Film Donovan's earliest film roles included Kevin Donaldson in
SpaceCamp (1986), recovering drug addict Donald Towle in
Clean and Sober (1988), 1st Lieutenant Luke Sinclair in
Memphis Belle (1990) and Paul Matthews in
Love Potion No. 9 (1992). Donovan voiced the title character in the Disney animated film
Hercules (1997). Donovan played Jesse Zousmer in the Best Picture nominated film
Good Night, and Good Luck (2005). In 2007, Donovan starred in the film
Nancy Drew alongside
Emma Roberts. Later, he played Bob Anders, one of the key supporting roles in the Oscar-winning film
Argo (2012). In 2019, Donovan portrayed Doug Weston in
Rocketman.
Television Donovan portrayed Joshua Burgin, the love interest of
Rachel Green, for several episodes of Season 4 of
Friends. Ironically, he had recently broken up with
Jennifer Aniston in real life. He also portrayed 'Cheanie' in 1997, who was a client of and also dated Ally McBeal in season 1 of
the show. He later portrayed the priest-son of a large Catholic family in
Trinity (1998). He has appeared as a guest star in several television series, such as
Magnum, P.I. (1986),
The Guardian (2001),
Mister Sterling (2003),
Exposed (2003), and
The O.C. (2003), where he appeared as
Jimmy Cooper. From 2007 to 2010, he portrayed Tom Shayes on
Damages. In 2005, Donovan began directing episodic television when he directed an
episode of
The O.C.. In 2007 he guest starred on a season 6 episode of
Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In 2009, he directed an episode of the
sixth season of
Medium. He also directed two episodes of
Damages in its third season and an episode of
Nip/Tuck in its
sixth season. In 2010, Donovan directed the third episode in the
sixth season of
Weeds, the tenth episode in the
fourth season of
Gossip Girl, the fourth episode of the
fifth season, and one episode of
Damages from the third season. In 2011, Donovan directed the
Valentine's Day-
themed episode of
Glee and the episode "
I Kissed a Girl" in the third season. However, after only one season, the series was cancelled. Donovan guest appeared in the series,
Red Oaks. Starting in 2017, Donovan appeared in CBS's
MacGyver as James MacGyver, the
titular character's father.
Stage Donovan starred on stage with
Amy Ryan in the
Los Angeles production of
Rabbit Hole. On Broadway, he played Alan Seymour in the 1994
Roundabout Theatre Company revival of
Picnic and appeared in ''Amy's View
with Judi Dench in 1999. Off Broadway, Donovan appeared with Glenn Fitzgerald in the 2001 production of Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan, playing the role of the crooked cop Bill. Donovan has appeared in numerous productions at the Williamstown Theater Festival, including Once in a Lifetime
, Under the Blue Sky
, and The Glass Menagerie''. He has also appeared at the Irish Repertory Theater in New York City. In 2011, he starred with Frances McDormand in the world premiere of
David Lindsay-Abaire's play
Good People at the Manhattan Theatre Club.
Other work Donovan had a regular gig with traditional
Irish band the McGuffins, with whom he released an album titled
Wake Amusements. He plays the
bodhrán and
fiddle. As of May 2011, Donovan voices radio and video advertising for
PNC Financial Services and volunteers with the
Young Storytellers Program. ==Personal life==