If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the screen during a rewatch of My Best Friend’s Wedding or catching an episode of Chicago Fire and thinking, "Wait, how tall is Dermot Mulroney, actually?" you aren’t alone. It’s one of those weirdly specific things fans obsess over. Maybe it’s because he often plays the charming, sturdy leading man. Or maybe it’s because he spent decades being confused for Dylan McDermott—who, for the record, is a different height entirely.
Honestly, Hollywood is a land of smoke and mirrors. Between lifts in shoes, strategic camera angles, and actors who maybe "embellish" their stats by an inch or two, finding the truth can be a headache. But for Dermot, the numbers are pretty consistent across the board.
The Official Word on How Tall Is Dermot Mulroney
The short answer? Dermot Mulroney is 5 feet 9 inches tall. That’s roughly 175 centimeters if you’re looking at the metric system. He isn’t a giant, but he isn’t short either. He’s basically the definition of "average height" for an American male. But in a town like Los Angeles, where everyone wants to be 6'2", being 5'9" makes him relatable. He has this grounded, "guy next door" energy that has kept him working steadily since the late 1980s.
Why does it matter? It doesn't, really. Not until you see him standing next to a costar like Julia Roberts or Cameron Diaz.
Roberts is about 5'7" or 5'8", so when they’re together on screen, they look perfectly matched. In My Best Friend’s Wedding, they looked like the ideal pair because their eye levels were almost identical. It creates a specific kind of chemistry that you don't always get with massive height discrepancies.
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Comparisons: Mulroney vs. McDermott
You can't talk about Dermot without mentioning the Dylan McDermott thing. It’s the longest-running joke in Hollywood. Even Saturday Night Live did a "Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney" game show sketch because the public just cannot tell them apart.
If you're trying to distinguish them by height, here's your cheat sheet:
- Dermot Mulroney: 5'9"
- Dylan McDermott: 6'0"
Dylan has about three inches on Dermot. He’s got that slightly leaner, taller "leading man" frame, whereas Dermot has a more rugged, broad-shouldered build. Dermot actually addressed this in an interview once, mentioning that Dylan is "a little taller" and that he respects the "tall guys." It’s kinda refreshing to hear an actor just admit it without being weirdly insecure about his stature.
Standing Tall in Different Genres
Dermot’s career is a masterclass in variety. He’s done the Western thing in Young Guns (where he played "Dirty Steve" Stephens), the indie darling thing, and the big-budget horror thing.
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In Scream VI, he played Detective Bailey. Standing next to the younger cast members, his presence felt imposing, which proves that "screen presence" has nothing to do with being 6'4". He carries himself with a certain weight. That’s likely why he was recently cast as Chief Dom Pascal in Chicago Fire. You need a guy who looks like he can command a room of firefighters. At 5'9", he does exactly that through sheer charisma and that trademark gravelly voice.
The Cello Factor
Did you know he’s a professional-level cellist? He’s played on scores for Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Why am I bringing this up in a piece about his height? Because when you see him sitting with a cello, his height is irrelevant. It’s about his reach and his posture. He’s been playing since he was seven. That discipline probably explains why he’s so "of the earth" as some profiles describe him. He isn't some flighty Hollywood type; he's a musician who happens to act.
Why Do People Get His Height Wrong?
Part of the confusion comes from his costars. When an actor works with people like Harvey Keitel (who is around 5'7") or Sam Shepard (who was about 6'2"), it changes your perception of them.
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In his 2025 project Laws of Man, he shares the screen with Harvey Keitel and Keith Carradine. Carradine is a tall man—around 6'1". Standing next to him, Dermot might look shorter. But put him in a scene with Keitel, and he looks like the tall one.
Then you have the shoe situation. It’s no secret that wardrobe departments often use "lifts" or boots with a significant heel for certain roles. If Dermot is playing a high-ranking official or a tough detective, they might give him an extra inch with a pair of chunky service boots.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're a fan of Dermot or just a trivia buff, keep these things in mind:
- Trust the 5'9" stat: It's the most widely verified number from casting agencies and height tracking databases.
- Look at the shoulders: Dermot has a broader build than many actors his height, which often makes him look "bigger" on screen than he actually is.
- Check the costars: If you want to gauge someone's height, look at them next to someone with a "known" height, like Julia Roberts (5'8") or Glen Powell (6'0").
- Appreciate the versatility: His height has allowed him to transition from the "romantic lead" (who needs to be roughly the same height as the actress) to the "character actor" (where being average height is an advantage for blending into roles).
Dermot Mulroney has been around for nearly 40 years for a reason. He’s reliable. He’s talented. And yeah, he’s exactly 5'9". Whether he's playing a villain, a hero, or a dad, he fits the frame perfectly.
Next time you see him on screen, maybe don't worry about the tape measure. Just enjoy the performance—and remember, if he looks way taller than 6 feet, it’s probably Dylan McDermott you’re watching.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
Check out Dermot’s recent work in Chicago Fire (2024-2026) to see how he handles the physical demands of playing a fire chief, or look for his name in the credits of Michael Giacchino's film scores to hear his cello work. If you're comparing him to other stars, look up the heights of his Anyone But You costars to see how the camera plays with perspective in modern rom-coms.