Tom Cavanagh
Canadian actor (born 1963)
title: "Tom Cavanagh" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1963-births", "20th-century-canadian-male-actors", "21st-century-canadian-male-actors", "male-actors-from-ottawa", "canadian-podcasters", "canadian-male-film-actors", "canadian-male-stage-actors", "canadian-male-television-actors", "canadian-male-voice-actors", "canadian-people-of-irish-descent", "canadian-roman-catholics", "canadian-television-directors", "living-people", "queen's-university-at-kingston-alumni", "canadian-expatriate-male-actors-in-the-united-states"] description: "Canadian actor (born 1963)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cavanagh" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Canadian actor (born 1963) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | Tom Cavanagh by Gage Skidmore.jpg |
| caption | Cavanagh in 2023 |
| name | Tom Cavanagh |
| birth_name | Thomas Cavanagh |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| alma_mater | {{Plainlist |
| occupation | Actor |
| years_active | 1989–present |
| spouse | |
| children | 4 |
| :: |
| image = Tom Cavanagh by Gage Skidmore.jpg | caption = Cavanagh in 2023 | name = Tom Cavanagh | birth_name = Thomas Cavanagh | birth_date = | birth_place = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | alma_mater = {{Plainlist|
- Champlain College
- Queen's University | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1989–present | spouse = | children = 4 Thomas Cavanagh (born October 26, 1963) is a Canadian actor. He is known for a variety of roles on American television, including starring roles in Ed (2000–2004), Love Monkey (2006) and Trust Me (2009), and recurring roles on Providence and Scrubs. From 2014 to 2023, he portrayed Harrison Wells and Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash on The CW television series The Flash; Cavanagh also directed several episodes of The Flash. In 2023, he became the host of Hey Yahoo! on GSN.
Early life
Thomas Cavanagh was born on October 26, 1963 (although some sources state 1968) in Ottawa, Ontario, to a Roman Catholic family of Irish descent. Cavanagh moved with his family to Winneba, a small city in Ghana when he was a child.
In his teens, the family moved to Lennoxville, Quebec when his father became the Academic Dean of Champlain College. He attended the Séminaire de Sherbrooke, where he studied in French and played basketball for the Barons. He later studied at Champlain College in Lennoxville at the CEGEP level. While attending Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, he became interested in theatre and music and played ice hockey and varsity basketball. He graduated in 1987 with degrees in English, biology and education.
Career
Commercial credits
Cavanagh acted in his native Canada for many years, appearing on television dramas such as Jake and the Kid in the late 1990s, and television commercials, appearing for Oh Henry! chocolate bars and Labatt Blue Light beer commercials in the 1990s and for CIBC.
Broadway roles
In 1989, he was cast in the Broadway revival of Shenandoah and in 2003 he starred as Bobby Strong in the Broadway cast of Urinetown. Other stage credits include productions of A Chorus Line, Cabaret, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Grease. He appeared in the 2008 production of Some Americans Abroad at Second Stage Theatre in New York City.
Television performances
After gaining notice for his recurring role as Doug the Dog Guy in the NBC television program Providence, Cavanagh was cast as the title character in the NBC program Ed. Cavanagh received a Golden Globe nomination and a TV Guide Award for his work on Ed, which ran for four seasons beginning in October 2000 and concluding in February 2004. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Tom_Cavanagh_by_David_Shankbone.jpg" caption="Cavanagh in April 2008" alt=""] ::
Cavanagh guest starred on the sitcom Scrubs where he played Dan Dorian, the brother of Zach Braff's character. He made six subsequent appearances in the series, starting with 2002's "My Big Brother" and culminating with the eighth season finale.
In 2005, Cavanagh filmed the pilot Love Monkey, with Jason Priestley, Judy Greer and Larenz Tate. The show was selected by CBS as a midseason replacement and debuted on January 17, 2006. Love Monkey was given an eight-episode order, but only three aired on CBS before the show was placed on indefinite hiatus due to low ratings. VH1 bought all eight episodes which was played in the entirety in the spring of 2006.
He starred in the Lifetime Movie Network television miniseries The Capture of the Green River Killer in which he portrayed King County sheriff David Reichert. In March 2006, Cavanagh filmed My Ex-Life, a comedy pilot for CBS about a divorced couple who remain friends. The pilot featured Lost actress Cynthia Watros as his character's ex-wife. CBS did not select the show for its fall 2006 schedule. Cavanagh portrayed the lead role Nick Snowden (the heir to the Santa Claus identity) in the made-for-TV movie Snow in 2004.
In 2008, Cavanagh appeared in the short-lived ABC series Eli Stone, playing the father of the title character. From January to April 2009, Cavanagh starred in the television drama Trust Me, co-starring Eric McCormack, which aired on TNT until cancellation due to low ratings.
Cavanagh hosted Stories from the Vaults on Smithsonian Networks from 2008 to 2009. He made a guest appearance in the mid-season premiere of the USA Network show Royal Pains as former professional golfer Jack O'Malley. In 2012, he starred in Lifetime's A Killer Among Us remake. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Tom_Cavanagh_at_2015_PaleyFest.jpg" caption="Cavanagh at the 2015 Paley Fest" alt=""] ::
From 2014 to 2021, Cavanagh was a series regular on The CW's live-action television series The Flash, portraying Harrison Wells; most notably Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash impersonating the Earth-1 version in conjunction with several different doppelgängers, such as Earth-2's Harry, Earth-19 writer H. R., Earth-221 detective Sherloque, and explorer Nash (also known as Pariah). He was a regular cast member for seven seasons, and made guest appearances in the final two seasons. In 2023, Cavanagh began hosting the game show Hey Yahoo!.
Film performances
Cavanagh starred in the 2002 film Bang Bang You're Dead. Prior to Ed, Cavanagh's film appearances were mainly in supporting roles. After that series ended, he had his first starring role as an escaped convict in the thriller Heart of the Storm. In 2005, he starred in the romantic comedy Alchemy, opposite Sarah Chalke; in 2006, he appeared in another romantic comedy, Gray Matters.
In 2006, Cavanagh began filming Breakfast with Scot, in which he plays a gay retired hockey player who becomes an adoptive father to a young boy. The film, released in 2007, drew attention as the first gay-themed film ever to win approval from a major league sports franchise to use its real name and logo; Cavanagh's character formerly played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 2007, he starred in the second installment of the direct-to-DVD Raw Feed horror film series from Warner Home Video, Sublime. In 2008, Cavanagh starred in the Crime/Drama * The Capture of the Green River Killer*. He also starred as Ranger Smith in the feature film Yogi Bear (2010).
Podcast
From 2010 until 2016, Cavanagh co-hosted the podcast Mike and Tom Eat Snacks, with his Ed castmate Michael Ian Black, on the Nerdist Podcast Network. They re-launched the podcast in August 2021 on the Starburns Audio podcast network until going on hiatus again in early 2023. They re-relaunched the podcast in September 2025 as part of the Realm podcast network.
Personal life
Cavanagh married Maureen Grise, an image editor for Sports Illustrated, on July 31, 2004, in a Catholic ceremony on Nantucket, Massachusetts. The couple has two daughters and two sons.
Cavanagh ran the 2006 New York City Marathon.
In summer 2008, he founded the Cavanagh Classic, an annual celebrity basketball tournament in Rucker Park in Harlem to raise money and awareness for Nothing But Nets. The charity's goal is to combat malaria by sending mosquito nets to families that need them. Cavanagh travelled to Rwanda on a March 2009 United Nations Foundation trip to distribute the nets and educate the recipients in their use.
Filmography
Film
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | White Light | Ella's Secretary | |
| 1995 | Dangerous Intentions | Ron | |
| 1995 | Magic in the Water | Simon | |
| 1996 | Mask of Death | Joey | |
| 1996 | Midnight Heat | Bowlan | |
| 1996 | Profile for Murder | Tim Jonas | |
| 1997 | Honeymoon | Jamie | |
| 1999 | Something More | Harry | |
| 2003 | Freddy vs. Jason | Will's Father | |
| 2005 | Alchemy | Mal Downey | |
| 2006 | How to Eat Fried Worms | Mitch Forrester | |
| 2006 | Two Weeks | Barry Bergman | |
| 2006 | Gray Matters | Sam Baldwin | |
| 2007 | Sublime | George Grieves | |
| 2007 | The Cake Eaters | Lloyd | |
| 2007 | Breakfast with Scot | Eric McNally | |
| 2010 | Yogi Bear | Ranger John Smith | |
| 2013 | The Birder | Ron Spencer | |
| 2014 | The Games Maker | Mr. Drago | |
| 2015 | 400 Days | Zell | |
| 2016 | Sidekick | Darkman | |
| 2016 | Offer and Compromise | Henry Warner | |
| 2019 | Love & Debt | Henry Warner | |
| 2022 | Corrective Measures | Gordon Tweedy | |
| :: |
Television
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Secret Service | Charlie | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Beyond Reality | 1 episode | |
| 1993 | Sherlock Holmes Returns | Rookie Cop | Television film |
| 1993 | Other Women's Children | Marco | Television film |
| 1994 | Street Legal | Dr. Peter Shenfield | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Madison | Jesus | 1 episode |
| 1995, 1999 | The Outer Limits | Carl Toman, Vance Ridout | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Hawkeye | Corporal Charles Sykes | 1 episode |
| 1995 | A Vow to Kill | Jacey Jeffries | Television film |
| 1997 | Jake and the Kid | Paul Krause | Main role (season 2) |
| 1996 | Bloodhounds II | Levesh | Television film |
| 1997 | The Sentinel | Bill Collins | 1 episode |
| 1997 | Northern Lights | Frank | Television film |
| 1998 | Cold Squad | Spencer Taggart | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Viper | Charles Bennett | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Eyes of a Cowboy | Lonesome Cooper | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Twisteeria | Live Action Man | Television film |
| 1998 | The 900 Lives of Jackie Frye | Jackie Frye | Television film |
| 1999 | Mentors | Lewis Carroll | 1 episode |
| 1999–2000 | Providence | Doug Boyce | Recurring role, 8 episodes |
| 1999 | Oh, Grow Up | Bruce | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Anya's Bell | Patrick Birmingham | Television film |
| 1999–2000 | Sports Night | Howard | 2 episodes |
| 2000–2004 | Ed | Ed Stevens | Lead role, 83 episodes |
| 2002 | Bang Bang You're Dead | Val Duncan | Television film |
| 2002–2009 | Scrubs | Dan Dorian | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2004 | Jack & Bobby | Jimmy McCallister | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Heart of the Storm | Simpson | Television film |
| 2004 | Snow | Nick Snowden | Television film |
| 2006 | Love Monkey | Tom Farrell | Main role, 8 episodes |
| 2006 | My Ex Life | Nick | Television film |
| 2008 | Snow 2: Brain Freeze | Nick Snowden | Television film |
| 2008 | The Capture of the Green River Killer | Dave Reichert | Television miniseries |
| 2008–2009 | Eli Stone | Jeremy Stone | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2009 | Trust Me | Conner | Main role |
| 2009 | Christmas Dreams | Eli | Television film |
| 2010 | Edgar Floats | Edgar Floats | Television film |
| 2011 | Trading Christmas | Charles Johnson | Television film |
| 2011–2012 | Royal Pains | Jack O'Malley | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2012 | A Killer Among Us | Nick Carleton | Television film |
| 2013 | Doc McStuffins | Big Jack | Voice role; 1 episode |
| 2013 | The Goldbergs | Charles Kremp | 1 episode |
| 2013, 2023 | Blue Bloods | Mickey Patrick | Episodes: "Ties That Bind", "The Big Leagues" |
| 2014 | Lucky Duck | Snap | Voice role; television film |
| 2014 | The Following | Kingston Tanner | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Undateable | Frank | 1 episode |
| 2014–2023 | The Flash | Harrison Wells / Pariah, Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash / The Flash | Main role (seasons 1–7); recurring role (seasons 7-8); guest role (season 9) |
| 2015 | Robot Chicken | Eobard Thawne | Voice role; episode: "Ants on a Hamburger" |
| 2016 | Van Helsing | Micah | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Darrow & Darrow | Miles | Television film |
| 2017, 2019 | Supergirl | Harrison Wells / Pariah, Eobard Thawne | Episodes: "Crisis on Earth-X", "The Wrath of Rama Khan" (cameo), "Crisis on Infinite Earths" |
| 2017–2019 | Arrow | Harrison Wells, Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash | Episodes: "Crisis on Earth-X", "Purgatory" (cameo), "Elseworlds" |
| 2017, 2020 | Legends of Tomorrow | Crossover episodes: "Crisis on Earth-X", "Crisis on Infinite Earths" | |
| 2018 | Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder | Miles | Television film |
| 2018 | Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence | Miles | Television film |
| 2019 | Witness to Murder: A Darrow Mystery | Miles | Television film |
| 2019 | Batwoman | Nash Wells | Episode: "A Mad Tea-Party" (cameo) |
| 2023 | Hey Yahoo (Game Show) | Host | Game Show |
| 2024 | Superman & Lois | Gordon Godfrey | Episode: "Sharp Dressed Man" |
| 2024 | Mistletoe Murders | Glenn Shaw | 2 episodes |
| 2025 | FBI | Philip | 2 episodes |
| :: |
Video games
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Yogi Bear: The Video Game | Ranger Smith |
| 2025 | Marvel's Deadpool VR | Mephisto |
| :: |
As a director
- Ed (2000–2004) – three episodes
- The Flash (2017–2018) – episodes: "The Once and Future Flash", "Elongated Journey Into Night" and the 100th episode, "What's Past Is Prologue".
- Superman & Lois (2021–2023) – two episodes: "Last Sons of Krypton", "Closer".
References
References
- "Hey Yahoo! (TV Series 2023– ) ⭐ 6.3 {{!}} Game-Show".
- "Thomas Cavanagh (Performer)".
- Wyndham, Wise. "Tom Cavanagh".
- Rothstein, Michael. (July 13, 2009). "Fame And Notre Dame: Actor Tom Cavanagh". [[The Journal Gazette]].
- Blackman, Lori. (November 15, 2000). "Tom Cavanagh of 'Ed'". [[CNN]].
- Lambie, Gordon. (May 27, 2020). "Townships community mourns Tom Cavanagh". [[The Record (Sherbrooke).
- Ragusa, Gina. (October 6, 2020). "Actor Tom Cavanagh from 'The Flash' Reveals the Most Important Life Lessons From His Father".
- Ouzounian, Richard. (July 11, 2014). "Canadian actor known for Ed grateful for a string of "great jobs," including The Following, The Flash and animated series on Disney Junior.". [[Toronto Star]].
- (Feb 21, 2020). "Oh Henry! commercial (1995)". Some Old Videos.
- (July 25, 2008). "Labatt Blue Commercial". VideoCassettes.
- "Shows: Season 29 2007–2008".
- Frankel, Daniel. (February 4, 2009). "TNT's 'Trust Me' tumbles: USA's original series fare well against networks". [[Winnipeg Free Press]].
- Andreeva, Nellie. (April 12, 2009). "TNT cancels ad-agency drama "Trust Me"".
- Lewis, Errol. (August 14, 2012). "Lifetime Premieres 'Killer Among Us' Starring Tom Cavanagh And Boris Kodjoe".
- Abrams, Natalie. (February 10, 2014). "Ed's Tom Cavanagh Joins The CW's The Flash Pilot".
- Vary, Adam B.. (May 4, 2021). "'The Flash' Stars Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh Leaving After Season 7".
- Drum, Nicole. (June 29, 2022). "The Flash: Eric Wallace Breaks Down Reverse Flash's Fate in "Negative Part Two"".
- (2023-05-25). "Does The Flash Season 9 ending reveals a new future for Arrowverse?".
- Rice, Lynette. "Tom Cavanagh To Host 'Hey Yahoo!' For Game Show Network".
- [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-and-tom-eat-snacks/id417759145?mt=2 "Mike and Tom Eat Snacks on Apple Podcasts"]. ''Apple Podcasts''.
- (August 5, 2004). "Cage Nuptials Kick Off a Week of Weddings". [[People (magazine).
- "My Sundance Experience in Full".
- Peterson, Erin. (October 29, 2008). "I'm a Runner: Tom Cavanagh". [[Runner's World]].
- Cavanagh, Tom. (March 25, 2009). "Trust me, Nets Save Lives". Nothing But Nets.
- Hailu, Selome. (September 8, 2021). "Bruce Willis and Michael Rooker to Star in Tubi's Adaptation of 'Corrective Measures'".
- "Hey Yahoo! (TV Series 2023– ) ⭐ 6.3 {{!}} Game-Show".
- (March 21, 2017). "Flash's Tom Cavanagh Directing Time Travel Episode".
- (April 25, 2017). "The Flash: The Once And Future Flash Review & Discussion". [[Screen Rant]].
- Keene, Allison. (October 25, 2017). "New 'The Flash' Images Introduce Danny Trejo's Breacher".
- Agard, Chancellor. (December 4, 2018). "'The Flash' recap: A poignant (and twisty!) journey to the past worthy of 100 episodes".
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