A capable character actor who got his start in indies directed by his old college buddy John Sayles, Strathairn has convincingly tackled a host of diverse roles, from an abusive pedophile (
Dolores Claiborne) to a soft-spoken Cajun handyman (
Passion Fish) to legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow (
Good Night, and Good Luck.), an impressive performance that earned the veteran actor his first Golden Globe and Oscar nods. Subtly sexy, this laid-back player made his film debut in Sayles' first film, 1980's
The Return of the Secaucus Seven. Over the next two decades, the two collaborated on multiple projects as the untrained actor slowly ventured out on his own with myriad appearances on the big and small screens. A romantic role on the cult series
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd and a sympathetic turn as a baseball manager in the 1992 hit
A League of Their Own upped his profile, but his name remained relatively obscure. In the '90s the prolific player thrived in both A-list and indie projects while keeping a low personal profile, but his performance in
Good Night, and Good Luck. turned him belatedly into a leading man.
David Strathairn Fast Facts:- Although never formally trained as an actor, he attended Ringling Bros. Clown College and spent six months performing in one-half of a conjoined-twin costume.
- Helped form a children's theater company in Glen Falls, NY, in the early '70s with Gordon Clapp from NYPD Blue.
- Made his Broadway debut in the short-lived Einstein and the Polar Bear in 1981. Went on to perform in a number of shows on the Great White Way, including a 2003 staged reading of Salome opposite Al Pacino.
- A non-smoker, he had to light dozens of cigarettes — hand-rolled with much gentler pipe tobacco — to portray chain-smoking Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005).
- David Strathairn Relationships:
- Logan Goodman - Wife
- Tay Strathairn - Son
- David Strathairn Awards:
- 2005 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
- 2006 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
- College:
- Williams College, Williamstown, MA (1970)
