McClary was born in California and is the son of All-American basketball player Douglas McClary, and the grandson of All-American pioneer of the sport Harold "Mac" McClary. He played football and studied at the University of Mississippi and studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where he studied under Stella Adler and Michael Moriarty. McClary received great respect and notice for his performance as Jesus in the large-scale stage production in Los Angeles of "The Passion Play (1998; 2000-2003).