Tim DeKay

Tim DeKay
DeKay in June 2011
Born	Timothy Robert DeKay (1963-06-12) June 12, 1963 Lansing, New York, U.S.
Education	Le Moyne College (BS) Rutgers University, New Brunswick (MFA)
Occupation	Actor
Spouse	Elisa Taylor ​ (m. 1991)​
Children	2
Website	Official Website

Timothy Robert DeKay (born June 12, 1963) is an American actor. He starred in the USA Network series White Collar (2009–2014).

Early life

Tim DeKay was born June 12, 1963, to Jim DeKay and Jill Vaughn in Lansing, New York, where he and his brother Jamey grew up. He attended Lansing High School. Growing up, DeKay enjoyed athletics, having played both varsity basketball and baseball, the latter of which is a generational tradition in his family. He enjoyed the arts and performed in his high school's production of Oliver!. DeKay attended Le Moyne College to study business and philosophy, where he also played baseball, eventually deciding to pursue a career in theater.

DeKay planned for a career in business or law and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1985. However, he realized that he wanted to work in theater instead. After taking a few courses in directing at Syracuse University, DeKay attended Rutgers University, where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree and met his wife, actress Elisa Taylor.

Career

DeKay has performed in plays both on Broadway and off, including Ridiculous Fraud at the McCarter Theatre, Billy Budd at the Circle in the Square Theatre, Someone to Watch Over Me with the Denver Theatre Company, The Merchant of Venice on the Hartford Stage, and the national tour of The Lion in Winter. In 2009, he was both director and producer of the short film This Monday. It was included in several short film festivals, including Cannes Short Film Corner and the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films.

His first onscreen acting job was as corporation head Larry Deon on seaQuest 2032. DeKay was a cast member of Party of Five from 1997 to 1999, Carnivàle from 2003 to 2005, and Tell Me You Love Me in 2007. He co-starred as Dean Stewart in the gay-themed comedy/drama film Big Eden in 2000. DeKay appeared in two episodes of Seinfeld: "The Soul Mate" and "The Bizarro Jerry", as Elaine's boyfriend, Kevin, who is seen as Jerry's exact opposite (and thus compared to Bizarro Superman from "the backwards bizarro world"). He would work with Julia Louis-Dreyfus again in The New Adventures of Old Christine, playing a temperamental boyfriend of Louis-Dreyfus's character in a three-episode story arc. DeKay has guest-starred on several other TV series, including Friends, CSI, My Name Is Earl, NCIS, Scrubs, and Chuck.

In 2009, he began starring in the USA Network comedy–drama White Collar as FBI agent Peter Burke. DeKay made his directorial debut in the episode "Stealing Home", which premiered in 2012. He played Duvall Pritchard in Fox Television's 2016 sci-fi drama series Second Chance.

DeKay is a member of the Actors Studio. He taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California.

In June 2024, during Variety's TV Fest, DeKay confirmed his return as FBI Special Agent Peter Burke in the upcoming revival, "White Collar Renaissance". He praised the new script, stating "it answers all the questions that one would have if you watched the show" and serves as an introduction for new viewers. DeKay also emphasized that the revival pays tribute to the late Willie Garson, who portrayed Mozzie in the original series.

Personal life

DeKay and his wife, actress Elisa Taylor, reside in Los Angeles, California. They have a daughter, Danna, and a son, Jamis.

In May 2010, he returned to Le Moyne College as the commencement speaker and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role
1996	If These Walls Could Talk	Becky's husband in segment - '1952'
1997	Invasion	Mike Landry; aka 'Robin Cook's Invasion'
1998	The Pentagon Wars	HBO movie; Junior officer at embassy party
	Almost Heroes	New Bartender
1999	Buddy Boy	Ken
2000	The Crow: Salvation	Martin Toomey; (credited as Tim DeMay)
	Big Eden	Dean Stewart
2001	Nice Guys Finish Last	Dad
	Swordfish	Agent
	Taking Back Our Town	Lifetime Channel Movie
2002	The Third Wheel	Speaker
2003	Welcome to the Neighborhood	Bill
2004	Control	Bill Caputo
2005	The Chumscrubber	Mr. Peck
2006	Peaceful Warrior	Coach Garrick
	The Far Side of Jericho	The Stranger
2007	Randy and The Mob	Bill
2008	Monster Ark	Dr. Nicholas Zavaterro
	Get Smart	Secret Service Agent
	The Russell Girl	Tim Russell (Hallmark Channel movie)
2009	Political Disasters	Jim
2014	Best Man Wins	Edward Stiles
2023	Oppenheimer	John Pastore

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995–96	SeaQuest DSV	Lawrence Deon	3 episodes
1996	Seinfeld	Kevin	2 episodes
	The Ring	Max Thomas	Miniseries; aka Danielle Steel's The Ring
	Grace Under Fire	Rev. Tom Maxwell	Episode: "The Ghost and Mrs. Kelly"
1997	The Larry Sanders Show	Gordon	Episode: "The Matchmaker"
	The Naked Truth	John	Episode: "We're at NBC Now"
	Touched by an Angel	J.D. Sinclair	Episode: "Smokescreen"
	Night Sins	Prof. Christopher Priest	Miniseries
	Diagnosis: Murder	Sonny Burnett	Episode: "A Mime Is a Terrible Thing to Waste"
1997–99	Party of Five	Dr. Paul Thomas	12 episodes (recurring)
1998	Ellen	John	Episode: "Escape from L.A."
	Caroline in the City	Brian	2 episodes
	Cupid	Jennings Crawford	Episode: "The Linguist"
	Brimstone	Prof. John Albright	Episode: "Heat"
1999	The Practice	Jerry Green	Episode: "Split Decisions"
	The Pretender	Eddie Fontenot	Episode: "Pool"
1999–2000	Sports Night	Ray Mitchel	2 episodes
2001	Chestnut Hill	Peter Eastman	Pilot
	Murder, She Wrote	Robert Mercer	Episode: "The Last Free Man"
	Thieves	Owen	Episode: "The General"
2002	Ally McBeal	Kendall Willis	Episode: "A Kick in the Head"
	Friends	Marc	Episode: "The One Where Rachel Has A Baby: Part 1"
	Malcolm in the Middle	Matt	Episode: "Zoo"
2002–03	Everwood	Reverend Keyes	3 episodes
2003–05	Carnivàle	Clayton 'Jonesy' Jones	24 episodes (main)
2004	Without a Trace	Jim Cooper	Episode: "The Season"
2005	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Neal Matthews	Season 5 Episode 18: "Spark of Life"
2006	My Name Is Earl	Hank Lange	2 episodes
	Standoff	John Barnes	Episode 2: "Circling"
	Cold Case	Geoff Taylor	Episode: "The War At Home"
2007	Hidden Palms	Mr. Miller	Pilot
	The 4400	Drew Imroth	2 episodes
	Numb3rs	Pete Friscia	Episode: "Robin Hood"
	Tell Me You Love Me	David	10 episodes (main)
2008	NCIS	Senator Patrick Kiley	Episode: "Capitol Offense"
	The Cleaner	Neil Mullins	Episode: "Lie With Me"
	CSI: Miami	William Campbell	Episode: "Wrecking Crew"
	The New Adventures of Old Christine	Patrick Harris	3 episodes
2009	Scrubs	Rich Hill	Episode: "My Nah Nah Nah"
2009–14	White Collar	FBI Agent Peter Burke	Main role; 81 episodes Also director and producer
2011	Law & Order: LA	Don Alvin	Episode: "Silver Lake"
	Chuck	Kieran Ryker	Episode: "Chuck Versus the Baby"
2012	Hot in Cleveland	Buddy	Episode: "Two Girls and a Rhino"
2013	Body of Proof	Caleb Banks	Episode: "Lost Souls"
2014	Revenge	Luke Gilliam	Episode: "Allegiance"
2014	Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.	Senator Christian Ward	2 episodes
2015	Dinner at Tiffani's	Self	4 episodes
2016	Second Chance	Duval Pritchard	Main Cast, 11 episodes
2017	Lucifer	Professor Jason Carlisle	2 episodes
2017	American Crime	J.D. Hesby	6 episodes
2018	Here and Now	Steven Benjamin	6 episodes
2018	Ballers		Episode: "The Kids Are Aight"
2020	68 Whiskey	Secretary of the Army Ryan Goodall	Episode: "Mr. Fix-It"
2020	The Expanse	Admiral Sauveterre	Episodes: "Churn", "Nemesis Games"
2021	FBI: Most Wanted	Angelo Carpenter	Episode: "Unhinged"
2022–23	1923	Bob Strafford	3 episodes
2023	Law & Order	Judge Ephraim Raymer	Episode: "Bias"

External links

• Tim DeKay at IMDb