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David Strathairn

David Strathairn

Actor, also producer · Born January 26, 1949 (77) · San Francisco, California, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · Oscar nominee · Golden Globe nominee · 6 other major award bodies

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).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 26, 1949 (77)
From
San Francisco, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
104 on MovieCove · 146 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 10% in 30 days

What are David Strathairn's films like?

Across their 80 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Drama31 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Thriller movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
24%
Morality
24%
Bonds
18%
Power
12%
Survival
9%
Society
8%
Ideas
5%
Justice24 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity21 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds22 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose10 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age7 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 77 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 11 · Serious 26 · Dark 40

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 55 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 14 · Charged 32 · Intense 31

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 35 · Shifting 39 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 62 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 42 · Even-paced 31 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 39 · Full focus 20

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 11 · Affecting 33 · Heavy 33

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 41 · Open-ended 25 · Ambiguous 11

Roles they play

51 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 15 of 51 analyzed roles.

Shadow
15 of 51
Mentor
15 of 51
Ally
8 of 51
Hero
7 of 51
Shapeshifter
4 of 51
Threshold guardian
2 of 51
Show the 51 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
51
Melancholic
47
Contemplative
34
Hopeful
22
Bittersweet
18
Other
50

How their films linger

Thought-provoking34 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet36 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 17 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet46
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous18

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch David Strathairn's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 67 of their 104 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (29).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Strathairn's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

146 credits, 104 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • By Any Means(2026)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • O Horizon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Warren

  • Stages(2026)

    as Porter Gates

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • CIA(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Sanford 'Sandy' Harrison

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Zootopia 2(2025)

    as Milton Lynxley (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Gettysburg Address(2025)

    as Ralph Waldo Emerson (voice)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Little Prayer(2023)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Luckiest Man in America(2024)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • A Man on the Inside(2024)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dr. Benjamin Cole

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Remember This (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Jan Karski

  • Where the Crawdads Sing(2022)

    as Tom Milton

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Nightmare Alley(2021)

    as Pete

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Nomadland(2020)

    as Dave

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Oedipus Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Messenger 1

  • Walkaway Joe(2020)

    as Joe Haley

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Interrogation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · as Henry Fisher

  • Holy Silence(2020)

    as President Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Devil Has a Name(2019)

    as Fred Stern

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Godzilla: King of the Monsters(2019)

    as Admiral William Stenz

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Fast Color(2018)

    as Ellis

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • My Dinner with Hervé(2018)

    as Marty Rothstein

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • UFO(2018)

    as Franklin Ahls

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • An Interview with God(2018)

    as God

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • McMafia(2018)

    Show 7 episodes · as Semiyon Kleiman

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Darkest Hour(2017)

    as President Roosevelt (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • November Criminals(2017)

    as Theo

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • American Pastoral(2016)

    as Nathan Zuckerman

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • He Does Not Want Peace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Richard Englebright

  • Billions(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · as Black Jack Foley

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Expanse(2015)

    Show 7 episodes · as Commander Klaes Ashford · as Klaes Ashford

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Z: The Beginning of Everything(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Anthony Sayre

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Z: The Beginning of Everything (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Judge Anthony Sayre

  • Louder Than Bombs(2015)

    as Richard Weissman

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Debt(2015)

    as Nathan

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel(2015)

    as Ty Burley

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Godzilla(2014)

    as Admiral William Stenz

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • No God, No Master(2012)

    as William Flynn

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 12 episodes · as Peter Kotsiopulos

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Lincoln(2012)

    as William Seward

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Hemingway & Gellhorn(2012)

    as John Dos Passos

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Bourne Legacy(2012)

    as Noah Vosen

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Maladies(2012)

    as Delmar

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Alphas(2011)

    Show 24 episodes · as Lee Rosen

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Whistleblower(2010)

    as Peter Ward

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Tempest(2010)

    as King Alonso

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Howl(2010)

    as Ralph McIntosh

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Inside Area 51's Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Narrator

  • Temple Grandin(2010)

    as Professor Carlock

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Matadors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Roman Lodari

  • Cold Souls(2009)

    as Dr. Flintstein

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Uninvited(2009)

    as Steven

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer(2009)

    as J. Robert Oppenheimer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Spiderwick Chronicles(2008)

    as Arthur Spiderwick

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • My Blueberry Nights(2007)

    as Arnie

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Matters of Life and Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Mr. Jennings

  • The Bourne Ultimatum(2007)

    as Noah Vosen

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Racing Daylight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Henry / Harry

  • Steel Toes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Danny Dunkelman

  • Fracture(2007)

    as Joe Lobruto

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Supreme Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Narrator

  • We Are Marshall(2006)

    as President Dedmon

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Sensation of Sight(2006)

    Producer · as Finn

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Heavens Fall(2006)

    as Judge James Horton

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Human Behavior Experiments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Narrator

  • The Shovel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Paul Mullin

  • The Notorious Bettie Page(2005)

    as Estes Kefauver

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters(2006)

    as Edward R. Murrow

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Good Night, and Good Luck.(2005)

    as Edward R. Murrow

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Willa Cather: The Road Is All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Narrator

  • Missing in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Henry R. Hocknell Jr.

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Nash

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Twisted(2004)

    as Dr. Melvin Frank

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Reverend Bobby Paradise

  • Blue Car(2002)

    as Auster

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story(2002)

    as Jack Hoschouer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jack Hoschouer

  • Lathe of Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mannie

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Patrick Kloster

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Speakeasy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Bruce Hickman

  • Relative Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Dr. Charlie

  • Big Apple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 8 episodes · as Will Preecher

  • The Victim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Mark Zingerline

  • A Good Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Truman Lester

  • The Miracle Worker(2000)

    as Captain Keller

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Harrison's Flowers(2000)

    as Harrison Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Freedom Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Peter Crowley

  • A Map of the World(1999)

    as Howard Goodwin

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Limbo(1999)

    as Joe Gastineau

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream(1999)

    as Theseus

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Giraffe(1998)

    as Charles Kaminski

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Sopranos(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Robert Wegler

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Bad Manners(1997)

    as Wes Westlund

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Simon Birch(1998)

    as Reverend Russell

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • With Friends Like These(1998)

    as Armand Minetti

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Evidence of Blood(1998)

    as Jackson Kinley

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Climb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Earl Himes

  • L.A. Confidential(1997)

    as Pierce Patchett

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Song of Hiawatha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Marcel

  • In the Gloaming(1997)

    as Martin

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Mother Night(1996)

    as Bernard B. O'Hare

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Beyond the Call(1996)

    as Russel Gates

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Home for the Holidays(1995)

    as Russell Terziak

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Dolores Claiborne(1995)

    as Joe St. George

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Losing Isaiah(1995)

    as Charles Lewin

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The River Wild(1994)

    as Tom Hartman

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • April One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as John McCowan

  • A Dangerous Woman(1993)

    as Getso

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Firm(1993)

    as Ray McDeere

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Lost in Yonkers(1993)

    as Johnny

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The American Clock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Young Arthur Huntington

  • Passion Fish(1992)

    as Rennie

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Sneakers(1992)

    as Whistler

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Bob Roberts(1992)

    as Mack Laflin

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • A League of Their Own(1992)

    as Ira Lowenstein

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even(1991)

    as Keith

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • O Pioneers! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Carl Linstrum

  • City of Hope(1991)

    as Asteroid

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Without Warning: The James Brady Story(1991)

    as Dr. Arthur Kobrine

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Judgment(1990)

    as Father Frank Aubert

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Memphis Belle(1990)

    as Craig Harriman

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Heat Wave(1990)

    as Bill Thomas

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as The Stranger

  • Day One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as J. Robert Oppenheimer

  • Eight Men Out(1988)

    as Eddie Cicotte

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Call Me(1988)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Dominick and Eugene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Martin Chernak

  • Stars and Bars(1988)

    as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Wiseguy(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Matewan(1987)

    as Police Chief Sid Hatfield

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 20 episodes · as Moss Goodman

  • Broken Vows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Stuart Chase

  • At Close Range(1986)

    as Tony Pine

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Spenser: For Hire(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Phillip Borchek

  • When Nature Calls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Weejun

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Marty Lang

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Brother from Another Planet(1984)

    as Man In Black

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Iceman(1984)

    as Dr. Singe

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Silkwood(1983)

    as Wesley

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Lovesick(1983)

    as Marvin Zuckerman

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Enormous Changes at the Last Minute(1983)

    as Jerry

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Linstrum · as The Stranger

  • Return of the Secaucus Seven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Ron

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Linstrum

  • The Bard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 144 titles, 143 of them dated from 1951 to 2026; peak year 2006.

Biggest box office

Godzilla (2014)

$525M worldwide

Highest rated

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Godzilla (2014)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19512026

Peak 2006 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 29 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1980Screen debut· Return of the Secaucus Seven
  • 1997Screen Actors Guild Award nomination· L.A. Confidential
  • 2005First top-billed film· Good Night, and Good Luck.
  • 2005Career best· Good Night, and Good Luck.
  • 2010Primetime Emmy win· Temple Grandin
  • 2011Career best· Alphas
Show 2 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting144 of 144: 143 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thProducing1 of 144: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1980s22 · acting1990s35 · acting2000s36 · 36 acting · 1 crew2010s32 · acting2020s17 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 6% of 68 roles
80909500101520

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy and 2 other major awards from 18 major nominations, 1988–2013.

WinNomination
  1. 2013
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  2. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
  3. 2011
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  4. 2010
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Spoken Word Album
  5. 2006
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actor
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Male Lead
  6. 2005
    • Venice award, won · Best Actor
  7. 2000
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Male Lead
  8. 1998
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast
Show 3 earlier years
  1. 1993
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male
  2. 1992
    • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Supporting Male
  3. 1988
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do David Strathairn's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 90; across their 77 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 77

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 77

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 77

Midcredits score across 104 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up44
  • 50th to 74th34
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

61 of their 104 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser61
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed22

Most divisive · actor

The Gettysburg Address (2025)

98th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 72 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 52. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is David Strathairn's work okay for kids?

Across up to 41 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore27 titles18–75 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity41 titles8–64 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity28 titles23–72 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs26 titles13–61 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense22 titles25–67 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does David Strathairn work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Strathairn's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Sayles shares the most, 7.

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Mixed roles