David Strathairn
Acting
Biography
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).
Filmography
Acting (133)
2026
Babiesas Michael
2026
By Any Meansas Special Agent Roy K. Moore
7.6
2026
O Horizonas Warren
2026
Stagesas Porter Gates
2025
This Ordinary Thingas Self (voice)
2025
Zootopia 2as Milton Lynxley (voice)
7.7
2025
The Gettysburg Addressas Ralph Waldo Emerson (voice)
2025
A Little Prayeras Bill
5.6
2025
The Luckiest Man in Americaas Bill
6.3
2023
Remember Thisas Jan Karski
2022
Where the Crawdads Singas Tom Milton
7.5
2021
Nightmare Alleyas Pete
6.9
2021
Nomadlandas Dave
7.2
2020
The Oedipus Projectas Messenger 1
10.0
2020
Walkaway Joeas Joe Haley
6.0
2019
Them That Workas Self
2019
The Devil Has a Nameas Fred Stern
5.3
2019
Godzilla: King of the Monstersas Admiral William Stenz
6.7
2019
Fast Coloras Ellis
6.0
2018
My Dinner with Hervéas Marty Rothstein
6.3
2018
UFOas Franklin Ahls
6.9
2018
An Interview with Godas God
7.0
2017
Darkest Houras President Roosevelt (voice)
7.4
2017
November Criminalsas Theo
5.3
2016
American Pastoralas Nathan Zuckerman
6.2
2016
He Does Not Want Peaceas Richard Englebright
8.0
2015
Z: The Beginning of Everythingas Judge Anthony Sayre
7.0
2015
Louder Than Bombsas Richard Weissman
6.5
2015
The Debtas Nathan
6.2
2015
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotelas Ty Burley
6.4
2014
Godzillaas Admiral William Stenz
6.4
2014
No God, No Masteras William Flynn
5.8
2013
Lincoln@Gettysburgas Self - Narrator (voice)
7.5
2013
Love, Marilynas Self
6.5
2012
Lincolnas William Seward
6.8
2012
Hemingway & Gellhornas John Dos Passos
6.1
2012
The Bourne Legacyas Noah Vosen
6.3
2012
Maladiesas Delmar
5.3
2010
The Whistlebloweras Peter Ward
6.7
2010
The Tempestas King Alonso
5.3
2010
Howlas Ralph McIntosh
6.5
2010
Inside Area 51's Secretsas Narrator
2010
Area 51 Declassifiedas Himself - Narrator
8.0
2010
Temple Grandinas Professor Carlock
7.9
2010
Matadorsas Roman Lodari
4.7
2009
The People Speakas Self
7.2
2009
Cold Soulsas Dr. Flintstein
6.0
2009
The Uninvitedas Steven
6.5
8.0
2008
The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimeras J. Robert Oppenheimer
6.2
2008
The Spiderwick Chroniclesas Arthur Spiderwick
6.7
2007
My Blueberry Nightsas Arnie
6.4
2007
Trumboas Self
6.7
2007
Matters of Life and Deathas Mr. Jennings
9.0
2007
The Bourne Ultimatumas Noah Vosen
7.4
2007
Racing Daylightas Henry / Harry
3.3
2007
Steel Toesas Danny Dunkelman
5.3
2007
Fractureas Joe Lobruto
7.3
2007
The Supreme Courtas Narrator
2006
We Are Marshallas President Dedmon
6.9
2006
The Sensation of Sightas Finn
8.0
2006
Heavens Fallas Judge James Horton
7.0
2006
The Human Behavior Experimentsas Narrator
7.5
2006
The Shovelas Paul Mullin
6.0
2006
The Notorious Bettie Pageas Estes Kefauver
6.3
2005
Good Night, and Good Luck.as Edward R. Murrow
7.1
2005
Willa Cather: The Road Is Allas Narrator
10.0
2005
Missing in Americaas Henry R. Hocknell Jr.
5.7
2004
Twistedas Dr. Melvin Frank
5.6
2004
Paradiseas Reverend Bobby Paradise
4.1
2003
The Making of ‘Sneakers’as Self
7.5
2003
Blue Caras Auster
6.3
2002
Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Storyas Jack Hoschouer
4.8
2002
Lathe of Heavenas Mannie
6.0
2002
Speakeasyas Bruce Hickman
4.4
2001
Relative Evilas Dr. Charlie
5.6
2001
The Victimas Mark Zingerline
9.0
2000
A Good Babyas Truman Lester
6.5
2000
The Miracle Workeras Captain Keller
7.2
2000
Harrison's Flowersas Harrison Lloyd
6.5
2000
Freedom Songas Peter Crowley
5.7
1999
A Map of the Worldas Howard Goodwin
6.0
1999
Limboas Joe Gastineau
6.6
1999
A Midsummer Night's Dreamas Theseus
6.4
1999
The Giraffeas Charles Kaminski
5.3
1998
Bad Mannersas Wes Westlund
4.8
1998
Simon Birchas Reverend Russell
6.9
1998
With Friends Like Theseas Armand Minetti
6.5
1998
Evidence of Bloodas Jackson Kinley
6.6
1998
The Climbas Earl Himes
7.1
1997
L.A. Confidentialas Pierce Patchett
7.8
1997
Song of Hiawathaas Marcel
5.8
1997
In the Gloamingas Martin
6.0
1996
Mother Nightas Bernard B. O'Hare
6.6
1996
Beyond the Callas Russel Gates
6.5
1995
Home for the Holidaysas Russell Terziak
6.3
1995
Dolores Claiborneas Joe St. George
7.3
1995
Losing Isaiahas Charles Lewin
6.5
1994
The River Wildas Tom Hartman
6.5
1994
April Oneas John McCowan
9.0
1993
A Dangerous Womanas Getso
5.5
1993
The Firmas Ray McDeere
6.7
1993
Lost in Yonkersas Johnny
6.3
1993
The American Clockas Young Arthur Huntington
5.7
1992
Passion Fishas Rennie
7.0
1992
Sneakersas Whistler
6.9
1992
Bob Robertsas Mack Laflin
6.6
1992
A League of Their Ownas Ira Lowenstein
7.2
1992
6.1
1992
O Pioneers!as Carl Linstrum
6.2
1991
City of Hopeas Asteroid
6.7
1991
Without Warning: The James Brady Storyas Dr. Arthur Kobrine
7.0
1990
Judgmentas Father Frank Aubert
5.5
1990
Memphis Belleas Craig Harriman
6.8
1990
Heat Waveas Bill Thomas
6.8
1989
The Feudas The Stranger
5.2
1989
Day Oneas J. Robert Oppenheimer
6.2
1988
Eight Men Outas Eddie Cicotte
6.8
1988
Call Meas Sam
4.8
1988
Stars & Barsas Charlie
4.4
1988
Dominick and Eugeneas Martin Chernak
6.8
1987
Matewanas Police Chief Sid Hatfield
7.4
1987
Broken Vowsas Stuart Chase
4.8
1986
At Close Rangeas Tony Pine
6.8
1985
When Nature Callsas Weejun
4.8
1984
The Brother from Another Planetas Man In Black
6.7
1984
Icemanas Dr. Singe
6.2
1983
Silkwoodas Wesley
6.9
1983
Lovesickas Marvin Zuckerman
5.9
1983
4.6
1980
6.5
Production & Directing (1)
2006
The Sensation of SightProducer
8.0