Who played Young Mickey Donovan on tonight’s Ray Donovan episode?

Bill Heck did the honors of playing the Young Mickey Donovan on tonight’s Ray Donovan episode “The Transfer Agent” channeling Jon Voight to mesmerizing effect.

Bill Heck’s interpretation of Jon Voight’s Mickey Donovan on the latest Ray Donovan Season 7 chapter tonight was top tier, mimicking every detail right down to Mickey’s iconic teeth sucking. As if a show in a show, a Better Call Saul style prequel tease, Director Kyra Sedgwick and Writers David Hollander & David Bar Katz crafted a spectacular episode… Showing that Ray Donovan as a series is so brimming with life, it’s fit for two shows, running side by side.

Bill Heck’s Mickey Donovan was glowing with charisma, capturing the finely tuned elements Voight’s made famous with the character… Like dancing right before a robbery. Even the reveries, the inflictions of voice when saying ‘Ray-Ray’ or telling an officer ‘What a beautiful face!’ before knocking him out were restored like a priceless polaroid photo. The type Sandy thought she lost forever tonight. A Ray Donovan prequel series is ready right this second.

Alongside Bill Heck’s Young Mickey Donovan, was Young Ray Donovan played by Aidan Pierce Brennan, Ray Donovan’s mother played by Kersti Bryan, Young Jimmy Sullivan played by Austin Hébert, Young Claudette played by Princess Adenike, Young Larry O’Malley played by James Pravasilis, and Young Billy Doyle played by Peter Albrink.

Bill Heck is previously known for his roles on Pit Stop, The Alienist, and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

Was Ray-Ray’s memory a perfect facsimile after all?

A scar-worthy recall… Young Ray-Ray’s story was told just the way Ray Donovan recalled it while drunk at the family table when mourning in episode 2. Having to take care of his ailing mother on his own, while catching his father pilfering her money. At least from his vantage point. From what Ray saw, there’s no guessing around why he feels his father’s actions are unforgivable.

Bill Heck as Young Mickey Donovan on Ray Donovan Season 7 Episode 7 “The Transfer Agent” – Screenshot / Photo Credit: Showtime

What Ray didn’t know presumably, was the money was going to Jimmy Sullivan to potentially stop worse from happening. Mickey was at least 5 grand deep in the hole and there are consequences to that, ones worse than just “batting .200.” Perhaps, that 1 grand staved off an even larger tragedy temporarily.

It appears by the trailer for next week’s chapter following tonight’s credit roll, that Jimmy Sullivan isn’t much better than Mickey… Certainly, not in the way Ray Donovan seems to remember James. Maybe, there’s a lot more truth to what Mickey feels about Jimmy ruining his life than Ray’s proposition that it’s just about the money with Mick.

Needless to say, there’s a reason why viewers won’t be forgetting this flashback of the past anytime soon… Just like Mickey Donovan. Kudos to Bill Heck for making Young Mickey Donovan the centerpiece of any scene he was in on “The Transfer Agent”.

Be sure to check out The Natural Aristocrat’s Mickey Donovan focused articles Mickey Donovan is the only one to treat Daryll like family on ‘Ray Donovan’ and A father playing favorites leads to Ray Donovan tragedy: Brother vs Brother alongside more Ray Donovan coverage!