Regarding the colorful character he portrays on “Will & Grace,” Emmy Award-winning actor Sean Hayes explains, “Jack is highly neurotic, extremely outspoken, a little bitter, maybe even borderline obsessive-compulsive. However, underneath all that, he is a caring soul and a good friend to Will (Eric McCormack).”

Hayes, who won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2000 for “Will & Grace” -- and has been nominated every year since -- was raised in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn, Illinois. A talented musician, he supported himself as a classical pianist and performed in a pop band while attending Illinois State University, where he majored in performance and conducting. He also appeared in the university’s productions of “Burn This” and “Love for Love.”

After his college experience, Hayes began working in the Chicago theater community, serving as the music director at the Pheasant Run Theatre for a few years, where he appeared in several of their productions. He composed original music for a production of “Antigone” at the Steppenwolf Theatre and appeared in the original production of “Role Play” at the Organic Theater.

An alumnus of the famed Second City improvisational comedy group, Hayes also had gigs as a standup comic, performing at the Comedy Club in Los Angeles.

While still in Chicago, Hayes won guest-starring roles in television shows including “Missing Persons,” “Silk Stalkings” and “Tough Target.” He also starred in the television movie “A&P,” based on the short story by John Updike. Most recently, Hayes starred as Jerry Lewis in the television movie “The Martin & Lewis Story.”

On the big screen, Hayes recently completed work on the independent feature “Pieces of April” for writer/director Peter Hedges, due in theaters next year. He played the title role in the art-house hit “Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss,” which won critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, and lent his voice to the character of the diabolical Mr. Tinkles in the box-office hit “Cats and Dogs.” Hayes has also been honored with two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a TV Guide Award, an American Comedy Award and three Golden Globe nominations.

Hayes makes his residence in Los Angeles. His birthday is June 26.