Overview

Bruce Travis McGill, born on July 11, 1950, is an American actor renowned for his extensive career in both film and television. He is perhaps most recognized for his role as Jack Dalton on the TV series ‘MacGyver’ and as Daniel Simpson “D-Day” Day in the comedy classic ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’. McGill’s career spans over five decades, during which he has appeared in more than 170 films, TV movies, and series. Some of his notable film credits include ‘The Insider,’ ‘Ali,’ ‘Collateral,’ ‘My Cousin Vinny,’ and ‘Lincoln.’ He has also portrayed real-life figures such as CIA Director George Tenet in ‘W’ and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton in ‘Lincoln.’ McGill has been a consistent presence on television, with roles such as Detective Vince Korsak in ‘Rizzoli & Isles,’ and recurring roles in series like ‘Reacher,’ ‘Love & Death’, ‘Lioness’ and ‘The Crew’. An avid golfer, one of his favorite roles was playing Walter Hagen in ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance.’ He was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the E. William Doty Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas College of Fine Arts.

What Is Bruce McGill’s Net Worth?

Bruce McGill, a prolific American actor renowned for his versatile performances across film and television, has accumulated a net worth of $2 million. His career spans decades, encompassing nearly 70 films and 60 television productions, where he has shared the screen with some of the most iconic figures in the entertainment industry.

Early Life and Education

Bruce Travis McGill was born on July 11, 1950, in San Antonio, Texas. His parents were Adriel Rose (Jacobs), an artist, and Woodrow Wilson McGill, who worked in insurance and real estate. Bruce’s early interest in acting blossomed during his elementary school years. He honed his skills at Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio, Texas, before pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama at The University of Texas at Austin. After graduating, he dedicated several years to auditioning, gaining experience and refining his craft before securing his breakthrough roles.

Film Career Highlights

McGill’s film debut was in the 1977 comedy “Handle with Care,” where he played the character Blood. However, it was his role as Daniel Simpson Day in the 1978 comedy “National Lampoon’s Animal House” that propelled him to widespread recognition. The film, directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi, became a cult classic and grossed over $140 million at the box office. In 1981, McGill starred as Brian Ferguson in the psychological horror film “The Hand,” directed by Oliver Stone and starring Michael Caine. The film is about a comic book artist who has a mental breakdown.

In 1983, McGill played Mace Hurley in the biographical drama “Silkwood,” starring Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, and Cher. This film, adapted from the book “Who Killed Karen Silkwood?” by Howard Kohn, delves into the life and mysterious death of a nuclear whistleblower. He also appeared in the 1985 sports comedy “Wildcats,” alongside a young Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson. In 1986 he appeared in “No Mercy” with Richard Gere and Kim Basinger, In 1987 he appeared in “The Secret of My Success” with Michael J. Fox, and in 1989 he appeared in “Three Fugitives” with Nick Nolte.

In 1991, McGill starred as Charlie in the action comedy “The Last Boy Scout” with Bruce Willis. In 1992, he took on the role of Sheriff Dean Farley in the comedic blockbuster “My Cousin Vinny,” starring Joe Pesci. The following year, in 1993, he appeared alongside Sylvester Stallone in the action thriller “Cliffhanger.” In 1996, he acted alongside Meg Ryan and Denzel Washington in the war drama “Courage Under Fire.” A few years later, in 1999, McGill was cast as William the blacksmith in “A Dog of Flanders” starring John Voight, based on the classic novel. In 2002, he played Gene Revell in “The Sum of All Fears,” adapted from Tom Clancy’s novel. Two years later, in 2004, McGill was in “Collateral” alongside Tom Cruise.

In 2010, McGill portrayed Jim Pavitt in the biographical political drama “Fair Game,” starring Sean Penn. In 2012, he portrayed Edwin Stanton in the historical drama “Lincoln,” directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis. The film earned numerous awards and nominations. In 2019, he won a Best Actor Award at the Pasadena International Film Festival for his role as Mel in the film “Waiting Game.” McGill played Jim Foster in the 2021 biographical sports film “American Underdog,” which tells the story of NFL quarterback Kurt Warner.

Television Career

McGill made his television debut in the 1979 sitcom “Delta House,” reprising his role as Daniel Simpson Day from “National Lampoon’s Animal House.” From 1985 to 1992, he had a recurring role as Jack Dalton on “MacGyver.” He also made guest appearances on shows like “Quantum Leap” in 1989, “Tales from the Crypt” in 1991, and “Walker, Texas Ranger” in 1993. McGill’s television credits also include episodes of “Star Trek: Voyager” in 1999, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” in 2002, “The Good Wife” in 2012, and “Blue Bloods” in 2016. From 2010 to 2016, he played Detective Vince Korsak on the crime drama series “Rizzoli & Isles.”

In 2018, McGill had a recurring role as Stanley Gordon in season seven of the legal drama “Suits” and as Jordan Ramsey in the crime drama series “Shades of Blue.” In 2021, McGill had a recurring role as Bobby Spencer in the comedy series “The Crew.” In 2022, he played Mayor Grover Teale in the action crime series “Reacher.” McGill played Judge Tom Ryan in the 2023 crime drama miniseries “Love & Death.”

Bruce McGill has also appeared in numerous television movies, including 1981’s “A Whale for the Killing,” loosely based on a true story, 1986’s “As Summers Die,” starring Bette Davis and Jamie Lee Curtis, and 2022’s “Buried in Barstow.”

Narration Work

During the 2016 presidential election, McGill narrated a 30-second television campaign advertisement for Donald Trump. In 2018, he narrated the Fox News documentary series “Scandalous,” which examined the events leading to the impeachment of Bill Clinton.

Personal Life

Bruce McGill married Gloria Lee in 1994. In addition to his acting talents, McGill is an accomplished pianist and guitarist.

© 2025 Net Worth Ranker / All Rights Reserved