Tony nominee Dylan Baker will star as Vice President Fred Collier in the new USA television drama Political Animals, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Baker joins previously announced stars Sigourney Weaver, Carla Gugino, Roger Bart and Dan Futterman. The series, created by Greg Berlanti and Laurence Mark, will premiere July 15.
Based in Washington D.C., Political Animals is the story of Elaine Barrish (Weaver), a divorced former First Lady and recently appointed Secretary of State. Barrish must deal with the pain of her failed marriage and losing the presidential nomination. Collier (Baker) is an fierce opponent of Barrish's who knows secrets that will ultimately come forth. The series will also co-star Adrian Pasdar, James Wolk, Sebastian Stan, Brittany Ishibashi, Ellen Burstyn and Ciarán Hinds. Stage and screen costume designer Ann Roth (The Book of Mormon) will design Weaver's costumes for the pilot.
Baker made his Broadway debut in Eastern Standard and has appeared in Mauritius, November, God of Carnage and La Bete, for which he earned a Tony nomination. His film and TV credits include The Good Wife, Damages, Kings, Ugly Betty, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, Smash and The Cell.