:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/sean-hayes-will-and-grace-WATN-091923-c5dc37306ac04833a1c95befcd736262.jpg)
You remember the purple walls. You remember the high-pitched "Honey!" echoing through a Manhattan apartment. But mostly, you remember how it felt to watch four people who genuinely seemed to like—and occasionally loathe—each other in a way that felt real.
Fast forward to 2026. The sitcom landscape is a mess of short-lived streaming experiments, yet the Will and Grace actor roster remains remarkably relevant. It’s not just nostalgia. Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, and Megan Mullally didn't just retire to Malibu after the 2020 series finale. They’ve basically colonized every corner of modern media, from high-stakes thrillers to the peak of the podcast charts.
Eric McCormack: From Will Truman to the "Boogeyman"
If you still think of Eric McCormack as the uptight, buttoned-down lawyer Will Truman, his recent career choices might give you whiplash. He’s spent the last year proving he can be terrifying.
In early 2026, McCormack made a massive splash in the second season of NBC’s The Hunting Party. He isn't playing the hero. He’s Ron Simms, a serial killer nicknamed "The Boogeyman." It’s a far cry from obsessing over Grace’s outfit choices. Honestly, seeing him trade the tailored suits for the persona of a calculated predator is one of the more jarring (but brilliant) pivots in recent TV history.
✨ Don't miss: Anne Hathaway: Why the Actress from Princess Diaries Still Runs Hollywood
He’s also been busy with Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue, a thriller that dropped in late 2025. He plays Kevin Anderson, one of the survivors of a plane crash trapped in a jungle. McCormack actually talked about the production on TODAY, mentioning how the crew built a literal living ecosystem inside a studio. That’s the kind of commitment you get from a guy who spent eleven seasons perfecting the art of the multi-cam sitcom.
Sean Hayes is Secretly Running the Podcast World
You've probably listened to him without even realizing it. While Jack McFarland was always looking for his next big break, Sean Hayes found it in a pair of headphones.
His podcast SmartLess, which he co-hosts with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, is basically a juggernaut now. In January 2026, they’ve already churned out episodes with Jennifer Lawrence and Ricky Gervais. The "mystery guest" gimmick hasn't gotten old because Hayes brings that same chaotic, Jack-esque energy to the interviews.
🔗 Read more: Sweetheart Coast: Why Sammi Sweetheart's Fashion Line Actually Survived the Jersey Shore Chaos
But he hasn't abandoned the Will and Grace actor legacy. He and McCormack still run Just Jack & Will, a rewatch podcast where they dissect old episodes. It’s a goldmine for fans who want to know what actually happened behind the scenes—like which guest stars were a nightmare or how many takes it took to get those physical comedy bits right.
What about the others?
- Megan Mullally: She’s still the queen of the "weirdo" role. After a scene-stealing turn in The Umbrella Academy with her husband Nick Offerman, she’s moved into voice work for 2026's Sovereign and the film Chasing Summer.
- Debra Messing: Messing has pivoted heavily into activism and executive producing. She spent much of 2025 working on the documentary OCTOBER H8TE and has become a prominent voice in human rights circles, recently receiving the Honor of Esther award.
The Cultural Weight Nobody Predicted
Back in 1998, people were worried a show about a gay man and his best friend wouldn't last a season. By 2026, we’re looking at it as the show that literally changed the law.
Joe Biden famously credited the show with doing more to educate the American public on LGBTQ+ issues than almost anything else. That’s a heavy mantle for a comedy about an interior designer and her neurotic roommate. Today, that impact is visible in the Smithsonian, which houses an LGBT history collection featuring items from the set.
The "contact hypothesis" is a real psychological theory that experts like Edward Schiappa have applied to the show. Basically, by "hanging out" with Will and Jack every Thursday night, millions of people who didn't know any gay people in real life shifted their perspectives. It wasn't a lecture; it was just funny.
Why We Still Care
The Will and Grace actor group succeeded because they weren't just archetypes. They were messy. Grace was often selfish. Will could be incredibly judgmental. Karen was... well, Karen.
In an era where every new show feels like it was written by a committee trying to be "important," the raw, lightning-fast chemistry of these four remains the gold standard. They didn't just play characters; they built a world that felt like a second home for the audience.
How to Keep Up with the Cast Today
If you want to see what the gang is up to right now, you don't have to wait for a reunion special that may or may not happen.
- Check out the "SmartLess" live tours. Hayes and his co-hosts often take the show on the road, and the chemistry is basically a masterclass in improv.
- Watch "The Hunting Party" on NBC/Peacock. If you want to see McCormack’s range, his "Boogeyman" arc is essential viewing.
- Follow Debra Messing’s advocacy work. She’s incredibly active on social platforms, focusing on social justice and documentary filmmaking.
- Listen to "Just Jack & Will." If you want the real dirt on the 90s and 2000s sitcom era, this is the only source that matters.
The show might be over (twice), but the actors are nowhere near done. They’ve managed that rare Hollywood feat: outgrowing their most famous roles without ever making us regret loving them in the first place.