Jeff Daniels

Actor, Producer, Writer

Birthdate: Feb 19, 1955

Birthplace: Athens, Georgia, USA

Actor Jeff Daniels was born in Athens, Georgia, but was raised in Chelsea, Michigan. He is the son of Marjorie J. (Ferguson) and Robert Lee Daniels, who owned The Chelsea Lumber Company and was also mayor of Chelsea. Jeff attended Central Michigan University, but became involved in acting and dropped out to pursue a career as an actor. Daniels made his feature film debut in Milos Forman's Ragtime (1981).

Daniels went on to prove himself to be one of Hollywood's most reliable and versatile actors with roles in successes such as Terms of Endearment (1983), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Something Wild (1986), Arachnophobia (1990), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Pleasantville (1998), The Hours (2002) and Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005), to name a few.

Alongside screen work, Daniels has many stage credits to his name and is the founder of The Purple Rose Theater Company in Chelsea, Michigan. He is also a musician and songwriter and has recorded two albums. Daniels is married to his childhood sweetheart, Kathleen Treado and they have three children.

Known For

The Squid and the Whale
The Squid and the Whale

(2005)

Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia

(1990)

Dumb and Dumber
Dumb and Dumber

(1994)

The Purple Rose of Cairo
The Purple Rose of Cairo

(1985)

Jeff Daniels Movies

actor

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Upcoming (1)

  • 2026 |

    The Brink of War

    asRonald Reagan
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Previous (59)

  • 2025 |

    Love Hurts

    asPaul Weaver
  • 2024 |
    Village of Death: Oradour-sur-Glane 1944as Narrator
  • 2023 |
    Bye Bye Barry
  • 2023 |
    Norman's Rare Guitars Documentary
  • 2023 |
    The Saint of Second Chances
  • 2020 |

    Guest Artist

    asJoseph Harris
  • 2020 |

    Infamous

    asAlvin Dewey
  • 2017 |
    Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edgeas Rolling Stone
  • 2017 |

    All the Rage

    asWarren Harding
  • 2016 |
    Gerald R. Ford: A Test of Characteras Narrator
  • 2016 |
    The Long Way Home: Making the Martian
  • 2016 |

    Allegiant

    asDavid
  • 2015 |

    Steve Jobs

    asJohn Sculley
  • 2015 |

    The Martian

    asTeddy Sanders
  • 2014 |

    Dumb and Dumber To

    asHarry
  • 2012 |

    Looper

    asAbe
  • 2009 |
    Paper Manas Richard Dunn
  • 2009 |
    The Answer Manas Arlen Faber
  • 2009 |
    Away We Goas Jerry
  • 2009 |
    State of Playas George Fergus
  • 2008 |
    Space Chimpsas Zartog
  • 2007 |
    A Plumm Summeras Narrator
  • 2007 |
    Mama's Boyas Mert Rosenbloom
  • 2007 |
    The Lookoutas Lewis
  • 2006 |
    RVas Travis Gornicke
  • 2005 |
    Good Night, and Good Luck.as Sig Mickelson
  • 2005 |
    The Squid and the Whaleas Bernard Berkman
  • 2005 |
    Because of Winn-Dixieas Preacher
  • 2004 |
    Imaginary Heroesas Ben Travis
  • 2003 |
    I Witnessas James Rhodes
  • 2003 |
    Gods and Generalsas Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
  • 2002 |
    Super Suckeras Fred Barlow
  • 2002 |
    Blood Workas Jasper 'Buddy' Noone
  • 2001 |
    Escanaba in da Moonlightas Rueben Soady
  • 2000 |
    Chasing Sleepas Ed Saxon
  • 1999 |
    My Favorite Martianas Tim O'Hara
  • 1998 |
    Pleasantvilleas Mr. Johnson
  • 1997 |
    Trial and Erroras Charles Tuttle
  • 1996 |
    101 Dalmatiansas Roger
  • 1996 |
    2 Days in the Valleyas Alvin Strayer
  • 1996 |
    Fly Away Homeas Thomas Alden
  • 1994 |
    Dumb and Dumberas Harry
  • 1994 |

    Dumb and Dumber

    asHarry
  • 1994 |
    Speedas Harry
  • 1992 |
    Rain Without Thunderas Jonathan Garson
  • 1992 |
    There Goes the Neighborhoodas Willis Embry
  • 1991 |
    Grand Tour: Disaster in Timeas Ben Wilson
  • 1991 |
    The Butcher's Wifeas Dr. Alex Tremor
  • 1990 |
    Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichaelas Denton Webb
  • 1990 |
    Arachnophobiaas Dr. Ross Jennings
  • 1988 |
    Checking Outas Ray Macklin
  • 1988 |
    Sweet Hearts Danceas Sam Manners
  • 1988 |
    The House on Carroll Streetas Cochran
  • 1986 |
    Something Wildas Charles Driggs
  • 1986 |
    Heartburnas Richard
  • 1985 |
    Marieas Eddie Sisk
  • 1985 |
    The Purple Rose of Cairoas Tom Baxter
  • 1983 |
    Terms of Endearmentas Flap Horton
  • 1983 |

    Terms of Endearment

    asFlap Horton

self

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Previous (1)

  • 2019 |

    The Russian Five