John Diehl

    Actor, Producer

    Birthdate: May 1, 1950

    Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    John Henry Diehl has appeared more than 150 times in films and TV including Armageddon Time (2022), Five Days at Memorial (2022), Nixon, Stripes, and TV series Dark Winds (2022), Snowfall (2017), Castle Rock (2018), The Shield, and Miami Vice. Described by the Los Angeles Times as a "versatile and immediately recognizable" character actor, Diehl has has "...avoided the typecasting that is an accepted part of most character actors' careers." NY Times' A.O Scott hailed his "wry, cunning performance" in Wim Wenders' post 9/11 film Land of Plenty (2004). A member of The Actors Studio since 2004, Diehl's career has spanned over 40 years. Playing a colorful array of wackos in his earlier years, he has since become a fine character actor. In the early 80s Diehl played bit parts in movies such as Escape from New York (1981) with Kurt Russell and Stripes (1981) with Bill Murray and then landed a co-starring role in the pilot for Miami Vice (1984) playing Detective Larry Zito in a Hawaiian shirt. He continued that role in Miami Vice (1984) for three seasons before leaving to pursue other roles. Film credits include The Client (1994), A Time to Kill (1996), Stargate (1994), Nixon (1995) and Pearl Harbor (2001) and the first one to get eaten in Jurassic Park III (2001). He lives in New Mexico with his wife, singer Julie Christensen. They have one son, Los Angeles actor and filmmaker Magnus Diehl b. 1993.

    Known For

    The Client
    The Client

    (1994)

    John Diehl Movies

    actor

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    Previous (57)

    • 2025 |

      Train Dreams

      asBilly
    • 2022 |

      Armageddon Time

      asFred Trump
    • 2020 |
      Serpent in the Bottleas Marvin Decker
    • 2019 |
      Out of the Wildas Henry McBride
    • 2016 |
      The North Staras Master Anderson
    • 2014 |
      A Strong Collected Spiritas Marty Stock
    • 2014 |
      A Long Way Offas Mr. Abraham
    • 2013 |
      Singularity Principleas Professor Jack Brenner
    • 2012 |
      Apartment 1303 3Das Detective
    • 2011 |
      Natural Selectionas Abe
    • 2010 |
      Road to Nowhereas Bobby Billings
    • 2009 |
      Follow the Prophetas Ted
    • 2009 |
      Gary's Walkas Gary
    • 2008 |
      Natural Disastersas John
    • 2007 |

      Forever

      asNeil
    • 2006 |
      Running Out of Time in Hollywood
    • 2006 |
      The Far Side of Jerichoas Cash Thornton
    • 2006 |
      The House Is Burningas Mr. Garson
    • 2005 |
      Down in the Valleyas Steve
    • 2004 |
      I Pass for Humanas Ex-husband
    • 2004 |
      Land of Plentyas Paul
    • 2003 |
      Bookiesas Vincent
    • 2003 |
      Just Another Storyas Al
    • 2001 |
      The Zerosas Burl
    • 2001 |
      Jurassic Park IIIas Cooper
    • 2001 |

      Jurassic Park III

      asCooper
    • 2000 |
      Lost Soulsas Henry Birdson
    • 1999 |
      Swap Meet
    • 1999 |
      Anywhere But Hereas Jimmy
    • 1998 |
      Davis Is Deadas The Killer
    • 1998 |
      Monument Ave.as Digger
    • 1997 |
      Casualtiesas Polito
    • 1997 |
      Managua
    • 1997 |
      The End of Violenceas Lowell Lewis
    • 1996 |
      Female Perversionsas Jake Rock
    • 1996 |
      Color of a Brisk and Leaping Dayas Pinchot
    • 1996 |
      The Destiny of Marty Fineas Deke
    • 1996 |
      The Graveas J.C. Cole
    • 1995 |
      Mind Ripperas Alex Hunter
    • 1995 |
      Three Wishesas Leland's Father
    • 1994 |
      Almost Deadas Eddie Herbek
    • 1994 |
      Stargateas Lieutenant Kawalsky
    • 1991 |
      Motoramaas Phil
    • 1992 |
      Mikeyas Neil
    • 1992 |
      The Paint Jobas Father
    • 1992 |
      Mo' Moneyas Keith Heading
    • 1991 |
      A Climate for Killingas Wayne Paris
    • 1991 |
      Trumpet #7as Bud
    • 1991 |
      Kickboxer 2: The Road Backas Jack
    • 1990 |
      The Dark Side of the Moonas Philip Jennings
    • 1990 |
      Madhouseas Fred
    • 1987 |
      Walkeras Stebbins
    • 1987 |

      White of the Eye

      asMr. Dupree
    • 1983 |
      Angelas The Killer
    • 1983 |
      Joysticksas Arnie
    • 1981 |
      Stripesas Cruiser
    • 1981 |

      Stripes

      asCruiser