John C McGinley

The List Of Things That Are Good

If I were to shuffle from this mortal coil this afternoon, I'd like to leave a legacy like this behind: Actor. Played Perry Cox in Scrubs, Bob Slydell in Office Space and Sergeant Red O'Neill in Platoon. I'd be happy. I'd be happy in the knowledge that three small slices of golden entertainment were mine. All different, all good. I'd rattle out my last breath thinking of the generations to come who might see me doing what I enjoyed and doing it well. I'd die happy. But that won't happen, because I am not John C McGinley.

McGinley has one of those faces that you remember, but one of those names that you don't. Until Scrubs blasted him to a more obvious public recognition, he was one of those actors who you kind of noted, but only later realised was really good. Then you sought him out. He can play flawed and feckless to perfection. He can do very solid comedy. He is sharp and quick and fox-like. I didn't know anything about him until I started really liking him, so I looked him up. Just to pad him out in my mind.

A solid mix of boho and high finance, McGinley was born in Greenwich Village, New York City, the son of a schoolteacher and a stockbroker. He was an ace footballer at school, playing the nippy but tough position of wide receiver. After studying acting at Syracuse, McGinley's first role was in the soap opera Another World.

In 1986 McGinley landed the role of Sgt Red O'Neil in Oliver Stone's Platoon (see our Classic Movies). Now, you probably remember Evil Sgt Barnes (Tom Berenger) and Good Sgt Elias (Willem Defoe) but have forgotten Cowardly Sgt O'Neil. Sgt O'Neil was my favourite: he kind of acted how I imagined I would act in war, and I found this awful and compelling. Although cowardly, I made a note to watch out for McGinley. I wasn't disappointed.

He cropped up in some classics: Wall Street, Point Break, Nothing to Lose. Then came Office Space. I love Office Space, and McGinley was superb, revealing a fantastic comic gift of timing and delivery. He improvised many takes, including his character's love of Michael Bolton. If you haven't seen Office Space you should probably buy the DVD right now. I'd imagine Ricky Gervais saw it several times in 1999, when it was released.

So, recently I have enjoyed McGinley in Scrubs. You may not bother with Scrubs, but you should. It is very funny, and the funniest thing about it is the awesome character of Dr Percival Ulysses 'Perry' Cox. Cox relentless rides the young interns and doctors, mocking them, assaulting them, belittling them and generally making their lives hell, all the time making them into better doctors. His put-downs are great; his venom lethal and his mannerisms borderline psychotic. His cruelty masks a softer side, but it is cruel, and the softer side is seldom seen. He is a legend, and so is John C McGinley.

See Dr Cox and an interview with McGinley below: