David Strathairn
Known for
American actor David Strathairn is a highly regarded performer, admired for his elegant restraint, whose portrayal of journalist Edward R. Murrow in George Clooney's 'Good Night, and Good Luck' earned him an Oscar nomination. A frequent collaborator of director John Sayles, whom he met in college, he has unfolded a long career of memorable supporting roles in titles like 'L.A. Confidential', 'A League of Their Own', 'Sneakers', 'The Firm', 'Lincoln' and 'Nomadland'. On television he shone with roles in 'The Sopranos', 'The Blacklist' and 'Billions', and won an Emmy for his work in the TV film 'Temple Grandin'. Strathairn stands out for a sober and intelligent performance that lends gravity and truth to every character, however small.
David Strathairn
94 Movies
19 Series
American actor David Strathairn is a highly regarded performer, admired for his elegant restraint, whose portrayal of journalist Edward R. Murrow in George Clooney's 'Good Night, and Good Luck' earned him an Oscar nomination. A frequent collaborator of director John Sayles, whom he met in college, he has unfolded a long career of memorable supporting roles in titles like 'L.A. Confidential', 'A League of Their Own', 'Sneakers', 'The Firm', 'Lincoln' and 'Nomadland'. On television he shone with roles in 'The Sopranos', 'The Blacklist' and 'Billions', and won an Emmy for his work in the TV film 'Temple Grandin'. Strathairn stands out for a sober and intelligent performance that lends gravity and truth to every character, however small.
Movies
Plays Milton Lynxley (voice)
Zootopia 2
2025
Plays Admiral William Stenz
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
2019
Plays Admiral William Stenz
Godzilla
2014
Plays President Roosevelt (voice)
Darkest Hour
2017
Plays Pierce Patchett
L.A. Confidential
1997
Plays Noah Vosen
The Bourne Ultimatum
2007
Plays Pete
Nightmare Alley
2021
Plays Arthur Spiderwick
The Spiderwick Chronicles
2008
Plays Ray McDeere
The Firm
1993
Plays Noah Vosen
The Bourne Legacy
2012
Plays Whistler
Sneakers
1992
Plays William Seward
Lincoln
2012
Plays Joe Lobruto
Fracture
2007
Plays Steven
The Uninvited
2009
Plays Dave
Nomadland
2021
Plays Ira Lowenstein
A League of Their Own
1992
Plays Tom Hartman
The River Wild
1994
Plays President Dedmon
We Are Marshall
2006
Plays Joe St. George
Dolores Claiborne
1995
Plays Professor Carlock
Temple Grandin
2010
Plays Craig Harriman
Memphis Belle
1990
Plays Nathan Zuckerman
American Pastoral
2016
Plays Theseus
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1999
Plays Wesley
Silkwood
1983
Plays Theo
November Criminals
2017
Plays Dr. Melvin Frank
Twisted
2004
Plays Dr. Singe
Iceman
1984
Plays Eddie Cicotte
Eight Men Out
1988
Plays Edward R. Murrow
Good Night, and Good Luck.
2005
Plays John Dos Passos
Hemingway & Gellhorn
2012
Plays Peter Ward
The Whistleblower
2010
Plays Ty Burley
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
2015
Plays Police Chief Sid Hatfield
Matewan
1987
Plays Richard Weissman
Louder Than Bombs
2015
Plays Arnie
My Blueberry Nights
2007
Plays Tony Pine
At Close Range
1986
Plays Reverend Russell
Simon Birch
1998
Plays Franklin Ahls
UFO
2018
Plays Charles Lewin
Losing Isaiah
1995
Plays King Alonso
The Tempest
2010
Plays Ellis
Fast Color
2019
Plays Estes Kefauver
The Notorious Bettie Page
2006
Plays Rennie
Passion Fish
1992
Plays God
An Interview with God
2018
Plays Porter Gates
Stages
2026
Plays Russell Terziak
Home for the Holidays
1995
Plays Bill
The Luckiest Man in America
2025
Plays Sam
Call Me
1988
Plays Dr. Flintstein
Cold Souls
2009
Plays Joe Gastineau
Limbo
1999
TV Shows
Plays Lee Rosen
Alphas
2011
Plays Moss Goodman
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
1987
Plays Peter Kotsiopulos
The Blacklist
2013
Plays Anthony Sayre
Z: The Beginning of Everything
2015
Plays Henry Fisher
Interrogation
2020
Plays Black Jack Foley
Billions
2016
Plays Will Preecher
Big Apple
2001
Plays Semiyon Kleiman
McMafia
2018
Plays Klaes Ashford
The Expanse
2015
Plays Dr. Benjamin Cole
A Man on the Inside
2024
Plays Robert Wegler
The Sopranos
1999
Plays Jack Hoschouer
Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story
2002
Plays Patrick Kloster
Monk
2002
Plays Marty Lang
Miami Vice
1984
Plays Phillip Borchek
The Equalizer
1985
Plays Carl Linstrum
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Plays Nash
House
2004
Plays Sanford 'Sandy' Harrison
CIA
2026
Plays Carl Linstrum
American Playhouse
1982
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
By Any Means
Full Filmography
O Horizon
Warren
2026
Film
Stages
Porter Gates
2026
Film
CIA
Sanford 'Sandy' Harrison · 1 episode
2026–
TV
A Man on the Inside
Dr. Benjamin Cole · 4 episodes
2025
TV
Zootopia 2
Milton Lynxley (voice)
2025
Film
A Little Prayer
Bill
2025
Film
The Luckiest Man in America
Bill
2025
Film
Remember This
Jan Karski
2023
Film
Nightmare Alley
Pete
2021
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is David Strathairn and where are they from?
David Strathairn is 77 years old, born on January 26, 1949 in San Francisco, California, USA.
What are the most famous roles of David Strathairn?
David Strathairn is best known for roles in Godzilla, The Bourne Ultimatum, Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
How many movies has David Strathairn been in?
Over a 46-year career (since 1980), David Strathairn has appeared in 93 movies and 19 TV shows.
What was David Strathairn's first movie?
The career of David Strathairn began with Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980).
What is David Strathairn's most recent movie or series?
David Strathairn's most recent release is O Horizon, which premiered on June 12, 2026.
What TV shows has David Strathairn appeared in?
On television, David Strathairn has appeared in House, The Blacklist, The Sopranos, The Expanse.
Does David Strathairn have any upcoming projects?
Yes, David Strathairn's upcoming work includes: By Any Means (2026).
David Strathairn
1949-01-26 · San Francisco, California, USA
David Russell Strathairn (born January 26, 1949) is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of journalist Edward R. Murrow in the feature film Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. He also starred in L.A. Confidential (1997), Godzilla (2014), and the Bourne franchise (2007–2012).
Strathairn appeared in supporting roles in many notable films such as A League of Their Own (1992), Sneakers (1992), The Firm (1993), The River Wild (1995), Lincoln (2012), Nomadland (2020), and Nightmare Alley (2021). He is a frequent collaborator with director John Sayles, who is a fellow graduate of Williams College.
On television, Strathairn is known for his recurring roles in The Sopranos (2004), Alphas (2011–2012), The Blacklist (2015–2016), Billions (2017–2019), and The Expanse (2018–2019). He received a Primetime Emmy Award win and a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance in the HBO television film Temple Grandin (2010).