A college professor travels to New York City to attend a conference and finds a young couple living in his apartment. Thomas McCarthy is best known as an actor, having appeared in 30 Days (1999), Syriana (2005), and the TV series Boston Public (2000-2001), Law & Order (2002-2008) and The Wire (2008). As a writer/director he made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed The Station Agent (2003). The Visitor is his second feature.