McGinley had a minor supporting role as Major Newman in the 2001 film 'Pearl Harbor'
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NEED TO KNOW
- Ted McGinley made an appearance at the Apple TV FYC special event for Shrinking on Sunday, April 12, 2026
- During the event, the 67-year-old reflected on his long career and the unexpected recognition he’s receiving for his latest character, Derek
- He tells PEOPLE that working alongside stars like Harrison Ford and Jason Segel is something he once believed would “never” happen
Ted McGinley has spent decades building a steady and recognizable career across television and film, earning a reputation for his memorable roles in long-running sitcoms and ensemble casts.
From his early days on series like Happy Days and Married… with Children, the 67-year-old actor has established himself as a familiar face to audiences across generations. Now, his role as Derek in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking has introduced him to a new wave of appreciation.
At a recent event celebrating the show, McGinley opened up about how unexpected this moment feels in the context of his long journey. Reflecting on the experience, he admits to PEOPLE that the recognition he’s receiving now is something he “never thought would happen — ever.”
Credit: A. Nevader/WireImage
For much of his career, McGinley says he didn’t imagine himself sharing scenes with the kind of high-profile actors he now works alongside.
“I spent my entire career wondering what it would be like to work opposite a man like Harrison Ford, Jason Segel,” he tells PEOPLE exclusively, emphasizing how distant those opportunities once felt. “I'm never going to get that chance to have a scene,” McGinley once believed.
That perspective, however, makes his role in Shrinking all the more meaningful.
The three-season series follows a grieving therapist named Jimmy Laird, played by Segel, who begins to break professional boundaries with his patients. Meanwhile, McGinley plays Derek, the easygoing husband of Christa Miller’s Liz.
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Earlier in his career, even brief moments on major productions left an impression. He recalls his small role in Pearl Harbor, noting he only had “like three days of work,” but being surrounded by major stars made him reflect on his own path.
“I thought, ‘Okay, now I'm going to go, Michael Bay, Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett — I'm going to see Alec Baldwin. What are these guys doing that I'm not doing?’” he recalls questioning at the time. “I got there and I realized, ‘Okay, I'm doing this. It's just hard to get in there,’ and so I always tell actors like, ‘Just keep going. You've got to keep just believing.' ”
Today, that persistence has paid off, and McGinley is now working “toe to toe and on the same set” as the actors he once admired from afar.
“I realized those are things that I thought just would never happen, and I'm getting to experience those things,” he shares.
Despite having worked in Hollywood for decades, McGinley says he is now recognized more than ever for his role on the Apple TV series.
"I was just in New York … and the reception from people in the airport or walking … You stop in Times Square and 50 people say, 'Derek! Derek!'" he says. "I swear I've never been in that situation, and it's all benevolent. It's all kind. It's all, 'We love him' — and that's pretty special. It's very, very rare."
He notes that he is "so glad" that success came "later" in his career, "because everything means so much more now, and I'm nothing but grateful, period.”
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