Biography
Some actors have such defining traits that they seem to have "leading man" written all over them, while others, like Terry Kinney, succeed with an uncanny ability to drastically alter their appearance at the drop of a hat. Though his chameleon-like skills have helped the actor land numerous roles on the stage and screen, it's his talent that ultimately formed the backbone of his enduring career. After graduating from high school, the Lincoln, IL, native attended Illinois State University. It was there that he befriended aspiring actor Jeff Perry, who invited Kinney to Chicago to watch his best friend perform in a stage production of Grease. Perry's friend was an ambitious young actor named
Gary Sinise, and the three soon began planning to open their own regional theater.
Though it was founded in 1974, the Steppenwolf Theater wouldn't quite get off the ground until two years later -- when Kinney and Perry graduated from I.S.U. The venture was largely unprofitable at first, so its founders supported themselves and their dream through a series of odd jobs before the theater moved from a Highland Park church basement to the old St. Nicholas Theater building in the early '80s. The change of scenery proved to be just what the theater needed to flourish, and it was soon drawing good crowds. In the years that followed, the company moved once again -- this time to a permanent location in Chicago -- and Kinney served as Steppenwolf's artistic co-director alongside Sinise. During this profitable period, Kinney and his co-founders were nominated for numerous theatrical awards, while their productions made headway on Broadway. Kinney, of course, had aspirations beyond regional theater, and, in 1986, made his film debut with a small part in the romantic comedy
Seven Minutes in Heaven. The remainder of the '80s found the actor landing bit parts in
No Mercy (1986) and Sinise's
Miles From Home (1988), in addition to a brief stint on television with
thirtysomething. It wasn't until the following decade, however, that his film career truly began to blossom.
Following an appearance in
The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Kinney drew favorable reviews for his top-billed turn in
Abel Ferrara's
Body Snatchers, and his billing remained high with
The Firm (1993),
Fly Away Home (1996), and
Sleepers (1998). In 1997, Kinney landed an extended gig on the acclaimed HBO prison drama
Oz. Cast as Cell Block Five Unit Manager Tim McManus, Kinney's hardened performance lent the show both dimension and a certain foundation. Kinney frequently balanced his role on this series with a number of feature performances, including such films as
The Young Girl and the Monsoon (1999, his second lead),
Luminous Motion (1998), and
The House of Mirth (2000). Although the bulk of his work in
Save the Last Dance (2001) ended up on the cutting room floor, audiences could still get a good look at Kinney in such features as
The Laramie Project (2001) and the 2004 soccer drama
The Game of Their Lives. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide