‘Scrubs’ Actor John C. McGinley Puts Career On Hold To Focus On Being A Father

Mar 09, 2023

John C. McGinley, the comedian best known for playing Dr. Perry Cox in the hit series "Scrubs," has been taking some time off work in Hollywood to focus on his children. 

The 63-year-old actor, who has been acting since 1985, has been busy driving his daughters to school and their other activities. He's also pouring his time into serving on the board of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation for his son.

McGinley, born in New York City in 1959, has been married to his second wife, Nichole Kessler, since 2007 after dating for two years. They share two daughters, Billie Grace, born in 2008, and Kate, born in 2010. The actor was previously married to Lauren Lambert from 1997 to 2001. The first marriage produced Max, born in 1997, with Down syndrome.

In the 1980s, a casting scout noticed McGinley in a stage production that led to his first movie role in the Oscar-winning film "Platoon." He has been working non-stop since then, snagging roles in successful films like "Wall Street," "The Rock," "Office Space," and "Wild Hogs" as a prolific and sought-after character actor.

But his work in the "Scrubs" series, which ran from 2001 to 2010, made McGinley a cult fan favorite. The role was specifically written with the actor in mind, but McGinley said in an interview from 2013 that he still had to audition five times before he got the part. 

After "Scrubs" ended, McGinley worked on other sitcoms, including the cult TV series "Stan Against Evil." He also landed recurring guest-starring roles in shows like "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Chicago P.D." 

During the ATX TV Festival in June 2022, McGinley confirmed his hiatus from acting. “I’m not (working) now. It’s a little seductive,” he said.

The break came so McGinley could spend his time with his kids. He said he especially loves to drive his daughters to places because it's his chance to bond with his teenage girls. 

"There’s a little window where you’re going to be allowed in and then you’re not going to be allowed in anymore,” McGinley said.

The actor also participates in fundraisers and other initiatives for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, a cause so close to his heart because of his son. McGinley is happy that Max remains in good health and in great shape. However, as a father, he's also very aware of Max's potential path, as some Down syndrome patients could be at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease when they reach 50 to 60 years old. ​​

In a 2016 interview with New York Daily News, the actor said that he used to draw inspiration for playing Dr. Cox on "Scrubs" from his real-life hospital experiences with his kids. As a newborn, Max spent an intense two weeks at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) following a heart procedure. Kate was also briefly in the NICU as a baby born via C-section. The actor figured any patient would want someone like his TV character as their doctor because "(Cox) was the best chance" for them to get out of the hospital alive.

"As a teaching doctor he was the one taking it the most seriously," McGinley said. "In other words, he wasn't teaching these jack***** how to tie their shoes, he was teaching them how to save lives." 

Were you a fan of John C. McGinley or his TV alter ego? What can you say about his devotion toward his children and his advocacy for people with Down syndrome? Let us know your thoughts, and pass this story along to another fan!