<Ul> <Li> Eric McCormack as Will Truman : The first titular protagonist to the show , Will is a gay man who is a successful corporate lawyer who studied at Columbia University , where he met Grace as a freshman ; they have been best friends ever since . He is very precise and obsessive when it comes to certain tasks , especially cleaning , dressing , and decorating . However , Will does have a very patient and compassionate nature towards those close to him , often to a fault . Even though Will is gay , he sometimes tries to pass as straight ; he has at times avoided admitting his sexual orientation to people . Several characters commented that his relationship with Grace is more like that of a married couple than two friends ; at one point Will even considered having a baby with Grace . Will is the more mature and tolerant character of the duo and serves as Grace 's rock most times . </Li> <Li> Debra Messing as Grace Adler : The second titular protagonist to the show , Grace is a straight interior decorator with a fondness for food . She 's been Will 's best friend since college and roommate throughout most of the show . Grace is Jewish but does not practice her religion staunchly . She plays as a neurotic counterbalance for Will 's more everyman character . Grace tends to heavily rely on Will for moral and emotional support , especially after a break - up . </Li> <Li> Megan Mullally as Karen Walker : Karen `` works '' as Grace 's assistant , making `` Grace Adler Designs '' popular among her socialite acquaintances . She is the wife of the wealthy ( but mostly unseen ) Stanley Walker . Karen is also known for casually downing alcohol and prescription medication and can be uncaring . However , she is very close to Jack , is friends with Grace , and throughout the show 's run warms to Will . Even though she 's silly at times , Karen has shown bouts of intelligence : having a working knowledge of business / real - estate market economics , a moderate understanding of computers , and a flair for interior design . She 's also a certified public notary and an aficionado of various liquors and prescription drugs . Despite this , she is often unaware of or ambivalent toward habits of the working and middle classes , often criticizing and mocking what she fails to understand . </Li> <Li> Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland : Will 's other ( and first gay ) best friend since college . Jack is flamboyantly gay , confident , and free - spirited , having been so from a young age . He drifts from man to man and changes occupations often , being very fickle when it comes to both . He has worked as a struggling actor , an acting instructor , a back - up dancer for Jennifer Lopez and Janet Jackson , a sales associate at Banana Republic and Barneys New York , a cater - waiter , a student nurse , Junior VP for Out TV , and host of his own Out TV talk show , called Jack Talk . Jack made four one - man shows ( called Just Jack , Jack 2000 , Jack 2001 , and Jack 2002 ) to showcase his singing / dancing / acting abilities ; all attempts having only marginal success . Early on in the show he establishes a close friendship with Karen ; the pair often spend time together and orchestrate various pranks . Throughout the series , Jack relies on Will and Karen for financial support . His idol is Cher . </Li> <Li> Shelley Morrison as Rosario Salazar ( Recurring Seasons 1 - 2 ; Regular Seasons 3 - 8 ) : Karen 's maid , and later Jack 's wife , then ex-wife . Morrison was offered to reprise her role when the series was revived , but declined , having retired from acting . </Li> </Ul>
who stars in the new will and grace
Eric McCormack Debra Messing Megan Mullally Sean Hayes