Chris Carmack has brought a variety of compelling characters to life on television, earning a devoted fan following along the way. Among his most notable roles is Will Lexington on the hit musical drama Nashville, a character he describes as wild, vibrant, and endlessly fun to portray. However, it’s his portrayal of Dr. Atticus Lincoln—affectionately known as “Link”—on Grey’s Anatomy that resonates with him most deeply. Having embodied this complex and compassionate surgeon since 2018, Carmack feels a strong personal connection to the role that has become a defining part of his career.
Beyond the camera, Carmack is a devoted husband to his wife, Erin, and a dedicated father of two. His commitment to family is paralleled by his passion for raising awareness about online safety. Recently, he has teamed up with cybersecurity leader McAfee to promote their innovative Scam Detector, an AI-powered tool designed to shield users from scams across multiple digital channels. This technology analyzes incoming texts, emails and videos, flags suspicious content, detects deep fake videos, and provides real-time protection against online fraud.
Carmack’s advocacy stems from a personal experience with cybercrime: he and Erin were victims of an online phishing scam. In an exclusive interview with Woman’s World, he shares the details of that incident and offers insight into how others can protect themselves from similar threats. Plus, Carmack dishes on playing some of our favorite characters on TV.
WW: You are talking about online scamming for a very personal reason.
CC: It used to be you could tell which emails were sketchy and which ones weren’t. Now, they’ve gotten really sophisticated and use URLs that match the company. I get bombarded with ads and messages daily. Sadly, I—and even family members—have been involved, but the one that really sticks out was a patio furniture scam.
WW: What happened?
CC: In 2022, my wife and I were moving into a new house and looking for cushions for our patio. Erin wanted to order custom cushions and found a website I won’t name. The site looked great, with reviews and everything appearing legit. Then the individual she was dealing with asked her to pay through a link that wasn’t part of the website, and the transaction went through. Not long after the order was placed, we were told there was a delay at the factory. After six months of getting the runaround, the person disappeared. The money was gone too.
WW: How much money are we talking about?
CC: It was a one-time payment of a couple thousand dollars.
WW: What were you feeling at that moment?
CC: Stupid, taken advantage of, and then I started to blame myself.
WW: What were the warning signs you knew something was wrong?
CC: About six months passed since we paid and still no cushions. It was a long, drawn-out process of constantly reaching out. Then the company stopped communicating altogether. We realized we weren’t getting what we paid for. Up until then, we thought everything was legit. Because the back and forth went on for so long, it was impossible to recoup what we lost.
WW: Is that why you’re speaking out?
CC: Yes. I partnered with McAfee Scam Detector to change the attitude around being conned and de-stigmatize conversations about scamming. People need to understand it can happen to anyone at any time. I use the Scam Detector daily because I get an abundance of emails and texts, some of which look real. Now I can take a screenshot, and it tells me if it’s real or fake.
WW: You mentioned getting inundated with ads and promotions. Have any of them been scams? What were the red flags?
CC: My wife and I do a lot of social media. We hired a professional to help us verify because scammers send links claiming to start a verification process that aren’t authentic.
WW: Why do you think you were targeted?
CC: I think they blanket target by sending tons of emails and texts from huge databases to see who bites. Data hacks happen all the time, so it’s important to know your information is out there. With the seat cushion incident, we were searching for a specific item. I guess I should have remembered, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is—because the price was so reasonable compared to everything else we found.
WW: What other red flags should people watch for?
CC: Pushy people. Some say, “You have to buy this now or your service will be canceled or the price will change.” Look for alarming language, random texts from strange numbers, and links that are outside the platform or vendor. These scammers use technology that gauges your likes and sends things with great pictures to lure you in.
WW: You and your wife are big on TikTok, with 1.8 million followers. Did you have any reservations about posting videos after what happened?
CC: Thankfully, we had people looking out for us, so we felt confident we could keep making videos and creating content.
WW: Have you changed the way you use the internet?
CC: I’ve been a public figure for 20 years, and people will use my name or image without my knowledge, which is another way to be victimized. I hope not to be on that side of the web. Since the seat cushion incident, we’ve become more skeptical about buying things online and sharing personal information.
WW: You mention your wife, Erin, a lot. Is it true you met her on the set of Nashville?
couple smiling
Chris Carmack
CC: That’s true. I was cast as Will Lexington, and she was hired by producers to be a violinist in Connie Britton’s band on the show. She was actually on the show before me. The first time I saw her, she was playing violin on stage, and she knocked my socks off. She was gorgeous under the lights—I couldn’t take my eyes off her. We started dating a year later and the rest is history.
WW: How does Erin react when you have to do love scenes on camera?
CC: She knows when I have a love scene coming because I start going to the gym every day to prepare. But when Erin met me, she knew I was an actor, and that’s part of my career and sometimes required for a role. She understands it’s part of the business.
WW: Really? Erin doesn’t get jealous?
CC: No. Kudos to her. She laughs about it and even makes videos about it.
WW: Give us the dish on Grey’s Anatomy.
man in doctor uniform
CC: We left Season 21 on a precarious note, especially for my character. I don’t know what I can share because I don’t know anything yet. The writers are working on Season 22, and the show has been picked up. Wait—now that I think about it, I haven’t gotten the call yet saying, “See ya in July.”
WW: Are you worried?
CC: While I feel good, anything can happen.
WW: Do you feel a different dynamic on the series now that Ellen Pompeo has modified her role?
CC: Definitely. We do in-person table reads, and having her there less often changes things a lot because she is such an iconic actress and character. But she’s still there. Ellen is involved in many episodes with voiceovers. She’s the heart of the series. We don’t get her as much as we’d like, but she’s still very present.
WW: What are the creative differences between shooting a TV series and filming TikToks?
CC: There are big differences. Lately, we’ve done a lot of pranks on our TikTok account, which are easier because I just walk into a room and see what’s happening. We’ve also done scripted sketch comedy, which is a different muscle because you have to write the script, work on the beats, then cut it down to be funnier and tighter. That’s a skill I never used on Grey’s because I just show up and act with words given to me. After 20 years, it seems easier—the writers do the hard work, and I get to bring it to life. That’s a walk in the park compared to doing it yourself.
WW: Tell me about your role as a dad.
CC: This is the most important and encompassing role I’ve ever played. I have two daughters—one is nine, the other is three. They take up all my free time, and I’m grateful for it. But it’s exhausting. I’m running all over, a chauffeur, short-order cook, dishwasher, planner for school and summer schedules. It’s frantic and stressful (laughs), but they reward you with love.
WW: Since you were scammed, have you put up blocks or filters on your devices so your kids can’t access anything not kid-friendly or parent-approved?
CC: We haven’t gone down that road yet with devices. We let them watch movies—mostly Disney+. They don’t own iPads or iPhones.
WW: Are they allowed to watch Daddy on Grey’s Anatomy?
CC: Yes, my nine-year-old has seen some scenes as long as there’s no gore, gruesome injuries, CPR, or trauma.
WW: You and Erin have musical talents. Have your girls inherited those traits?
CC: My oldest plays violin and is doing well. My youngest just had her first violin lesson with a tiny violin—it was cute. They both like singing and are enrolled in musical theater. Music is a big part of our house.
WW: If you had to pick one word to describe yourself, what would it be and why?
CC: Wow, no one ever asks me that (laughs). I’m always busy taking care of everyone else. I’m tearing up because someone cares (laughs)!
WW: I care. What word would you pick?
CC: Loyal. I’ve always been loyal in friendships and relationships. If I could choose a phrase, it would be “showing up.” I always show up for the people I love. It’s about being there, putting everything else on hold, especially when it means supporting someone you care about.
