His career includes over 20 feature films, numerous critically acclaimed specials for HBO and Showtime, a book, CD, international hit song and his own thriving production company, Apostle. In recent years Denis has played dramatic roles opposite Clint Eastwood in "True Crime," Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo in "The Thomas Crown Affair" and Billy Crudup in "Jesus' Son". He also lent his voice to the Disney hit "A Bug's Life." Over the next year, Denis will star in Campbell Scott's solo directing debut, "Final," as well as the comedies, "Company Man" (with John Turturro and Woody Allen) and "Lakeboat," written by David Mamet and directed by Joe Mantegna.

Leary was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. While he was in college at Emerson, in Boston, he got involved with acting and writing and was a founding member of the Emerson Comedy Workshop.

A series of infamous TV spots directed by Ted Demme for MTV vaulted Denis to national prominence, followed by the award-winning HBO special "No Cure for Cancer," based on Leary's one-man show which he wrote and performed off-Broadway in a sold-out, six-month run. The show not only spawned a TV special, but also a book, best-selling CD, international hit song and a controversial music video. After that success, Denis and Ted teamed with Richard LaGravanese to make Denis' first feature film, "The Ref," a black comedy, which has become a perennial holiday favorite.

Ted and Denis also worked together on "Lock 'n Load," Denis' second critically acclaimed HBO special, which led to a groundbreaking soundtrack album of the same name. Denis' production company, Apostle, most recently co-produced the film "Monument Avenue," in which Denis starred and Ted directed. The movie received four-star reviews from many top critics and was hailed as "The Irish 'Mean Streets'" by the Boston Globe. Apostle is also the producer of Ted Demme's movie, "Blow," which stars Johnny Depp, Ray Liotta and Penelope Cruz. The movie chronicles the rise and fall of George Jung, a Massachusetts native who, in the early '70s, was responsible for bringing over 80% of the cocaine into the U.S. through the Colombian cocaine cartel. And Apostle produced the forthcoming "Double Whammy," a comedy about a New York City police officer, starring Denis, Steve Buscemi, Elizabeth Hurley and Tom DiCillo. Denis' company also has a film and television production deal with DreamWorks SKG.

Denis' first foray into directing was the Showtime movie "Lust," in which he starred, along with Annabella Sciorra. He won the CableAce Award for Best Director of a Comedy with that effort.

In 2000, Denis established The Leary Firefighters Foundation, in memory of his cousin, Jeremiah Lucey, who perished December 3, 1999, in a Worcester fire, along with five other firefighters. The foundation provides funding and resources to obtain the highest level of equipment, technology and training for firefighters, and resources for the families of those who have perished or been injured in the line of duty. The foundation's first event, the Celebrity Hat Trick, was held in Worcester on October 1 and 2, 2000. It consisted of a celebrity hockey game and golf tournament that featured such stars as Michael J. Fox, Tim Robbins, Aidan Quinn, Bobby Orr, Kiefer Sutherland, Scott Wolf and Elizabeth Hurley. The event helped to raise over $300,000 for the Foundation.

Apostle annually produces The Comics Come Home New Year's Eve Special for Comedy Central, to benefit The Cam Neely Foundation, providing a home away from home for cancer patients and their families.

Denis has published comic essays in magazines including Details, Playboy, New York and Premiere.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Hometown: Worcester, MA
Birthdate: August 18

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