Shea Whigham
Known for
Few American character actors work as steadily as Shea Whigham, a Florida native who has become the connective tissue of prestige film and television. He anchored 'Boardwalk Empire' (2010-2014) as Eli Thompson, the sheriff brother forever in Nucky's shadow, and was quietly devastating in 'Take Shelter' (2011). On film he has served directors from Scorsese ('The Wolf of Wall Street', 2013) to Todd Phillips ('Joker', 2019), with stops in 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012) and 'Kong: Skull Island' (2017). Since 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning' (2023) he has chased Ethan Hunt as agent Briggs. His specialty: weathered men carrying quiet resentments.
Shea Whigham
67 Movies
25 Series
Few American character actors work as steadily as Shea Whigham, a Florida native who has become the connective tissue of prestige film and television. He anchored 'Boardwalk Empire' (2010-2014) as Eli Thompson, the sheriff brother forever in Nucky's shadow, and was quietly devastating in 'Take Shelter' (2011). On film he has served directors from Scorsese ('The Wolf of Wall Street', 2013) to Todd Phillips ('Joker', 2019), with stops in 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012) and 'Kong: Skull Island' (2017). Since 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning' (2023) he has chased Ethan Hunt as agent Briggs. His specialty: weathered men carrying quiet resentments.
Movies
Plays Chip Hart
F1
2025
Plays George Stacy (voice)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
2023
Plays Captain Ted Beecham
The Wolf of Wall Street
2013
Plays Detective Burke
Joker
2019
Plays Briggs
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
2025
Plays Briggs
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
2023
Plays Earl Cole
Kong: Skull Island
2017
Plays DJ Corliss
The Lincoln Lawyer
2011
Plays Carl Elway
American Hustle
2013
Plays Teenaxi Leader (voice)
Star Trek Beyond
2016
Plays Agent Marenick
Non-Stop
2014
Plays Michael Stasiak
F9
2021
Plays Andy Wheeldon
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
2018
Plays Gus Grissom
First Man
2018
Plays Dewart
Take Shelter
2011
Plays Six's Father
The Gray Man
2022
Plays Kenny Dugan
Pride and Glory
2008
Plays Jake Solatano
Silver Linings Playbook
2012
Plays Dr. Woodbury Laurence
Bad Times at the El Royale
2018
Plays Wayne Vincent
Vice
2018
Plays James Turner
Death Note
2017
Plays Chad
Savages
2012
Plays Billy
Catch.44
2011
Plays Sniper
Machete
2010
Plays George Stacy (voice)
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
2027
Plays Justin
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
2009
Plays Ranger Holt
Man of the House
2005
Plays Drake Landon
Lords of Dogtown
2005
Plays Jim
Knight of Cups
2015
Plays Man
Cop Car
2015
Plays Dennis Farell
Splinter
2008
Plays Frank Lyga
City of Lies
2018
Plays SAR Pilot Conrad
Big Miracle
2012
Plays Tony Mazzolla
The Killing Room
2009
Plays Joe Cronin
The Catcher Was a Spy
2018
Plays Patrick 'Packie' Hanrahan
Small Engine Repair
2021
Plays Jim Dunlop
Eileen
2023
Plays Gary Ruzak
Beirut
2018
Plays Parker
The Gateway
2021
Plays Pvt. Wilson
Tigerland
2000
Plays Capt. Cottingham
The Conspirator
2011
Plays Matty Miller
Term Life
2016
Plays Ernie Ray
This Must Be the Place
2011
Plays Frank
Fancy Dance
2024
Plays Frank Polidori
Vampires vs. the Bronx
2020
Plays Eugene
Wristcutters: A Love Story
2007
Plays Motherfucker
Wheelman
2017
Plays Hank Deerborne
To the Stars
2019
Plays Holliston
Lila & Eve
2015
Plays Schmidt
South of Heaven
2021
TV Shows
Plays Elias 'Eli' Thompson
Boardwalk Empire
2010
Plays Ray Liptrapp
Vice Principals
2016
Plays Pete Strickland
Perry Mason
2020
Plays Thomas Carrasco
Homecoming
2018
Plays Moe Dammick
Fargo
2014
Plays G. Gordon Liddy
Gaslit
2022
Plays Tom Flybjerg
Sugar
2024
Plays Mitch Decker
Waco
2018
Plays Jim Bridger
American Primeval
2025
Plays Mitch Decker
Waco: The Aftermath
2023
Plays Roscoe Conkling
Death by Lightning
2025
Plays George Reeves
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
2023
Plays Barrett Fidler
Medical Investigation
2004
Plays Bobby Kenyon
ER
1994
Plays Dusty 'The Slick Bandit' Daniels
The Righteous Gemstones
2019
Plays Joel Theriot
True Detective
2014
Plays Peanut Head
Legend of Master Legend
2017
Plays Roger Dooley
Marvel's Agent Carter
2015
Plays PQ
Bad Thoughts
2025
Plays Peter
Modern Love
2019
Plays Walt
It's Florida, Man.
2024
Plays Tom Kardum
Numb3rs
2005
Plays Patrick Wilkes
Medium
2005
Plays Jered Blunt
Lie to Me
2009
Plays William Meehan
Dirty John
2018
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Ghost Soldier
Full Filmography
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
George Stacy (voice)
2027
Film
Sugar
Tom Flybjerg · 8 episodes
2026
TV
Death by Lightning
Roscoe Conkling · 4 episodes
2025
TV
American Primeval
Jim Bridger · 6 episodes
2025
TV
Bad Thoughts
PQ · 1 episode
2025
TV
It's Florida, Man.
Walt · 1 episode
2025
TV
F1
Chip Hart
2025
Film
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Briggs
2025
Film
Lake George
Don
2024
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Shea Whigham and where are they from?
Shea Whigham is 57 years old, born on January 5, 1969 in Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Shea Whigham?
Shea Whigham is best known for roles in Joker, The Wolf of Wall Street, Silver Linings Playbook.
How many movies has Shea Whigham been in?
Over a 26-year career (since 2000), Shea Whigham has appeared in 67 movies and 25 TV shows.
What was Shea Whigham's first movie?
The career of Shea Whigham began with Tigerland (2000).
What is Shea Whigham's most recent movie or series?
Shea Whigham's most recent release is Death by Lightning, which premiered on November 6, 2025.
What TV shows has Shea Whigham appeared in?
On television, Shea Whigham has appeared in True Detective, Fargo, Marvel's Agent Carter, Lie to Me.
Does Shea Whigham have any upcoming projects?
Yes, Shea Whigham's upcoming work includes: Ghost Soldier (2026), Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2027).
Shea Whigham
1969-01-05 · Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Shea Whigham (born January 5, 1969) is an American actor best known for portraying Elias "Eli" Thompson in the drama series Boardwalk Empire. He also appeared in the first season of True Detective and the third season of Fargo and in numerous films, including Wristcutters: A Love Story, Take Shelter, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street, Kong: Skull Island, First Man, Vice, Joker, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. He has appeared as Agent Michael Stasiak in Fast & Furious, Fast & Furious 6, and F9.about Shea Whigham, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.