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{{Character_Infobox|title1 = Will Truman|image1 = File:profile_will.jpg|full_name = William Truman|origin = Bridgeport, Connecticut|birthdate = October 23, 1966|aliases = Baldy McLegdough<br>
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{{Character_Infobox|title1 = Will Truman|image1 = File:profile_will.jpg|full_name = William Truman|origin = Bridgeport, Connecticut|birthdate = October 23, 1966|aliases = Anal Annie<br>
  +
Baldy McLegdough<br>
  +
Billy Boy<br>
  +
Charity Will<br>
  +
Clammy Hands<br>
 
Dill Truman<br>
  
Dill Truman<br>
  ⚫
Hairy Ass Truman<br>
⚫
Fruit<br>
  
⚫
Harry Ass Truman<br>
  
 
Homo<br>
  
Homo<br>
 
Mr. Happy Boots<br>
  
Mr. Happy Boots<br>
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The Nibbler<br>
 
Pansy Nancy<br>
  
Pansy Nancy<br>
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The BJ Kid<br>
  ⚫
Tyler<br>
 
Will<br>
  
Will<br>
 
Wilma<br>
  
Wilma<br>
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Will Trumpetman<br>
  
Will Trumpetman<br>
 
Will Woman<br>
  
Will Woman<br>
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Wildred Pierce<br>|family = [[Vince D'Angelo]] (ex-boyfriend in revival)<br>
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Wildred Pierce|family = [[McCoy Whitman]] (ex-fiancé)<br>
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[[George Truman]] † (father)<br>
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[[George Truman]] (father, deceased)<br>
 
[[Marilyn Truman]] (mother)<br>
  
[[Marilyn Truman]] (mother)<br>
  +
[[Martin Adler]] (stepfather)<br>
 
[[Paul Truman]] (brother)<br>
  
[[Paul Truman]] (brother)<br>
 
[[Sam Truman]] (brother)<br>
  
[[Sam Truman]] (brother)<br>
  +
[[Janet|Janet Adler]] (stepsister)<br>
  +
[[Grace Adler]] (stepsister)<br>
  +
[[Joyce Adler]] (stepsister)<br>
 
[[Alison Polette]] (cousin)<br>
  
[[Alison Polette]] (cousin)<br>
 
[[Jordan Truman]] (nephew)<br>
  
[[Jordan Truman]] (nephew)<br>
 
[[Casey Truman]] (niece)<br>
  
[[Casey Truman]] (niece)<br>
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[[Ben]] (son in original series)<br>|occupation = Writer (formerly)
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[[Ben]] (son, Karen's dream)|occupation = Lawyer (formerly)<br>
  +
Writer (formerly)<br>
⚫
Lawyer|first_appearance = [[Love and Marriage]]|final_appearance = |episode_count = |portrayed_by = [[Eric McCormack]]|alma_mater = [[Columbia University]]}}'''William "Will" Truman '''is a lawyer living in New York City with his best friend [[Grace Adler|Grace]].
  
  +
Business Owner<br>
  ⚫
Law Professor|alma_mater = [[Columbia University]]|first_appearance = [[Love and Marriage]]|portrayed_by = [[Eric McCormack]]}}'''William "Will" Truman '''is a lawyer living in New York City with his best friend [[Grace Adler|Grace]].
   
 
== Biography ==
  
== Biography ==
−
Will was born on October 23, 1966 in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgeport,_Connecticut Bridgeport, Connecticut] as the youngest son of [[George]] and [[Marilyn Truman]]. His brothers are [[Paul Truman|Paul]] and [[Sam Truman|Sam]].
 +
Will was born on October 23, 1966 in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgeport,_Connecticut Bridgeport, Connecticut] as the youngest son of [[George]] and [[Marilyn Truman]]. He has two older brothers named [[Sam Truman|Sam]] and [[Paul Truman|Paul]].
   
 
=== Early childhood and family ===
  
=== Early childhood and family ===
−
Will often recalls his rather unhappy childhood, growing up in the closet in a conservative [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Anglo-Saxon_Protestant WASP] family. As a boy, he performed plays during family events but his mother would discourage him, retrospectively admitting she was not prepared to raise a gay son.<ref>[[A Little Christmas Queer]]</ref>
 +
Will often recalls his rather unhappy childhood, growing up in the closet in a conservative [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Anglo-Saxon_Protestant WASP] family. His mother has admitted that she suffered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postpartum_depression postpartum depression] after Will was born that she did not pick him up for a year. Will mentioned that their housekeeper Fiona practically raised him.<ref>[[Christmas Break]]</ref> As a boy, Will performed plays during family events but his mother would discourage him, retrospectively admitting she was not prepared to raise a gay son.<ref>[[A Little Christmas Queer]]</ref>
   
 
Grace says his brothers used to dress him up in his mother's clothes. On his 8th birthday, Will wanted a cowboy-themed party but his mom gave him a clown party instead and he had to fake smile his way through it. Since then, Will has always had aversion to birthdays.<ref>[[Will on Ice]]</ref> He also recalls almost drowning in the neighbor's pool when his mother failed to save him because she just got her hair done. Will was traumatized by this that he never learned to swim until Jack taught him<ref name=":0">[[The Old Man and the Sea]]</ref>. In any case, his siblings knew that Will is their mother's favorite.<ref name=":4">[[Moveable Feast]]</ref>
  
Grace says his brothers used to dress him up in his mother's clothes. On his 8th birthday, Will wanted a cowboy-themed party but his mom gave him a clown party instead and he had to fake smile his way through it. Since then, Will has always had aversion to birthdays.<ref>[[Will on Ice]]</ref> He also recalls almost drowning in the neighbor's pool when his mother failed to save him because she just got her hair done. Will was traumatized by this that he never learned to swim until Jack taught him<ref name=":0">[[The Old Man and the Sea]]</ref>. In any case, his siblings knew that Will is their mother's favorite.<ref name=":4">[[Moveable Feast]]</ref>
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Will and Grace avoided each for over a year, during which he also came out to his friends and family (causing his father to crash his car into a telephone pole). He eventually started a new relationship with Grace as platonic friends after bumping into her at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Agostino_Supermarkets D'Agostino] and realizing how much they mean to each other.
  
Will and Grace avoided each for over a year, during which he also came out to his friends and family (causing his father to crash his car into a telephone pole). He eventually started a new relationship with Grace as platonic friends after bumping into her at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Agostino_Supermarkets D'Agostino] and realizing how much they mean to each other.
   
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During the 70s, Jack accompanied Will on his first night at a gay bar where Jack bribed a guy named [[Zac]] to go out with Will. Will recalls that this built his confidence in dating other guys afterwards.<ref>[[Fagmalion Part Two: Attack of the Clones]]</ref> Will also recalls that after saying "I love you" to his first boyfriend, he said "Did you just eat falafel?".<ref name=":7" />
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During the 70s, Jack accompanied Will on his first night at a gay bar where Jack bribed a guy named [[List of Will's Ex-Lovers#Zack|Zack]] to go out with Will. Will recalls that this built his confidence in dating other guys afterwards.<ref>[[Fagmalion Part Two: Attack of the Clones]]</ref> Will also recalls that after saying "I love you" to his first boyfriend, he said "Did you just eat falafel?".<ref name=":7" />
   
 
== Career ==
  
== Career ==
  +
[[File:Will truman esq.png|thumb|250x250px|The nameplate in front of Will's law firm.]]
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Will occasionally mentions his interest in becoming a playwright even before he became a lawyer. Before he came out, he wrote a play entitled "Bye-Bisexual" about his conflicting feelings about being in the closet. It is implied that his playwrighting professor took advantage of him by pretending to take interest in his play.<ref>[[Speechless]]</ref>
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Will occasionally mentions his interest in becoming a playwright even before he became a lawyer. Before he came out, he wrote a play entitled "Bye-Bisexual" about his conflicting feelings about being in the closet. It is implied that his playwrighting professor took advantage of him by pretending to take interest in his play.<ref>[[Speechless]]</ref> Jack also mentions the play Will wrote entitled "If Gay Means Happy, Why Am I So Sad?" inspired by bad date.<ref>[[No Sex 'n' the City]]</ref>
   
−
After earning his law degree, Will started his own practice. However he closes down his firm after his biggest client, [[Harlin Polk]] fires him<ref>[[Polk Defeats Truman]]</ref> and he begins working for [http://willandgrace.wikia.com/index.php?title=Doucette_%26_Stein&action=edit&redlink=1 Doucette & Stein] after [[Ben Doucette]] offers him a contract.<ref>[[Terms of Employment]]</ref> During his time there, Will manages to get [[Stanley Walker]] of [[Walker, Inc.]] as one of the firm's biggest clients.<ref name=":2">[[Tea and a Total Lack of Sympathy]]</ref><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt;vertical-align:baseline">By the seventh season, Will has become increasingly unhappy with his role as a corporate lawyer. Although he gets promoted as partner<ref name=":6" />, he eventually decides to leave law and dedicate his life to doing something meaningful.<ref name=":3">[[From Queer to Eternity|From Queer To Eternity]]</ref> After an extremely brief stint as a freelance writer, Will returns to corporate law, working for a mysterious man named [[Malcolm Widmark]].<ref>[[Friends with Benefits]]</ref> This position is also short-lived, as Malcolm reveals himself as an FBI agent working for Karen's husband, Stanley.<ref>[[Kiss and Tell]]</ref> Afterwards, still seeking a more meaningful career path, Will takes a job at the [[Coalition of Justice]], a not-for-profit business providing legal support for the impoverished.<ref>[[Swish Out of Water]]</ref> Will ultimately returns to Doucette & Stein, having taken back his old job after being offered a partnership by his new boss at the firm.</p>
 +
Fresh out of law school, Will worked at Getman & Denofreyo, before starting his own practice after two years<ref>[[Terms of Employment]]</ref>. However he closes down after his biggest client, [[Harlin Polk]] fires him<ref>[[Polk Defeats Truman]]</ref> and he begins working for [http://willandgrace.wikia.com/index.php?title=Doucette_%26_Stein&action=edit&redlink=1 Doucette & Stein] after [[Ben Doucette]] offers him a contract.<ref>[[Terms of Employment]]</ref> During his time there, Will manages to get [[Stanley Walker]] of [[Walker, Inc.]] as one of the firm's biggest clients.<ref name=":2">[[Tea and a Total Lack of Sympathy]]</ref>
  +
  +
=== Philanthropy ===
  +
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt;vertical-align:baseline">By the [[Season 7|seventh season]], Will has become increasingly unhappy with his role as a corporate lawyer. Although he gets promoted as partner<ref name=":6" />, he eventually decides to give up his career and dedicate his life to doing something meaningful.<ref name=":3">[[From Queer to Eternity|From Queer To Eternity]]</ref> After an extremely brief stint as a freelance writer, Will returns to corporate law, working for a mysterious man named [[Malcolm Widmark]].<ref>[[Friends with Benefits]]</ref> This position is also short-lived, as Malcolm reveals himself as a CIA agent working for Karen's husband, Stanley.<ref>[[Kiss and Tell]]</ref> Afterwards, still seeking a more meaningful career path, Will takes a job at the Coalition of Justice, a not-for-profit business providing legal support for the impoverished.<ref>[[Swish Out of Water]]</ref> He also starts volunteering for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Angel_Food Project Angel Food], a non-profit organization providing free meals for the sick and elderly.<ref>[[Steams Like Old Times]]</ref><ref>[[The Hole Truth]]</ref> Will ultimately returns to Doucette & Stein, having taken back his old job after being offered a partnership by his new boss at the firm.<ref>[[Forbidden Fruit]]</ref></p>
   
 
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt;vertical-align:baseline">In 1990, Will wrote his will, endowing Grace $1400, which is all he had at that time. He would try to rewrite it many times later, but admits feeling he is just another corporate lawyer and has nothing meaningful to give. He would eventually rewrite it 15 years later, after he and Grace almost get hit by a bus.<ref name=":3" /></p>
  
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 17.25pt;vertical-align:baseline">In 1990, Will wrote his will, endowing Grace $1400, which is all he had at that time. He would try to rewrite it many times later, but admits feeling he is just another corporate lawyer and has nothing meaningful to give. He would eventually rewrite it 15 years later, after he and Grace almost get hit by a bus.<ref name=":3" /></p>
   
 
==Personality==
  
==Personality==
−
Will is characterized as the most mature and reasonable character, with a penchant for crafts and good housekeeping. Although he occasionally seems distant and aloof, there have been many times when Will has shown his sensitive side, often going to great lengths to protect those he loves. In one particular instance, Will was willing to throw away his chances of becoming a senior partner at his law firm in order to take care of his then emotionally devastated boyfriend [[Vince]].<ref name=":6">[[Partners]]</ref> It is mentioned in various occasions that Will supports [[Jack McFarland|Jack]] who is a struggling actor.<ref name=":4" />
 +
Will is characterized as the most mature and reasonable character, with a penchant for crafts and good housekeeping. Although he occasionally seems distant and aloof, there have been many times when Will has shown his sensitive side, often going to great lengths to help his friends. In one particular instance, Will was willing to throw away his chances of becoming a senior partner at his law firm in order to take care of his emotionally devastated boyfriend.<ref name=":6">[[Partners]]</ref> It is mentioned in various occasions that Will supports Jack who is a struggling actor.<ref name=":4" />
   
−
<nowiki> </nowiki>Will's controlling and perfectionist personality also becomes an issue to his friends from time to time that it is often pointed out to be the problem in his relationships.<ref>[[Head Case]]</ref> Though fun-loving at times, Will's maturity sometimes translates as dullness to Karen, who describes him as sullen, morose and humorless.<ref>[[Grace 0, Jack 2000]]</ref>
 +
Will's controlling and perfectionist personality also frequently becomes an issue with his friends and they often point it out to be the problem in his romantic relationships.<ref>[[Head Case]]</ref>
   
 
Being a good lawyer, his friends and family usually comes to him for legal assistance. Will is also portrayed as a person with integrity when he decided to work for the Coalition of Justice.
  
Being a good lawyer, his friends and family usually comes to him for legal assistance. Will is also portrayed as a person with integrity when he decided to work for the Coalition of Justice.
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=== Fandom ===
  
=== Fandom ===
 
Will is a die-hard [[Barry Manilow]] fan<ref>[[Fanilow]]</ref>, participating in "Fanilow" chatrooms as 'no1fanilow' and maintaining a website called The Manilow-down.<ref name=":3" /> He is also a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Lopez Jennifer Lopez] fan<ref>[[I Do. Oh, No, You Di-in't]]</ref> and had a crush on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Jackman Hugh Jackman] before his 2004 film [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Helsing_(film) Van Helsing].<ref>[[Friends with Benefits]]</ref> He has also written fanmail to pop singer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Timberlake Justin Timberlake].<ref>[[Homojo]]
  
Will is a die-hard [[Barry Manilow]] fan<ref>[[Fanilow]]</ref>, participating in "Fanilow" chatrooms as 'no1fanilow' and maintaining a website called The Manilow-down.<ref name=":3" /> He is also a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Lopez Jennifer Lopez] fan<ref>[[I Do. Oh, No, You Di-in't]]</ref> and had a crush on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Jackman Hugh Jackman] before his 2004 film [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Helsing_(film) Van Helsing].<ref>[[Friends with Benefits]]</ref> He has also written fanmail to pop singer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Timberlake Justin Timberlake].<ref>[[Homojo]]
−
</ref> Growing up watching Star Trek, Will also considered himself to be a "[[George Takei|Sulu-head]]", which he describes as "an elite subset of soon to be gay men who sensed at an early age a kinship with the character of Sulu, based on his sensitivity and lingering looks at Captain Kirk".<ref>[[Buy Buy Baby]]</ref>
 +
</ref> Growing up watching Star Trek, Will also considered himself to be a "[[George Takei|Sulu-head]]", which he describes as "an elite subset of soon-to-be-gay men who sensed at an early age a kinship with the character of Sulu, based on his sensitivity and lingering looks at Captain Kirk".<ref>[[Buy Buy Baby]]</ref>
   
 
== Media ==
  
== Media ==
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During the [[Season 5|fifth season]], Will and Grace decide to make a baby via in vitro fertilization. The plan however does not push through after Grace meets Leo while on the way to the fertility clinic.<ref>[[...And the Horse He Rode in On]]</ref> After her painful divorce, Will devotes his life to helping Grace and raising her unborn child but conflict arise again as Leo comes back.<ref name=":8" />
  
During the [[Season 5|fifth season]], Will and Grace decide to make a baby via in vitro fertilization. The plan however does not push through after Grace meets Leo while on the way to the fertility clinic.<ref>[[...And the Horse He Rode in On]]</ref> After her painful divorce, Will devotes his life to helping Grace and raising her unborn child but conflict arise again as Leo comes back.<ref name=":8" />
   
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Their closeness and co-dependence is constantly made fun of by the others. Karen hilariously refers to Will as Grace's husband, "sexless lover", "non-romantic life partner" and the reason that Grace is not in a relationship.<ref>[[Grace, Replaced]]</ref> They can finish each others sentences at times, which helps them in their fast rounds in [[Game night|trivia and parlor games]]. They can also be quite dysfunctional and co-dependent, sometimes even requiring the other's approval of clothing and boyfriends.<ref>[[Fred Astaire and Ginger Chicken]]</ref>
 +
Their closeness and co-dependence is constantly made fun of by the others. Karen hilariously refers to Will as Grace's husband, "sexless lover", "non-romantic life partner" and the "reason that Grace is not in a relationship".<ref>[[Grace, Replaced]]</ref> They can finish each others sentences at times, which helps them in their fast rounds in [[Game night|trivia and parlor games]], and at least in one occasion imply that the two of them have a telepathic connection.<ref>[[I Never Promised You An Olive Garden]]</ref> They can also be quite dysfunctional and co-dependent, sometimes even requiring the other's approval of clothing and boyfriends.
  +
  +
Will and Grace often say that "if you are dating one of them, then you are dating both of them".
   
 
=== [[Karen Walker]] ===
  
=== [[Karen Walker]] ===
 
[[File:Karen will.png|thumb|220x220px|Karen and Will get cozy in [[Speechless]].]]
  
[[File:Karen will.png|thumb|220x220px|Karen and Will get cozy in [[Speechless]].]]
−
Karen is friends with Will mainly because of Grace. Initially, they find it difficult dealing with each other, with Karen finding Will annoying and not funny.<ref name=":1" /> She also makes fun of his clothes while he makes fun of her nasty attitude and addictions.
 +
Karen is friends with Will mainly because of Grace. Initially, they find it difficult dealing with each other, with Karen finding Will dull, lame and humorless.<ref>[[Grace 0, Jack 2000]]</ref><ref name=":1" /> She also makes fun of his clothes while he makes fun of her nasty attitude and addictions.<ref>[[Something Borrowed, Someone's Due]]</ref><ref>[[Object of My Rejection]]
  +
</ref>
   
−
Later on, they discover interests that they have in common and they begin to bond<ref name=":9" />, at one point even pretending to hate each other to appease Jack who have become jealous of their relationship.<ref name=":9">[[Wedding Balls]]</ref>
 +
Later on, they discover interests that they have in common and they begin to bond, at one point even pretending to hate each other to appease Jack who have become jealous of their relationship.<ref name=":9">[[Wedding Balls]]</ref>
   
−
<nowiki> </nowiki>Will also serves as lawyer to [[Walker, Inc.]] Karen says that ever since [[Stanley Walker|her husband]] went to prison, Will has become the only man he trusts.<ref>[[A Chorus Lie]]</ref>
 +
Will also serves as lawyer to [[Walker, Inc.]] Karen says that ever since [[Stanley Walker|her husband]] went to prison, Will has become the only man in her life that she can count on.<ref>[[A Chorus Lie]]</ref>
   
 
=== [[Jack McFarland]] ===
  
=== [[Jack McFarland]] ===
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During [[The Finale|the finale]], Will and Vince are seen raising [[Ben|a son]] together.
  
During [[The Finale|the finale]], Will and Vince are seen raising [[Ben|a son]] together.
  +
  +
In the [[Season 9|9th season]], Vince and Will have broken up and their son, Ben, was all a figment of [[Karen Walker|Karen]]'s dream. In the 10th episode, [[The Wedding]], Vince, having overcome his commitment issues, decides to get married to his fellow officer, Ryan. He invites Will and his friends to the wedding. At the wedding, Vince reveals that the reason he dumped Will was because he always picked at him. Later, when Vince asks Will if he's making a mistake getting married, Will assures Vince that he is doing the right thing. Vince then tells Will that he will always think of him as his ex-husband.
   
 
== Other romantic relationships ==
  
== Other romantic relationships ==
−
[[List of Will's Ex-Lovers|''Main article: List of Will's Ex-Lovers'']]<nowiki/>
 +
[[List of Will's Ex-Lovers|''Main article: List of Will's romantic partners'']]<nowiki/>
 
== Notes ==
  
== Notes ==
 
* Will's chat nickname is "hat_lawyer".<ref name=":1" />
  
* Will's chat nickname is "hat_lawyer".<ref name=":1" />
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* He mentioned holding his mother's curling iron and pretending he was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eartha_Kitt Eartha Kitt] when he was young.<ref>[[Crazy in Love]]</ref>
  
* He mentioned holding his mother's curling iron and pretending he was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eartha_Kitt Eartha Kitt] when he was young.<ref>[[Crazy in Love]]</ref>
 
* He is 5'11", not into games, likes horseback riding, skiing, and men who aren't afraid to cry.<ref name=":2" />
  
* He is 5'11", not into games, likes horseback riding, skiing, and men who aren't afraid to cry.<ref name=":2" />
  +
* His favorite color is antique paper.<ref>[[I Love L. Gay]]</ref>
 
* Series co-creator [[Max Mutchnick]] said Will was originally going to be named Will Herman ("her man") because the staff wanted to use names that "speak exactly to the essence" of the characters. However, they changed it to Truman ("true man") since they thought it was more accurate, as Will "really lives his life in an honest way".<ref>Karger, Dave (October 16, 1998). "[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,285254,00.html Flashes: October 16, 1998]". ''Entertainment Weekly''. Retrieved 2009-04-21.</ref>
  
* Series co-creator [[Max Mutchnick]] said Will was originally going to be named Will Herman ("her man") because the staff wanted to use names that "speak exactly to the essence" of the characters. However, they changed it to Truman ("true man") since they thought it was more accurate, as Will "really lives his life in an honest way".<ref>Karger, Dave (October 16, 1998). "[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,285254,00.html Flashes: October 16, 1998]". ''Entertainment Weekly''. Retrieved 2009-04-21.</ref>
 
* Eric McCormack admitted that his penchant for making accents was incorporated into Will, as seen in various episodes.<ref>[[Will on Will & Grace]]</ref>
  
* Eric McCormack admitted that his penchant for making accents was incorporated into Will, as seen in various episodes.<ref>[[Will on Will & Grace]]</ref>
  +
* Will is right-handed.
   
 
== Quotes ==
  
== Quotes ==
−
{{Single-line Quote|Quote = Don't lie. Not here. This is a gym. This is gay church.|Episode = [[Stakin' Care of Business]]}}{{Single-line Quote|Quote = I am not weird, Grace. Gay republicans are weird.|Episode = [[Big Brother is Coming (Part I)]]}}{{Single-line Quote|Quote = You said you like my vest. You said I look like a movie star. If that's not a meaningful connection, I don't know what is.|Episode = [[Strangers with Candice]]}}
 +
{{Single-line Quote|Quote = Don't lie. Not here. This is a gym. This is gay church.|Episode = [[Stakin' Care of Business]]}}
  +
{{Single-line Quote|Quote = Please don't tell me you're still blaming me for your crappy love life. Can't you just blame your parents like everybody else?|Episode = [[Where There's a Will, There's No Way]]}}
  +
{{Single-line Quote|Quote = I am not weird, Grace. Gay republicans are weird.|Episode = [[Big Brother is Coming (Part I)]]}}
  +
{{Single-line Quote|Quote = You said you like my vest. You said I look like a movie star. If that's not a meaningful connection, I don't know what is.|Episode = [[Strangers with Candice]]}}
 
== References ==
  
== References ==
 
{{Reflist|3em}}
  
{{Reflist|3em}}
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[[Category:Gay characters]]
  
[[Category:Gay characters]]
 
[[Category:Characters introduced in Season 1]]
  
[[Category:Characters introduced in Season 1]]
  +
[[Category:Grace's romantic partners]]
  +
[[Category:Grace's family]]

Revision as of 02:52, 24 December 2019

William "Will" Truman is a lawyer living in New York City with his best friend Grace.

Biography

Will was born on October 23, 1966 in Bridgeport, Connecticut as the youngest son of George and Marilyn Truman. He has two older brothers named Sam and Paul.

Early childhood and family

Will often recalls his rather unhappy childhood, growing up in the closet in a conservative WASP family. His mother has admitted that she suffered postpartum depression after Will was born that she did not pick him up for a year. Will mentioned that their housekeeper Fiona practically raised him.[1] As a boy, Will performed plays during family events but his mother would discourage him, retrospectively admitting she was not prepared to raise a gay son.[2]

Grace says his brothers used to dress him up in his mother's clothes. On his 8th birthday, Will wanted a cowboy-themed party but his mom gave him a clown party instead and he had to fake smile his way through it. Since then, Will has always had aversion to birthdays.[3] He also recalls almost drowning in the neighbor's pool when his mother failed to save him because she just got her hair done. Will was traumatized by this that he never learned to swim until Jack taught him[4]. In any case, his siblings knew that Will is their mother's favorite.[5]

When Will was 9, he and his brothers chipped in to buy their parents a garden gnome for their anniversary which they named Squatsy.[6]

Will has also been described as an insecure, chubby and shiny kid who "was friends with the lunch lady and a girl with a small leg".[7] During elementary, a bully named Kevin Wolchek terrorized him that he ate lunch every day with the janitor and drank kahlua.[8] He mentions kissing a poster of the football team and being caught by the football team.[9]

In 1994, after his brother Sam's engagement to Ginny, Will told him that he should not get married because she is "morose and controlling and icy." This led to the estrangement of the two brothers, and Sam cutting of Will out of his life, splitting the family. Sam and Ginny would later divorce and Will and his brother would resolve their issues after Grace intervenes.[10]

During his high school years, he was best friends with Claire, whom he also used to date. She recalls that while driving at the beach after senior prom, she made her move on him and he panicked, crashing the car into a Dodge Dart. Although he seems to have shown hints of his sexuality early on, Will says that he was confused until his sophomore year in high school when during a game of basketball, he and Jay Barr touched stomachs, and he truly realized he's gay.[11] For his sweet sixteen party, he turned the basement into a roller disco.[12]

Dating Grace

While attending Columbia, he dated Grace Adler who lived across the hall from his dorm room. Although there were signs of Will's homosexuality early on, Grace seemed oblivious and they continued to see each other. She recalls how he taught her how to scrunch her hair to keep the curl, and how he used take her every Saturday night to Chippendale's telling her it was because they "made a killer mai tai."

Grace also mentions that she and Will were also part of an improv group called The Zanys. During college, he also met Jack McFarland literally inside the closet of his dorm room. Jack who is openly gay, instantly knew that Will is in the closet and pushed him to be true to himself, asking him the question "aren't you tired yet?".[13][14] Will says Jack sent him to a job interview wearing leg warmers and Chinese slippers.[15]

Coming Out

Will comes out to Grace.

Will comes out to Grace in Lows in the Mid-Eighties.

Will finally came out on Thanksgiving of 1985 when Grace invited him to her parents' house with the plan of losing her virginity to him. Will panicked and proposed to Grace to keep them from having sex but later admitted that he is, in fact gay. Grace was brokenhearted and humiliated in front of her family so she threw Will out. Will felt miserable and went to another party, got drunk and unwittingly slept with a girl named Diane. This is the only time Will ever had sex with a woman. The next morning Will left before Diane woke up and never returned her calls.[16] He went to see Jack who comforted him saying that everything was going to be better.[4] Jack also admitted to having feelings for Will later on, but says he was just joking after Will politely turned him down.

Will and Grace avoided each for over a year, during which he also came out to his friends and family (causing his father to crash his car into a telephone pole). He eventually started a new relationship with Grace as platonic friends after bumping into her at D'Agostino and realizing how much they mean to each other.

During the 70s, Jack accompanied Will on his first night at a gay bar where Jack bribed a guy named Zack to go out with Will. Will recalls that this built his confidence in dating other guys afterwards.[17] Will also recalls that after saying "I love you" to his first boyfriend, he said "Did you just eat falafel?".[9]

Career

Will truman esq

The nameplate in front of Will's law firm.

Will occasionally mentions his interest in becoming a playwright even before he became a lawyer. Before he came out, he wrote a play entitled "Bye-Bisexual" about his conflicting feelings about being in the closet. It is implied that his playwrighting professor took advantage of him by pretending to take interest in his play.[18] Jack also mentions the play Will wrote entitled "If Gay Means Happy, Why Am I So Sad?" inspired by bad date.[19]

Fresh out of law school, Will worked at Getman & Denofreyo, before starting his own practice after two years[20]. However he closes down after his biggest client, Harlin Polk fires him[21] and he begins working for Doucette & Stein after Ben Doucette offers him a contract.[22] During his time there, Will manages to get Stanley Walker of Walker, Inc. as one of the firm's biggest clients.[23]

Philanthropy

By the seventh season, Will has become increasingly unhappy with his role as a corporate lawyer. Although he gets promoted as partner[24], he eventually decides to give up his career and dedicate his life to doing something meaningful.[25] After an extremely brief stint as a freelance writer, Will returns to corporate law, working for a mysterious man named Malcolm Widmark.[26] This position is also short-lived, as Malcolm reveals himself as a CIA agent working for Karen's husband, Stanley.[27] Afterwards, still seeking a more meaningful career path, Will takes a job at the Coalition of Justice, a not-for-profit business providing legal support for the impoverished.[28] He also starts volunteering for Project Angel Food, a non-profit organization providing free meals for the sick and elderly.[29][30] Will ultimately returns to Doucette & Stein, having taken back his old job after being offered a partnership by his new boss at the firm.[31]

In 1990, Will wrote his will, endowing Grace $1400, which is all he had at that time. He would try to rewrite it many times later, but admits feeling he is just another corporate lawyer and has nothing meaningful to give. He would eventually rewrite it 15 years later, after he and Grace almost get hit by a bus.[25]

Personality

Will is characterized as the most mature and reasonable character, with a penchant for crafts and good housekeeping. Although he occasionally seems distant and aloof, there have been many times when Will has shown his sensitive side, often going to great lengths to help his friends. In one particular instance, Will was willing to throw away his chances of becoming a senior partner at his law firm in order to take care of his emotionally devastated boyfriend.[24] It is mentioned in various occasions that Will supports Jack who is a struggling actor.[5]

Will's controlling and perfectionist personality also frequently becomes an issue with his friends and they often point it out to be the problem in his romantic relationships.[32]

Being a good lawyer, his friends and family usually comes to him for legal assistance. Will is also portrayed as a person with integrity when he decided to work for the Coalition of Justice.

Fandom

Will is a die-hard Barry Manilow fan[33], participating in "Fanilow" chatrooms as 'no1fanilow' and maintaining a website called The Manilow-down.[25] He is also a Jennifer Lopez fan[34] and had a crush on Hugh Jackman before his 2004 film Van Helsing.[35] He has also written fanmail to pop singer Justin Timberlake.[36] Growing up watching Star Trek, Will also considered himself to be a "Sulu-head", which he describes as "an elite subset of soon-to-be-gay men who sensed at an early age a kinship with the character of Sulu, based on his sensitivity and lingering looks at Captain Kirk".[37]

Media

Relationships

Grace Adler

Will & Grace promo

Grace is Will's best friend whom he dated in college. After resolving their issues and starting a new special relationship as best friends, they have become so close that they consider each other in every major decision they make.[14][38] Will says that the two of them are destined to meet and that "fate brought us together and fate was gonna keep us together".[39]

During the fifth season, Will and Grace decide to make a baby via in vitro fertilization. The plan however does not push through after Grace meets Leo while on the way to the fertility clinic.[40] After her painful divorce, Will devotes his life to helping Grace and raising her unborn child but conflict arise again as Leo comes back.[39]

Their closeness and co-dependence is constantly made fun of by the others. Karen hilariously refers to Will as Grace's husband, "sexless lover", "non-romantic life partner" and the "reason that Grace is not in a relationship".[41] They can finish each others sentences at times, which helps them in their fast rounds in trivia and parlor games, and at least in one occasion imply that the two of them have a telepathic connection.[42] They can also be quite dysfunctional and co-dependent, sometimes even requiring the other's approval of clothing and boyfriends.

Will and Grace often say that "if you are dating one of them, then you are dating both of them".

Karen Walker

Karen will

Karen and Will get cozy in Speechless.

Karen is friends with Will mainly because of Grace. Initially, they find it difficult dealing with each other, with Karen finding Will dull, lame and humorless.[43][10] She also makes fun of his clothes while he makes fun of her nasty attitude and addictions.[44][45]

Later on, they discover interests that they have in common and they begin to bond, at one point even pretending to hate each other to appease Jack who have become jealous of their relationship.[46]

Will also serves as lawyer to Walker, Inc. Karen says that ever since her husband went to prison, Will has become the only man in her life that she can count on.[47]

Jack McFarland

Will jack kiss

Will kisses Jack on live TV in Acting Out.

Jack is Will's gay best friend. Will met him after a college party, hiding inside the closet of his dorm room.[48]

Although Jack is shown to be irresponsible and immature, Will trusts him as Jack was the one who helped him put his life back together after he came out, which Will considers as the most difficult time of his life.[4] For most of their adult life, Will has been supporting Jack who has been having a hard time with his acting career. They have also admitted attraction to each other though they resolve to remain platonic friends.[14][49]

Vince D'Angelo

Will vince

Vince asks Will to move in together in Whatever Happened to Baby Gin?

Vince is a member of the NYPD Will meets after he and Karen are pulled over for speeding. Will challenges him in court and during the hearing, realize that they were supposed to be set up by mutual friends Joe and Larry.[50] Vince shares Will's interests in crafts and homemaking[51].

After Vince is fired from the force, the couple decide to take a break so Vince could put his life back together. They reconcile shortly after Will's father dies.[52] They break up again however after Vince realizes that he will always take second place after Grace, who at the time is alone and heavily pregnant.

During the finale, Will and Vince are seen raising a son together.

In the 9th season, Vince and Will have broken up and their son, Ben, was all a figment of Karen's dream. In the 10th episode, The Wedding, Vince, having overcome his commitment issues, decides to get married to his fellow officer, Ryan. He invites Will and his friends to the wedding. At the wedding, Vince reveals that the reason he dumped Will was because he always picked at him. Later, when Vince asks Will if he's making a mistake getting married, Will assures Vince that he is doing the right thing. Vince then tells Will that he will always think of him as his ex-husband.

Other romantic relationships

Main article: List of Will's romantic partners

Notes

  • Will's chat nickname is "hat_lawyer".[10]
  • He is angry at the ending of Titanic because it makes him feel vulnerable.[53]
  • He had a pet dog when he was young, named Daisy who died while he was in college.[54]
  • He mentioned holding his mother's curling iron and pretending he was Eartha Kitt when he was young.[55]
  • He is 5'11", not into games, likes horseback riding, skiing, and men who aren't afraid to cry.[23]
  • His favorite color is antique paper.[56]
  • Series co-creator Max Mutchnick said Will was originally going to be named Will Herman ("her man") because the staff wanted to use names that "speak exactly to the essence" of the characters. However, they changed it to Truman ("true man") since they thought it was more accurate, as Will "really lives his life in an honest way".[57]
  • Eric McCormack admitted that his penchant for making accents was incorporated into Will, as seen in various episodes.[58]
  • Will is right-handed.

Quotes

Don't lie. Not here. This is a gym. This is gay church. — Stakin' Care of Business

Please don't tell me you're still blaming me for your crappy love life. Can't you just blame your parents like everybody else? — Where There's a Will, There's No Way

I am not weird, Grace. Gay republicans are weird. — Big Brother is Coming (Part I)

You said you like my vest. You said I look like a movie star. If that's not a meaningful connection, I don't know what is. — Strangers with Candice

References

  1. ↑ Christmas Break
  2. ↑ A Little Christmas Queer
  3. ↑ Will on Ice
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Old Man and the Sea
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Moveable Feast
  6. ↑ Went to a Garden Potty
  7. ↑ Swimming Pools...Movie Stars
  8. ↑ Past and Presents
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 I Second That Emotion
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Big Brother is Coming (Part I)
  11. ↑ Seeds of Discontent
  12. ↑ Blanket Apology
  13. ↑ Homo for the Holidays
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 The Kid Stays Out of the Picture
  15. ↑ Fagmalion Part One: Gay It Forward
  16. ↑ Last Ex to Brooklyn
  17. ↑ Fagmalion Part Two: Attack of the Clones
  18. ↑ Speechless
  19. ↑ No Sex 'n' the City
  20. ↑ Terms of Employment
  21. ↑ Polk Defeats Truman
  22. ↑ Terms of Employment
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Tea and a Total Lack of Sympathy
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Partners
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 From Queer To Eternity
  26. ↑ Friends with Benefits
  27. ↑ Kiss and Tell
  28. ↑ Swish Out of Water
  29. ↑ Steams Like Old Times
  30. ↑ The Hole Truth
  31. ↑ Forbidden Fruit
  32. ↑ Head Case
  33. ↑ Fanilow
  34. ↑ I Do. Oh, No, You Di-in't
  35. ↑ Friends with Benefits
  36. ↑ Homojo
  37. ↑ Buy Buy Baby
  38. ↑ Whatever Happened to Baby Gin?
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 The Finale
  40. ↑ ...And the Horse He Rode in On
  41. ↑ Grace, Replaced
  42. ↑ I Never Promised You An Olive Garden
  43. ↑ Grace 0, Jack 2000
  44. ↑ Something Borrowed, Someone's Due
  45. ↑ Object of My Rejection
  46. ↑ Wedding Balls
  47. ↑ A Chorus Lie
  48. ↑ Lows in the Mid-Eighties
  49. ↑ Dames at Sea
  50. ↑ Courting Disaster
  51. ↑ Fred Astaire and Ginger Chicken
  52. ↑ The Mourning Son
  53. ↑ Fagmalion Part Three: Bye Bye Beardy
  54. ↑ Gypsies, Tramps and Weed
  55. ↑ Crazy in Love
  56. ↑ I Love L. Gay
  57. ↑ Karger, Dave (October 16, 1998). "Flashes: October 16, 1998". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  58. ↑ Will on Will & Grace
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