BOBBY CANNAVALE CHECKS IN TO "NURSE JACKIE"

Will Guest Star in Ten Episodes of the Fourth Season of The SHOWTIME(R) Hit Comedy Series

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 11, 2011) -- Emmy(R) Award winner and two-time Tony(R) Award nominee Bobby Cannavale will appear as a special guest star in all 10 episodes of the fourth season of NURSE JACKIE. Cannavale will play a formidable hospital administrator sent by the new conglomerate that buys the financially beleaguered All Saint's Hospital to improve the hospital's efficiency and profitability, but his arrival is sure to shake things up. Production on season four begins in September in New York for a 2012 premiere.

On television, Cannavale earned an Emmy Award for his performance as Will's boyfriend on NBC's "Will & Grace." Additional television credits include HBO's "Six Feet Under," and a starring role in the ABC comedy series "Cupid." He made his Broadway debut in Theresa Rebeck's "Mauritius," for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. He also received rave reviews in the off-Broadway revival of "Hurly Burly." He most recently starred opposite Chris Rock on Broadway in the critically acclaimed "Motherf**ka With the Hat," for which he was again nominated for a Tony. Cannavale's film credits include "The Station Agent" (Audience Award Sundance Film Festival, SAG Award Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast); "The Other Guys," "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men," "Diminished Capacity," "Fast Food Nation" and "The Night Listener." This year, he co-starred in Tom McCarthy's film "Win Win" to rave reviews.

NURSE JACKIE, which has received both critical and audience acclaim, stars Emmy and Golden Globe(R) winner Edie Falco, who just this past season received an Emmy in the "Comedy" category for her lead role. NURSE JACKIE also stars Eve Best, Merritt Wever, Paul Schulze, Dominic Fumusa, Anna Deavere Smith and Peter Facinelli. Arjun Gupta and Stephen Wallem guest star. Lenny Jacobson co-stars. Liz Brixius and Linda Wallem write and executive produce the series along with Richie Jackson and Caryn Mandabach, who also serve as executive producers. The series is a co-production of SHOWTIME and Lionsgate.