Debra Messing

​Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968)  best known for her role as Grace Adler in the sitcom Will & Grace. Messing was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, the daughter of Sandra (née Simons), who has worked as a professional singer, banker, travel and real estate agent, and Brian Messing, a sales executive for a costume jewelry packaging manufacturer. Messing is Jewish, a descendant of immigrants from Russia and Poland. When Messing was three, she moved with her parents and her older brother, Brett, to East Greenwich, a small town outside Providence, Rhode Island. During her high school years, she acted and sang in a number of high school productions at East Greenwich High School, including the starring roles in the musicals Annie and Grease. She took lessons in dance, singing, and acting. In 1986, she was Rhode Island's Junior Miss and competed in Mobile, Alabama in the America's Junior Miss scholarship program. While her parents encouraged her dream of becoming an actress, they also urged her to complete a liberal arts education before deciding on acting as a career. Following their advice, she attended Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. During her junior year, she studied theater at the prestigious London-based British European Studio Group program, an experience that solidified her desire to act. In 1990, after graduating summa cum laude from Brandeis University with a bachelor's degree in theater arts, Messing gained admission to ...

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A Walk in the Clouds (1995)

World War II vet Paul Sutton falls for a pregnant and unwed woman who persuades him -- during their first encounter -- to pose as her husband so she can face her family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfonso Arau
CAST:  Keanu Reeves  •  Anthony Quinn  •  Giancarlo Giannini  •  Angélica Aragón

World War II vet Paul Sutton falls for a pregnant and unwed woman who persuades him -- during their first encounter -- to pose as her husband so she can face her family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfonso Arau
CAST:  Keanu Reeves  •  Anthony Quinn  •  Giancarlo Giannini  •  Angélica Aragón

Along Came Polly (2004)

Reuben Feffer is a guy who's spent his entire life playing it safe. Polly Prince is irresistible as a free-spirit who lives for the thrill of the moment. When these two comically mismatched souls collide, Reuben's world is turned upside down, as he makes an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Hamburg
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Jennifer Aniston  •  Philip Seymour Hoffman  •  Debra Messing

Reuben Feffer is a guy who's spent his entire life playing it safe. Polly Prince is irresistible as a free-spirit who lives for the thrill of the moment. When these two comically mismatched souls collide, Reuben's world is turned upside down, as he makes an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Hamburg
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Jennifer Aniston  •  Philip Seymour Hoffman  •  Debra Messing

Celebrity (1998)

The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one lavish party to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Judy Davis  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Leonardo DiCaprio

The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one lavish party to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Judy Davis  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Leonardo DiCaprio

Garfield (2004)

Garfield, the fat, lazy, lasagna lover, has everything a cat could want. But when Jon, in an effort to impress the Liz - the vet and an old high-school crush - adopts a dog named Odie and brings him home, Garfield gets the one thing he doesn't want. Competition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Hewitt
CAST:  Breckin Meyer  •  Jennifer Love Hewitt  •  Stephen Tobolowsky  •  Bill Murray

Garfield, the fat, lazy, lasagna lover, has everything a cat could want. But when Jon, in an effort to impress the Liz - the vet and an old high-school crush - adopts a dog named Odie and brings him home, Garfield gets the one thing he doesn't want. Competition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Hewitt
CAST:  Breckin Meyer  •  Jennifer Love Hewitt  •  Stephen Tobolowsky  •  Bill Murray

Hollywood Ending (2002)

Woody Allen stars as Val Waxman, a two-time Oscar winner turned washed-up, neurotic director in desperate need of a comeback. When it comes, Waxman finds himself backed into a corner: Work for his ex-wife Ellie or forfeit his last shot. Is Val blinded by love when ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Téa Leoni  •  Bob Dorian  •  Ivan Martin  •  Gregg Edelman

Woody Allen stars as Val Waxman, a two-time Oscar winner turned washed-up, neurotic director in desperate need of a comeback. When it comes, Waxman finds himself backed into a corner: Work for his ex-wife Ellie or forfeit his last shot. Is Val blinded by love when ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Téa Leoni  •  Bob Dorian  •  Ivan Martin  •  Gregg Edelman

Lucky You (2007)

A professional poker player whose astounding luck at the table fails to translate into his lonesome love life attempts to win the World Series of Poker while simultaneously earning the affections of a beautiful Las Vegas singer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Eric Bana  •  Drew Barrymore  •  Robert Duvall  •  Debra Messing

A professional poker player whose astounding luck at the table fails to translate into his lonesome love life attempts to win the World Series of Poker while simultaneously earning the affections of a beautiful Las Vegas singer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Eric Bana  •  Drew Barrymore  •  Robert Duvall  •  Debra Messing

McHale's Navy (1997)

Retired Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale spends his days puttering around the Caribbean in the old PT-73 selling homebrew, ice cream, and swimsuit calendars. He's brought out of retirement when his old nemesis turned the second best terrorist in the world, Major ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bryan Spicer
CAST:  Dean Stockwell  •  Bruce Campbell  •  French Stewart  •  Tom Arnold

Retired Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale spends his days puttering around the Caribbean in the old PT-73 selling homebrew, ice cream, and swimsuit calendars. He's brought out of retirement when his old nemesis turned the second best terrorist in the world, Major ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bryan Spicer
CAST:  Dean Stockwell  •  Bruce Campbell  •  French Stewart  •  Tom Arnold

Open Season (2006)

Boog, a domesticated 900lb. Grizzly bear finds himself stranded in the woods 3 days before Open Season. Forced to rely on Elliot, a fast-talking mule deer, the two form an unlikely friendship and must quickly rally other forest animals if they are to form a rag-tag ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Allers  •  Jill Culton
CAST:  Martin Lawrence  •  Ashton Kutcher  •  Gary Sinise  •  Debra Messing

Boog, a domesticated 900lb. Grizzly bear finds himself stranded in the woods 3 days before Open Season. Forced to rely on Elliot, a fast-talking mule deer, the two form an unlikely friendship and must quickly rally other forest animals if they are to form a rag-tag ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Allers  •  Jill Culton
CAST:  Martin Lawrence  •  Ashton Kutcher  •  Gary Sinise  •  Debra Messing

The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

Reporter John Klein is plunged into a world of impossible terror and unthinkable chaos when fate draws him to a sleepy West Virginia town whose residents are being visited by a great winged shape that sows hideous nightmares and fevered visions.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Pellington
CAST:  Richard Gere  •  Laura Linney  •  Will Patton  •  Bob Tracey

Reporter John Klein is plunged into a world of impossible terror and unthinkable chaos when fate draws him to a sleepy West Virginia town whose residents are being visited by a great winged shape that sows hideous nightmares and fevered visions.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Pellington
CAST:  Richard Gere  •  Laura Linney  •  Will Patton  •  Bob Tracey

The Wedding Date (2005)

With the wedding of her younger sister fast approaching, Kat Ellis faces the undesirable prospect of traveling alone to London for the ceremony. While this is bad enough, Jeffrey, the man who left her as they moved closer to marriage, happens to be the groom's best ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clare Kilner
CAST:  Debra Messing  •  Dermot Mulroney  •  Amy Adams  •  Jack Davenport

With the wedding of her younger sister fast approaching, Kat Ellis faces the undesirable prospect of traveling alone to London for the ceremony. While this is bad enough, Jeffrey, the man who left her as they moved closer to marriage, happens to be the groom's best ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clare Kilner
CAST:  Debra Messing  •  Dermot Mulroney  •  Amy Adams  •  Jack Davenport

Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)

It’s Christmastime and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents’ home in Chicago to celebrate the season and rejoice in their youngest brother’s safe return from combat overseas.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfredo De Villa
CAST:  Elizabeth Peña  •  Freddy Rodríguez  •  Luis Guzmán  •  John Leguizamo

It’s Christmastime and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents’ home in Chicago to celebrate the season and rejoice in their youngest brother’s safe return from combat overseas.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfredo De Villa
CAST:  Elizabeth Peña  •  Freddy Rodríguez  •  Luis Guzmán  •  John Leguizamo

Purple Violets (2007)

Patti Petalson is a promising writer, but her marriage and conventional job keep her from her dream. She longs to return to her writing, especially after running into her first love Brian Callahan, a successful crime novelist. Kate is Patti's best friend since ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward Burns
CAST:  Selma Blair  •  Patrick Wilson  •  Edward Burns  •  Debra Messing

Patti Petalson is a promising writer, but her marriage and conventional job keep her from her dream. She longs to return to her writing, especially after running into her first love Brian Callahan, a successful crime novelist. Kate is Patti's best friend since ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward Burns
CAST:  Selma Blair  •  Patrick Wilson  •  Edward Burns  •  Debra Messing

The Women (2008)

The story centers on a group of gossipy, high-society women who spend their days at the beauty salon and haunting fashion shows. The sweet, happily-wedded Mary Haines finds her marriage in trouble when shop girl Crystal Allen gets her hooks into Mary's man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Diane English
CAST:  Cloris Leachman  •  India Ennenga  •  Annette Bening  •  Eva Mendes

The story centers on a group of gossipy, high-society women who spend their days at the beauty salon and haunting fashion shows. The sweet, happily-wedded Mary Haines finds her marriage in trouble when shop girl Crystal Allen gets her hooks into Mary's man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Diane English
CAST:  Cloris Leachman  •  India Ennenga  •  Annette Bening  •  Eva Mendes

Jesus (1999)

The film is notable for presenting a more human Jesus, compared to more solemn portrayals in earlier films; here Jesus laughs and cries like anyone else. Among other things, he weeps at Joseph’s funeral, throws stones in Lake Galilee when meeting Simon Peter and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Young
CAST:  Jeremy Sisto  •  Armin Mueller-Stahl  •  Debra Messing  •  Gary Oldman

The film is notable for presenting a more human Jesus, compared to more solemn portrayals in earlier films; here Jesus laughs and cries like anyone else. Among other things, he weeps at Joseph’s funeral, throws stones in Lake Galilee when meeting Simon Peter and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Young
CAST:  Jeremy Sisto  •  Armin Mueller-Stahl  •  Debra Messing  •  Gary Oldman

Like Sunday, Like Rain (2014)

Thought provokingBeautifulSimple

A struggling musician becomes a 12-year-old musical prodigy's guardian for a summer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Whaley
CAST:  Debra Messing  •  Billie Joe Armstrong  •  J. Smith-Cameron  •  Conor Carroll

A struggling musician becomes a 12-year-old musical prodigy's guardian for a summer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Whaley
CAST:  Debra Messing  •  Billie Joe Armstrong  •  J. Smith-Cameron  •  Conor Carroll

Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows (2016)

The stars of America's greatest comedies - like Cheers, Friends, Taxi and The Big Bang Theory - get together for one night only to honor Director James Burrows. Watch Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryan Polito
CAST:  Jennifer Aniston  •  David Schwimmer  •  Matt LeBlanc  •  Lisa Kudrow

The stars of America's greatest comedies - like Cheers, Friends, Taxi and The Big Bang Theory - get together for one night only to honor Director James Burrows. Watch Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryan Polito
CAST:  Jennifer Aniston  •  David Schwimmer  •  Matt LeBlanc  •  Lisa Kudrow

Searching (2018)

After David Kim's 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aneesh Chaganty
CAST:  John Cho  •  Debra Messing  •  Michelle La  •  Kya Dawn Lau

After David Kim's 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aneesh Chaganty
CAST:  John Cho  •  Debra Messing  •  Michelle La  •  Kya Dawn Lau

Dirty Dancing (2017)

Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and nothing is ever the same for anyone in the Houseman family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wayne Blair
CAST:  Abigail Breslin  •  Colt Prattes  •  Sarah Hyland  •  Debra Messing

Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and nothing is ever the same for anyone in the Houseman family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wayne Blair
CAST:  Abigail Breslin  •  Colt Prattes  •  Sarah Hyland  •  Debra Messing

Albion: The Enchanted Stallion (2016)

A twelve-year-old girl is transported by a magical black stallion to the mystical world of Albion, where she discovers that she alone is the key to saving an entire race of people.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Castille Landon
CAST:  Avery Arendes  •  Castille Landon  •  Johnny Sequoyah  •  Jennifer Morrison

A twelve-year-old girl is transported by a magical black stallion to the mystical world of Albion, where she discovers that she alone is the key to saving an entire race of people.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Castille Landon
CAST:  Avery Arendes  •  Castille Landon  •  Johnny Sequoyah  •  Jennifer Morrison

Irresistible (2020)

A Democratic political consultant helps a retired Marine colonel run for mayor in a small, conservative Wisconsin town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Stewart
CAST:  Mackenzie Davis  •  Steve Carell  •  Rose Byrne  •  Topher Grace

A Democratic political consultant helps a retired Marine colonel run for mayor in a small, conservative Wisconsin town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Stewart
CAST:  Mackenzie Davis  •  Steve Carell  •  Rose Byrne  •  Topher Grace
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