Dermot Mulroney—yeah, that guy who just pops up in, like, a million movies—actually comes from Alexandria, Virginia. His mom, Ellen, and his dad, Michael, who was a law professor at Villanova, probably didn’t expect their kid to end up on the big screen more times than you can count on both hands (and then some). Wild thing is, Mulroney didn’t just stumble into acting—he got noticed while he was at Northwestern University. One minute he’s just another college kid, next he’s off to Hollywood after some talent agent spotted him. Fast forward nearly three decades, and bam, you’ve got a guy who’s racked up credits in over 70 films. Not exactly a small deal. But here’s something people usually miss: Mulroney’s not just about the acting. The dude’s a legit cellist. He started jamming on the cello in Alexandria’s public schools at just seven years old. That’s not some quirky hobby either—he’s classically trained, which is way more hardcore than noodling around in your bedroom. He’s even played with the actual orchestras that score movies, working alongside heavyweights like James Newton Howard and Michael Giacchino. So, on top of acting with the best, he’s part of the soundtracks too. Multi-talented, much? Basically, when you hear those sweeping strings in a big Oscar-winning film, there’s a chance Mulroney’s in there somewhere, bow in hand, making the magic happen. Not your typical Hollywood story, right?
Okay, here’s the scoop: The cello player you’re hearing on Melissa Etheridge’s “Place Your Hand” from her 1992 album Never Enough? That’s not just some background musician—they actually pop up again in the world of blockbuster film, specifically in the score for Mission: Impossible III from 2006. Kinda wild to think about, right? From rocking out with Etheridge’s raw, emotional sound to weaving suspenseful, heart-pounding melodies into Tom Cruise’s action-packed world, this cellist’s resume is way more eclectic than most people would guess. Not many musicians can say they’ve bounced between gritty singer-songwriter vibes and edge-of-your-seat Hollywood scores, but hey, sometimes talent just refuses to stay in one lane. So next time you’re watching Ethan Hunt pull off some ridiculous stunt, just remember: that cello line in the background might be the same one that played along to Etheridge’s soulful powerhouse vocals years before. Talk about range.
Longtime Companion tracks a tight-knit group of friends living in New York as the AIDS crisis explodes in the early 1980s. Things start out bright—boozy brunches, beach getaways, the typical banter—but soon a dark cloud rolls in, and you feel it. People get sick, rumors swirl, and suddenly they're all scrambling for answers, clinging to each other because the outside world just doesn’t get it. The fear, denial, and heartbreak hit hard, but there’s humor and warmth, too—these characters refuse to be defined just by tragedy. You watch relationships shift, support systems form, and grief take its toll, but somehow, there’s hope flickering in the middle of it all. It’s not just a story about a disease; it’s about chosen family, resilience, and the bare-knuckled fight to hold onto joy when everything else is slipping away. It’s tough, messy, and raw, but honestly, it sticks with you.
October 31, 1963
5′ 9½″ (1.77 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Yes, Clyde Mulroney
Ellen Mulroney and Surekha
61 years old