Denis Leary

Denis Leary's short comedy spots on MTV made him famous, and he followed these with success in films such as "The Ref," "True Crime" and the animated "Ice Age." Leary's TV drama, "Rescue Me" which he created, produces, and stars in, brought him acclaim in the drama realm, and his Fund for New York's Bravest is an inspirational charity that helps the families of firefighters who died on 9/11.

It was Leary's short comedy spots on the MTV cable network that made him nationally known. These clips featured him launching into a quick verbal assault on popular figures, such as the rock group R.E.M., and other topics, including racism. And usually, Leary delivered these clever quips while holding his trademark cigarette. Concerned about typecasting, he took a leading role in "The Ref." In the film, he played a burglar who takes a bickering married couple hostage, gets ensnared in their family squabbles and ends up acting as a peacemaker for the dysfunctional family.

Leary made a splash on the small screen with the hit cable series, "Rescue Me." Although his earlier attempt at starring in a television series, "The Job" did not last long, his second effort struck a cord with viewers and critics alike. "Rescue Me" which debuted in 2004, followed the life and work of a crew of firefighters in uptown Manhattan after the September 11th tragedy.

Leary played Tommy Gavin, a firefighter haunted by the death of his cousin and plagued many personal problems. He understood his character's loss all too well, having lost his own cousin and a childhood friend in a 1999 blaze in Worcester, Massachusetts. While the show had comic elements, it was grounded in the gritty reality of the dangers and hazards firefighters must face. In addition to being its star, Leary is also was an executive producer and writer for the series. He was nominated for three Emmy Awards—for Outstanding Actor in Drama Series in 2006 and in 2007 and for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series in 2005 along with friend and frequent collaborator Peter Tolan.

On December 3, 1999, six firefighters from Leary's hometown of Worcester were killed in the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire. Among the dead were Leary's cousin Jerry Lucey, as well as Leary's close childhood friend, Lt. Tommy Spencer. In response, the comedian founded the Leary Firefighters Foundation. Since its creation in 2000, the foundation has distributed over $2.5 million to fire departments in the Worcester, Boston, and New York City areas for equipment, training materials, new vehicles, and new facilities. Leary won $125,000 for the foundation on the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

A separate fund run by Leary's foundation, the Fund for New York's Bravest, has distributed over $2 million to the families of the 343 firemen killed in the September 11 attacks in 2001, in addition to providing funding for necessities such as a new mobile command center, first-responder training, and a high-rise simulator for the New York City Fire Department's training campus. As the foundation's president, Leary has been active in all of the fundraising. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Leary donated over a dozen boats to the New Orleans Fire Department to aid in rescue efforts in future disasters. The foundation also rebuilt entire NOLA firehouses.

Since "Rescue Me's" conclusion in 2011 Leary has kept busy with behind the scenes work in the series "Sirens" and in front of the camera in the recent "Spider-Man" relaunch.

In addition to supporting the Cam Neely Foundation, Leary has established his own organization to help others. After the death of his cousin and his friend in 1999, he established the Leary Firefighters Foundation, which has supported the families of the firefighters that died in that blaze—known as the "Worcester 6"—and supplied new equipment for that fire department as well as many other departments. To raise money, Leary hosts an annual ice hockey event that pits celebrities against legendary hockey stars.