Background
Clohessy was born in The Bronx, the son of John Clohessy, a police officer
Clohessy was born in The Bronx, the son of John Clohessy, a police officer
Clohessy graduated from State University of New York Purchase, his Oz co-stars Edie Falco, Kirk Acevedo, and Seth Gilliam were also alumni of State University of New York Purchase. He graduated from Pearl River High School in Pearl River, New York where he played varsity football.
He is best known for playing Correctional Officer Sean Murphy on the Home Box Office drama Oz, and Lieutenant Sid Gormley on Blue Bloods. Clohessy fought in the 1975 Golden Gloves in Madison Square Garden. Clohessy first appeared on stage at Pearl River High School in their class production of Kismet, followed by the senior year production of Pajama Game! Clohessy has had recurring roles in daytime dramas All My Children and Guiding Light.
The first of such roles was in the seventh and final season of Hill Street Blues, where he played Officer Patrick Flaherty.
The following season, Clohessy was cast as the new co-star of Pat Morita on the American Broadcasting Company detective series Ohara, playing Lieutenant George Shaver. Later, he would join the cast of the Home Box Office prison drama Oz as Correctional Officer Sean Murphy.
However, in between these roles, Clohessy would play characters not associated with law enforcement, with a supporting role as minister Thomas Smaraldo on National Broadcasting Company"s comedy/drama Tattingers (1988–1989), and soon after in a starring role on National Broadcasting Company"s short-lived comedy One of the Boys (1989). Clohessy co-starred on the Neal Marlens/Carol Black American Broadcasting Company sitcom Laurie Hill in 1992, playing a stay-at-home freelance writer married to the series" lead, played by DeLane Matthews (the series also featured an up-and-coming Ellen DeGeneres).
In 2008, Clohessy had a regular role in the short-lived Fox show New Amsterdam.
In cinema, Clohessy played a supporting role in Across the Universe, playing the part of Jude"s long-lost father. His starring role as boxer turned wrestler, Jack Parker, in the film The Crimson Mask garnered him numerous film festival awards including Best Actor. His largest big budget film role was opposite Bradley Cooper in "The Place Beyond the Pines"
Clohessy played the role of "Mike" in the Broadway Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Pal Joey, from November, 2008 through February, 2009.
In 2012 he had a cameo in the film The Avengers as a Police Sergeant.
He is currently seen on the Columbia Broadcasting System crime drama Blue Bloods as Lieutenant Sid Gormley.