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Debra Messing

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Debra Messing

Known For

Acting

Gender

Female

Birthday

Aug 15, 1968 (58 years old)

Place of Birth

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Biography

Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing starred in the shortlived television series, Ned and Stacey on Fox (1995–1997), and Prey on ABC (1998). She achieved her breakthrough role as Grace Adler, an interior designer, on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace (1998–2006, 2017–2020), for which she received seven Golden Globe Award nominations and five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, winning once, in 2003. From 2007 to 2008, Messing starred as Molly Kagan, the ex-wife of a Hollywood film mogul, on the television miniseries The Starter Wife, for which she received two Golden Globe nominations, a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Thereafter, she appeared as Broadway playwright Julia Houston on the NBC musical drama Smash (2012–2013) and as homicide detective Laura Diamond on the NBC police-procedural comedy The Mysteries of Laura (2014–2016). From 2017 to 2020, Messing reprised her role as Grace Adler on NBC's three season revival of Will & Grace, garnering a ninth Golden Globe nomination for her performance. Messing's film work includes A Walk in the Clouds (1995), Jesus (1999), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), Hollywood Ending (2002), Along Came Polly (2004), The Wedding Date (2005), Lucky You (2007), The Women (2008), Nothing Like the Holidays (2008), Searching (2018), and 13: The Musical (2022). She has also lent her voice to animated films such as Garfield (2004) and Open Season (2006). Description above from the Wikipedia article Debra Messing, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Acting
2025The Alto KnightsBobbie Costello
2025October 8Self
202213: The MusicalJessica Goldman
2022BrosDebra Messing
2021The War of the Worlds 2021
2020The Dark DivideThea Pyle
2020Bombshell in Concert
2020IrresistibleBabs Garnett (uncredited)
2020The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVUSelf
2019StuccoCounselor
2019Tamron HallSelf - Guest
2018SearchingDetective Vick
2017Dirty DancingMarjorie Houseman
2017Will & GraceGrace Adler
2016Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James BurrowsSelf
2016Albion: The Enchanted StallionThe Queen
2016The $100,000 PyramidSelf
2016Match GameSelf - Panelist
2015Close Up with The Hollywood ReporterSelf
2014Like Sunday, Like RainBarbara
2014The Mysteries of LauraDetective Laura Diamond
2014The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonSelf
2014Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf
2014Trailblazer HonorsSelf
2014Variety Studio: Actors on ActorsSelf
2012SmashJulia Houston
2011Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures
2011Billy on the StreetSelf
2011Project AccessorySelf - Guest Judge
2010Wright vs. WrongEvelyn Wright
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest
2008Nothing Like the HolidaysSarah Rodriguez
2008The WomenEdie Cohen
2007Lucky YouSuzanne Offer
2007Purple VioletsKate Scott
2007The Starter WifeMolly Kagan
2007The Graham Norton ShowSelf
2006Open SeasonBeth (voice)
2006The Megan Mullally ShowSelf - Guest
2006The One ShowSelf
2005The Wedding DateKat Ellis
2005The Reichen ShowSelf - Guest
2004Along Came PollyLisa Kramer
2004GarfieldArlene (voice)
2004Project RunwaySelf - Guest Judge
2004Project RunwaySelf
2003The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSelf
2002The Mothman PropheciesMary Klein
2002Hollywood EndingLori
2002NBC 75th Anniversary SpecialSelf
2000JesusMary Magdalene
1999JesusMary Magdalene
1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAlicia Harding
1998CelebrityTV Reporter
1998PreyDr. Sloan Parker
1998Will & GraceGrace Adler
1997McHale's NavyLt. Penelope Carpenter
1997King of the HillMrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice)
1997The ViewSelf
1995A Walk in the CloudsBetty Sutton
1995Ned & StaceyStacey Colbert
1995Partners
1995MADtv(uncredited)
1994Inside the Actors StudioSelf
1994ExtraSelf - Guest
1993Late Night with Conan O'BrienSelf - Guest
1992The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1989SeinfeldBeth Lukner
1988LIVE with Kelly and MarkSelf - Guest
1981Entertainment Tonight
1952TodaySelf
Production
2025October 8Executive Producer