Dennis Cockrum is an American actor, best known for portraying Terry Milkovich on the American comedy-drama television series Shameless and appearing in over 100 films and television shows such as Firefly, Uncle Buck, Gangster Squad, Hail, Caesar!, and The West Wing.
Life & career Cockrum received an M.A. in Dramatic Arts from Eastern Michigan University.Dennis Cockrum. Mt. San Antonio College. Theater Arts. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
Cockrum's first character role was in John Hughes's 1989 comedy Uncle Buck. He then went on to star in Extreme Movie, Rebound, Hail, Caesar!; and as Elmer Jackson in Gangster Squad, Detective Tom Farrell in The Glimmer Man, Mr. Sunday in Angels in Stardust and Uncle Billy in Downeast.
Cockrum has also appeared on stage. For his first performance in Tom Stoppard's play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Cockram received the Joseph Jefferson Award.Dennis Cockrum. June 15, 2025. Blues News. American Blues Theater. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
He performed in the original 2006 Broadway play Frost/Nixon by British playwright Peter Morgan;Frost/Nixon. April 22, 2007. Murray, Matthew. Talkin' Broadway on Broadway. Retrieved December 27, 2025. and regional productions such as Dead End by Sidney Kingsley at the Ahmanson Theatrein Los Angeles, Lincoln Park Zoo by Richard Strand at Geva Theatre, Amadeus by Peter Shaffer, Private Lives by Noël Coward, and Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley at Snowmass Repertory in Colorado. In June 2025, Cockrum starred in the production Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues by Charles Smith.Sunset boys. June 5, 2025. Reid, Kerry. The Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 27, 2025.Review: ‘Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues’ at American Blues is a familiar kind of odd-couple story. June 7, 2025. Jones, Chris. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
In a June 2021 interview with Brett Allan, Cockrum stated that he has been a member of SAG-AFTRA for forty years.Actor Dennis Cockrum | Talks "Terry Milkovich" On "Shameless". June 22, 2021. The Brett Allan Show. Retrieved December 27, 2025. He is also a member of the A.E.A. and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Cockrum is the father of actress Stella Cockrum.
Partial Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 Uncle Buck Pal 1991 Cold Justice Patrick 2008 Extreme Movie Len's Dad 2013 Gangster Squad Elmer Jackson 2016 Hail, Caesar! Cop at French Postcard House 2016 Angels in Stardust Mr. Sunday 2021 Downeast Uncle Billy
Television Year Title Role Notes 1982 Chicago Story Lonnie Wadkins 1990 Cop Rock Glen 1990-1991 Uncle Buck Shank 1991 In a Child's Name Gregg Reid 1992 Major Dad Louie 1992 Married... with Children Ray the Bartender 1993 Cheers Pat McDougall 1993 Star Trek: The Next Generation Corvallen Freighter Captain 1993 The King of Queens Jeffrey 2000 JAG Vic Velasco Episode: "Real Deal SEAL" 2002-2004 Malcolm in the Middle Lieutenant Sortino 2004-2006 Boston Legal Detective Jacobs 2004 Joan of Arcadia Roger Franz 2009 The Young and the Restless Dr. Donahue 2009 Southland Tom 2013 Liv and Maddie Baxter Fontanel 2015 Masters of Sex Francis Masters 2016 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Deputy Inspector Flynt 2017 American Horror Story Senator Herbert Jackson 2018 Chicago Med Ray Burke 2011-2021 Shameless Terry Milkovich 2023 Pretty Freekin Scary Theodore Snickering 2023 NCIS Senator
References
External links
Interview with Dennis & Stella Cockrum. June 20, 2025. Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues, News. Dennis Cockrum (Performer). Playbill. Ensemble members announce departure from American Theater Company. Theater in Chicago.