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David Strathairn

David Strathairn

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).

Known for

Stages
Stages
2026 • Porter Gates
This Ordinary Thing
This Ordinary Thing
2025 • Self (voice)
Zootopia 2
Zootopia 2
2025 • Milton Lynxley (voice)
The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address
2025 • Ralph Waldo Emerson (voice)
A Little Prayer
A Little Prayer
2025 • Bill
The Luckiest Man in America
The Luckiest Man in America
2025 • Bill
O Horizon
O Horizon
2025 • Warren
Remember This
Remember This
2023 • Jan Karski

Full filmography

Stages
Stages
2026 • Porter Gates
View movie
This Ordinary Thing
This Ordinary Thing
2025 • Self (voice)
View movie
Zootopia 2
Zootopia 2
2025 • Milton Lynxley (voice)
View movie
The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address
2025 • Ralph Waldo Emerson (voice)
View movie
O Horizon
O Horizon
2025 • Warren
View movie
Remember This
Remember This
2023 • Jan Karski
View movie
Nomadland
Nomadland
2021 • Dave
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The Oedipus Project
The Oedipus Project
2020 • Messenger 1
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Walkaway Joe
Walkaway Joe
2020 • Joe Haley
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Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
2019 • Admiral William Stenz
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Fast Color
Fast Color
2019 • Ellis
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My Dinner with Hervé
My Dinner with Hervé
2018 • Marty Rothstein
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UFO
UFO
2018 • Franklin Ahls
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Darkest Hour
Darkest Hour
2017 • President Roosevelt (voice)
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American Pastoral
American Pastoral
2016 • Nathan Zuckerman
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He Does Not Want Peace
He Does Not Want Peace
2016 • Richard Englebright
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Louder Than Bombs
Louder Than Bombs
2015 • Richard Weissman
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The Debt
The Debt
2015 • Nathan
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Godzilla
Godzilla
2014 • Admiral William Stenz
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No God, No Master
No God, No Master
2014 • William Flynn
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Lincoln@Gettysburg
Lincoln@Gettysburg
2013 • Self - Narrator (voice)
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Lincoln
Lincoln
2012 • William Seward
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Hemingway & Gellhorn
Hemingway & Gellhorn
2012 • John Dos Passos
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The Bourne Legacy
The Bourne Legacy
2012 • Noah Vosen
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Maladies
Maladies
2012 • Delmar
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The Whistleblower
The Whistleblower
2010 • Peter Ward
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The Tempest
The Tempest
2010 • King Alonso
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Howl
Howl
2010 • Ralph McIntosh
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Area 51 Declassified
Area 51 Declassified
2010 • Himself - Narrator
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Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin
2010 • Professor Carlock
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Matadors
2010 • Roman Lodari
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Cold Souls
Cold Souls
2009 • Dr. Flintstein
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The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer
The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer
2008 • J. Robert Oppenheimer
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The Spiderwick Chronicles
The Spiderwick Chronicles
2008 • Arthur Spiderwick
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Trumbo
Trumbo
2007 • Self
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Racing Daylight
Racing Daylight
2007 • Henry / Harry
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Steel Toes
Steel Toes
2007 • Danny Dunkelman
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Fracture
Fracture
2007 • Joe Lobruto
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We Are Marshall
We Are Marshall
2006 • President Dedmon
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Heavens Fall
Heavens Fall
2006 • Judge James Horton
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The Shovel
2006 • Paul Mullin
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Good Night, and Good Luck.
Good Night, and Good Luck.
2005 • Edward R. Murrow
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Missing in America
Missing in America
2005 • Henry R. Hocknell Jr.
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Los Angeles Plays Itself
Los Angeles Plays Itself
2004 • Pierce Patchett in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)
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Twisted
Twisted
2004 • Dr. Melvin Frank
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Paradise
Paradise
2004 • Reverend Bobby Paradise
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Blue Car
Blue Car
2003 • Auster
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Speakeasy
Speakeasy
2002 • Bruce Hickman
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Relative Evil
Relative Evil
2001 • Dr. Charlie
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The Victim
The Victim
2001 • Mark Zingerline
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A Good Baby
A Good Baby
2000 • Truman Lester
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The Miracle Worker
The Miracle Worker
2000 • Captain Keller
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Harrison's Flowers
Harrison's Flowers
2000 • Harrison Lloyd
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Freedom Song
Freedom Song
2000 • Peter Crowley
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A Map of the World
A Map of the World
1999 • Howard Goodwin
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Limbo
Limbo
1999 • Joe Gastineau
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Bad Manners
Bad Manners
1998 • Wes Westlund
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The Giraffe
The Giraffe
1998 • Charles Kaminski
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Simon Birch
Simon Birch
1998 • Rev. Russell
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With Friends Like These
With Friends Like These
1998 • Armand Minetti
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Evidence of Blood
Evidence of Blood
1998 • Jackson Kinley
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The Climb
The Climb
1998 • Earl Himes
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L.A. Confidential
L.A. Confidential
1997 • Pierce Patchett
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Mother Night
Mother Night
1996 • Bernard B. O'Hare
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Beyond the Call
Beyond the Call
1996 • Russel Gates
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Home for the Holidays
Home for the Holidays
1995 • Russell Terziak
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Dolores Claiborne
Dolores Claiborne
1995 • Joe St. George
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Losing Isaiah
Losing Isaiah
1995 • Charles Lewin
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The River Wild
The River Wild
1994 • Tom Hartman
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April One
April One
1994 • John McCowan
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The Firm
The Firm
1993 • Ray McDeere
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The American Clock
The American Clock
1993 • Young Arthur Huntington
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Passion Fish
Passion Fish
1992 • Rennie
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Sneakers
Sneakers
1992 • Whistler
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Bob Roberts
Bob Roberts
1992 • Mack Laflin
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A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own
1992 • Ira Lowenstein
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O Pioneers!
O Pioneers!
1992 • Carl Linstrum
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City of Hope
City of Hope
1991 • Asteroid
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Judgment
Judgment
1990 • Father Frank Aubert
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Memphis Belle
Memphis Belle
1990 • Craig Harriman
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Heat Wave
Heat Wave
1990 • Bill Thomas
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The Feud
The Feud
1989 • The Stranger
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Day One
Day One
1989 • J. Robert Oppenheimer
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Eight Men Out
Eight Men Out
1988 • Eddie Cicotte
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Call Me
Call Me
1988 • Sam
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Stars & Bars
Stars & Bars
1988 • Charlie
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Dominick and Eugene
Dominick and Eugene
1988 • Martin Chernak
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Matewan
Matewan
1987 • Police Chief Sid Hatfield
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Broken Vows
Broken Vows
1987 • Stuart Chase
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At Close Range
At Close Range
1986 • Tony Pine
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Iceman
Iceman
1984 • Dr. Singe
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Silkwood
Silkwood
1983 • Wesley
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Lovesick
Lovesick
1983 • Marvin Zuckerman
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Babies
Unknown year
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The Bard
Unknown year
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David Strathairn – Biography, Known For & Filmography