Eric McCormack: Will & Grace Helped Change People's Views

Eric McCormack has credited NBC comedy Will & Grace with helping to change America’s views on homosexuality.

McCormack played Will Truman in the comedy which ran for eight seasons and nearly 200 episodes between 1998 and 2006. Gay lawyer Will and best friend Grace (Debra Messing) were the focus of the show but equally popular were Will’s gay best friend Jack (Sean Hayes) and Grace’s friend Karen (Megan Mullally).

In a recent interview with Parade McCormack credited the comedy with helping to change the perception of the LGBT community. “The show probably did more to educate the American public [about gay rights] than almost anything anybody’s ever done so far…..We never set out to be political or educational, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Will & Grace has been an agent for good”

The actor’s words echo those of Joe Biden, the Vice President of the USA, who also credited the comedy with helping to change the public’s view on homosexuality. When Biden endorsed same-sex marriage he said “I think Will & Grace did more to educate the American public more than almost anything anybody has done so far. People fear that which is different. Now they’re beginning to understand.”

At the time Biden’s words were met with praise by McCormack and Messing both of whom took to Twitter to congratulate the Vice President on his endorsement of gay marriage and name-checking Will and Grace.

Eric McCormack is currently starring in TNT‘s new drama series Perception while Debra Messing is part of the cast of NBC‘s musical drama Smash which will return later this year for a second series.