Tom Cavanagh
As Ed Stevens
Perhaps best known for his memorable recurring role as "dog boy," Doug Boyce, on NBC's "Providence," Tom Cavanagh now stars in the title role of "Ed," playing "a man who firmly believes in second chances, both in life and love." Cavanagh was born in Ottawa, Canada, the second child of a very close-knit family of five children. When he was 6, his parents who are both educators moved the family to a small coastal fishing village in the African nation of Ghana. While Cavanagh's father trained the local teachers in more modern educational methods, his mother taught the village locals. He spent his childhood living in Ghana, with summers spent travelling all over Europe. His family returned to their native Canada when Cavanagh started high school, which he attended in southern Quebec. He later enrolled in Queens University in Ontario, where he played varsity basketball and ultimately graduated with three degrees in English, biology and education. His growing interest in theater peaked when he was cast as Danny Zuko in a Canadian stage production of "Grease." He followed that with the role of Eugene in "Brighton Beach Memoirs," and then got his first big break starring with John Cullum in the Broadway revival of the hit musical "Shenandoah." After spending a year in New York doing the show, Cavanagh went first to Toronto and then to Vancouver, where he quickly become one of Canada's busiest and most popular actors. He was a series regular on the television series "Jake and the Kid" and "No Place Like Home."
Cavanagh's feature-film credits include the family drama "Northern Lights," where he played Diane Keaton's brother, "The Dukes," the family adventure "Magic in the Water" and the action thriller "Mask of Death." Additional credits include "Honeymoon" and "Something More."
Cavanagh moved to Los Angeles two years ago, and within a month of his arrival, he landed the lead in the pilot "900 Lives of Jackie Frye." Soon after, Cavanagh was cast as Ed Stevens in the CBS version of the pilot "Stuckeyville" (which NBC later developed as "Ed"), and also starred as a small-town lawyer who helps Della Reese in the movie "Anya's Bell."
Cavanagh then landed the recurring role of Doug on "Providence." He played a vulnerable young man from Newfoundland who thinks he's a dog until discovering his "inner man," thanks to a growing relationship with Joanie (Paula Cale). Cavanagh also guest-starred as Peter Krause's romantic rival in "Sports Night," and appeared on "Viper," "The Sentinel" and "The Outer Limits."
When he's not working, Cavanagh avidly participates in many sports and also enjoys playing the guitar. He is single and maintains his home in Los Angeles while the series films in New York. Cavanagh was born on October 26.