Biography
He made his professional debut at the Shady Land Summer Theatre in Marengo, Illinois in 1976. The following year, he enrolled at the Yale School of Drama and by 1978, had made his NYC stage debut in the small role of a doctor in "Wings". The handsome actor remained with the play when it transferred to Broadway, simultaneously commuting to New Haven to work on his MFA. After graduation, Pierson found employment in daytime dramas beginning with …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2011 | Cast opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the biographical drama "J. Edgar"; again directed by Eastwood |
2011 | Played a supporting role in romantic comedy "Something Borrowed" |
2010 | Made a guest appearance on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" |
2008 | Played the vice president in the big screen adaptation of "Get Smart" |
2008 | Portrayed the flamboyant defense attorney Sammy 'S.S.' Hahn in Clint Eastwood's "Changeling" |
2006 | Played Captain Tom Matthews on the Showtime series "Dexter" |
2006 | Appeared in Bob Goldthwait's indie feature "Sleeping Dogs Lie" |
2005 | Cast in the NBC movie "The Poseidon Adventure," a remake of the 1972 film that starred Gene Hackman and Shelley Winters |
2004 | Starred in David Mamet's "Spartan" with Derek Luke and Val Kilmer |
2003 | Returned to series TV as Senator John Keeler on the Fox action drama "24" |
2003 | Had a recurring role as Senate Minority Leader Tripplehorn on the NBC political drama "The West Wing" |
2002 | Cast on the short-lived Fox comedy "That '80s Show" as R.T. Howard |
1995 | Starred as Jack Malloy on The WB sitcom "Unhappily Ever After" |
1995 | Returned to features in small role in "Two Bits" |
1993 | Played Jimmy Kelly, Grace's ex-husband, on the ABC sitcom "Grace Under Fire" |
1988 | Co-starred in "Necessary Parties" (PBS) |
1983 | Played Frank Ryan on the ABC daytime drama "Ryan's Hope" |
1983 | Feature film debut, "Without a Trace" |
1980 | Made TV-movie debut in "The Mating Season" (CBS) |
1980 | Had first regular role on TV as Lt. Donovan on the NBC soap opera "Texas" |
1978 | NYC stage debut in small role as a doctor in the New York Shakespeare Festival production of "Wings"; show later transferred to Broadway |
1976 | Professional stage debut at the Shady Land Summer Theatre in Marengo, IL |