Profile Text
Donovan in 2010, photo by PrPhotos
Birth Name: Tate Buckley Donovan
Place of Birth: Tenafly, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 25, 1963
Ethnicity: Irish, some German
Tate Donovan is an American actor, comedian, and television director and producer. His roles include the films Love Potion No. 9 , Inside Monkey Zetterland , Disney’s Hercules , as the voice of the title character; Good Night, and Good Luck. , Nancy Drew (2007), Argo , and Worth , and the shows Friends , Hercules , reprising his role; The O.C. , Damages , and 24: Live Another Day . He has also directed episodes of Damages , Gossip Girl , and Madam Secretary .
Tate is the son of Eileen Frances and John Timothy Donovan, a surgeon. His father had Irish ancestry. His mother had Irish, and some German, ancestry.
He can play the bodhran, a hand-held Irish drum.
Tate’s paternal grandfather was named John Joseph Donovan.
Tate’s paternal grandmother was Susan Rita O’Donnell (the daughter of William O’Donnell and Susan Tate). Tate’s great-grandparents John and Susan were both born in New York, and all of their own parents were Irish.
Tate’s maternal grandfather was Anthony Joseph McAllister (the son of James Patrick McAllister and Isabel Adelaide Stulz). Anthony was born in New York. James was born in Cushendall, Co. Antrim, Ireland, the son of James P. McAllister and Catherine Ried. Isabel was born in New York, the daughter of Andrew Lucas Stulz, who was German, from Alsace-Lorraine, and of Bridget/Brigid Walsh, who was Irish.
Tate’s maternal grandmother was named Marjorie M. Buckley (the daughter of Henry Buckley). Marjorie was born in New York, to New York-born parents.
Sources: Tate’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Tate’s maternal grandfather, Anthony Joseph McAllister, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Tate’s maternal great-grandmother, Isabel Adelaide Stulz, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org