Later that year, he landed the role of Ryan Malloy on the situation comedy Unhappily Ever After. The series also marked Connolly's directorial debut when he directed six episodes in its fourth season. In 2007, Connolly made his full-length movie directorial debut with the film Gardener of Eden, which premiered in April 2007 at the Tribeca Film Festival.[9]

Connolly's best-known role is the character Eric Murphy, better known as "E", on the 2004-2011 HBO show Entourage. E is the manager and best friend of Vincent Chase, who is played by Adrian Grenier. In 2009, Connolly was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy for the role. Connolly reprised his role as Eric in the 2015 Entourage film adaptation.[10]

In addition to television work, Connolly has appeared in several major motion pictures including Antwone Fisher, Secretariat, John Q., The Notebook and He's Just Not That Into You.

Connolly directed his first music video in 2008, for the song "Camera Phone" by rapper The Game, featuring Ne-Yo.[11]

Connolly attended the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles and announced the final pick of the first round for the New York Islanders.[12] He also directed the documentary film Big Shot, which screened at the 2013 TriBeCa Film Festival and the 2013 Hamptons International Film Festival [13] The film revisits the fraud perpetrated by would-be Islanders owner John Spano in 1996.

He directed the 2018 film Gotti, which starred John Travolta as mobster John Gotti. Connolly was hired after a number of other directors, including Barry Levinson, were attached to the project during its lengthy development process.[14] The film was a critical and commercial disaster, and is one the few films to hold an approval rating of 0% on the website Rotten Tomatoes.[15][16][17]

Personal life

In 2020, a costume designer accused Connolly of a sexual assault at a 2005 wrap party for the film Gardener of Eden, which he directed. Through his attorney, Connolly denied the claims and said the encounter was consensual.[18] On January 11, 2021, it was announced that Connolly is expecting his first child with actress Zulay Henao.[19]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1990 Rocky V Chickie
1992 Alan & Naomi Shaun Kelly
1993 The Beverly Hillbillies Morgan Drysdale
1995 Angus Andy
1997 Sub Down Petty Officer Holliday Alternative title: Sub Down: Take the Dive
1999 Tyrone Sam Adams Alternative title: Bad Trip
2000 Up, Up and Away Malcolm TV movie
2001 Drum Solo
Don's Plum Jeremy
2002 Devious Beings Casey
John Q. Steve Maguire
Antwone Fisher Slim
2004 The Notebook Fin
2005 The Check Up Mike
2009 He's Just Not That Into You Conor Barry
The Ugly Truth Jim Ryan
2010 Secretariat Bill Nack
Wax On, F*ck Off Himself Short film
2014 Reach Me Roger
2015 Entourage Eric 'E' Murphy
2020 Chick Fight Dr. Roy Post-production

Television
Year Title Role(s) Notes
1992 Great Scott! Larry O'Donnell Series regular, 13 episodes
1993 Wings Scotty Nelson Episode: "Joe Blows: Part 1"
1994 Getting By Spider Episode: "It Takes a Thief"
1994 ER uncredited Episode: "9 1/2 Hours"
1995–1999 Unhappily Ever After Ryan Malloy Series regular, 100 episodes, also director (6 episodes)
2001 First Years Joe 5 episodes
2004–2011 Entourage Eric 'E' Murphy Series regular, 96 episodes, also director (2 episodes)
2007 Robot Chicken Psychiatrist
Cowboy Curtis
Leonard Baker		 Episode: "More Blood, More Chocolate"
2014 Friends with Better Lives Bobby Lutz Series regular
2016 Pitch Charlie Graham Recurring role
2019 The Oath James Hoke 2 episodes

Director
Year Title Notes
1997–1999 Unhappily Ever After 6 episodes
2003 Whatever We Do
2007 Gardener of Eden
2008 Camera Phone - The Game ft. Ne-Yo Music video
2010–2011 Entourage 2 episodes:
"Porn Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
"Second to Last"
2013 ESPN 30 for 30 Big Shot
2014 Dear Eleanor
2018 Snatch 3 episodes:
"Bomba"
"Heavy Wears the Crown"
"Diamonds Ain't Forever"
2018 Gotti

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1993 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Co-Starring in a Television Series Great Scott! Nominated
2005 Satellite Awards Outstanding Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical Entourage Nominated
2006 Teen Choice Awards Choice Chemistry - Television (Shared with the cast of Entourage) Nominated
2007 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Shared with the cast of Entourage) Nominated
2008 Nominated
2009 Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy Nominated
2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Shared with the cast of Entourage) Nominated
2019 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Director Gotti Nominated

References
  1. "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly (1197). March 9, 2012. p. 26.
  2. "Kevin Connolly Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved July 15, 2020.,
  3. "Notable Long Islanders". Newsday. New York City / Long Island. September 17, 2018. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020. Actor Kevin Connolly, best known for the role of "E" on the HBO show 'Entourage,' was born in Patchogue and graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School in 1992.
  4. "Patchogue-Medford's first Hall of Fame night was a true family affair". GreaterPatchogue.com. n.d. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020. Kevin Connolly (1992) said he recently re-purchased his childhood home on First Avenue in Medford.
  5. Kelly, Antoinette (July 23, 2009). "'Entourage' premiere dedicated to Kevin Connolly's late Irish mother". Irish Central. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2010. Kevin Connolly’s Irish-American mother, Eileen ... passed away on March 1 of this year...
  6. Best, Neil (October 7, 2010). "Actor, LI Native Connolly Has Deep Sports Roots". Newsday. New York City / Long Island. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  7. Anderson, John (February 1, 2009). "Kevin Connolly heads home to Long Island..." Newsday. New York City / Long Island. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2010 – via Danno's Girls.
  8. La Monica, Mark (June 11, 2006). "A Rocky Start? Hardly". Newsday. New York City / Long Island. After graduating from high school in 1992...
  9. "DiCaprio, The Gardener of Eden Premiere And The Real Entourage", The Huffington Post, April 27, 2007, Retrieved on August 16, 2007
  10. "Connolly 'crucified' for Entourage spoiler". Belfast Telegraph. January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. Mark, Dagostino (October 3, 2008). "Kevin Connolly to Direct The Game and Ne-Yo's Video". people.com. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
  12. Brooks, Larry (March 28, 2011). "'Entourage' star is allowed on Islanders bench". New York Post. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  13. Fall Season 2013: Episode 5 | In the Mixx. Inthemixxshow.com (October 17, 2013). Retrieved on 2014-06-05.
  14. Gettell, Oliver. "Kevin Connolly to direct John Travolta in resurrected Gotti biopic". Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  15. Coogan, Devan (June 15, 2018). "John Travolta's Gotti earns zero percent on Rotten Tomatoes". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  16. Kiefer, Halle (June 15, 2018). "John Travolta's Gotti Currently Has a Zero Percent on Rotten Tomatoes". Vulture. New York Media. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  17. Kilday, Gregg (June 15, 2018). "John Travolta's 'Gotti' Gets Rare Zero Percent Score on Rotten Tomatoes". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  18. Stern, Marlow (July 15, 2020). "'Entourage' Star Kevin Connolly Accused of Sexual Assault: 'I Want It to Be Known That He Is Dangerous'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  19. Cardoza, Riley (January 11, 2021). "Entourage's Kevin Connolly Is Expecting 1st Child With Pregnant Zulay Henao". US Weekly. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
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