Ed Harris

Biography

Ed Harris is an American actor and filmmaker who began his career on the stage before moving into film and television. Born in Englewood, New Jersey, and raised in Tenafly, he first drew wide notice as astronaut John Glenn in The Right Stuff (1983), then took leading and supporting roles in films such as The Abyss (1989), Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), The Firm (1993), Nixon (1995), The Rock (1996), A Beautiful Mind (2001), A History of Violence (2005), Gone Baby Gone (2007), Snowpiercer (2013), mother! (2017), The Lost Daughter (2021), and Top Gun: Maverick (2022). He earned Academy Award nominations for Apollo 13 (1995), The Truman Show (1998), and The Hours (2002), winning a Golden Globe for The Truman Show, and a Best Actor nomination for Pollock (2000), which he directed and starred in. On television, he appeared in Lou Grant and Empire Falls and played the Man in Black in Westworld.

75years old

Turns 76 on November 28in 55 days

Born November 28, 1950Englewood
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Edward Allen Harris (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 80
Career span: 46 years1980 to 2026

Genres

Drama80%, 64 films
Crime23%, 18 films
Thriller20%, 16 films
Comedy19%, 15 films
Action18%, 14 films

First and latest

Photos

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Behind the camera
Harris directed the drama biopic Pollock in 2000, his first time as director, and also played the artist Jackson Pollock. His performance brought him a first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
First role
Ed Harris started out on the stage. In 1976 he took the part of an FBI agent in the first staging of Thomas Rickman's play Baalam, which was put on at the Pasadena Repertory Theatre.
Big break
Harris took on the part of astronaut John Glenn in The Right Stuff, and that 1983 role is what made him well known.

Ed Harris movies on Netflix

How to Make a Killing2026IMDb rating 6.5as Whitelaw Redfellow
The Dink2026IMDb rating 6.1as Chuck Boyd
Riff Raff2025IMDb rating 5.7as Vince
My Dead Friend Zoe2024IMDb rating 6.4as Dale
Downtown Owl2023IMDb rating 5.0as Horace Jones
Top Gun: Maverick2022IMDb rating 8.2as Rear Admiral
The Lost Daughter2021IMDb rating 6.6as Lyle
Resistance2020IMDb rating 6.6as General Patton
The Last Full Measure2019IMDb rating 6.8as Ray Mott
A Crooked Somebody2018IMDb rating 6.2as Sam Vaughn
Geostorm2017IMDb rating 5.4as Leonard Dekkom
Kodachrome2017IMDb rating 6.9as Ben
mother!2017IMDb rating 6.6as Man
In Dubious Battle2016IMDb rating 6.0as Joy
Rules Don't Apply2016IMDb rating 5.7as Mr. Bransford
Run All Night2015IMDb rating 6.6as Shawn Maguire
The Adderall Diaries2015IMDb rating 5.1as Neil Elliott
Cymbeline2014IMDb rating 3.7as Cymbeline
Frontera2014IMDb rating 6.6as Roy
Planes: Fire & Rescue2014IMDb rating 5.9as Blade Ranger (voice)
Gravity2013IMDb rating 7.7as Mission Control (voice)
Pain & Gain2013IMDb rating 6.4as Ed DuBois
Phantom2013IMDb rating 5.9as Demi
Snowpiercer2013IMDb rating 7.1as Wilford
Sweetwater2013IMDb rating 6.2as Sheriff Jackson
The Face of Love2013IMDb rating 6.2as Garret Mathis / Tom Young
Game Change2012IMDb rating 7.4as John McCain
Man on a Ledge2012IMDb rating 6.6as David Englander
Salvation Boulevard2011IMDb rating 5.3as Peter Blaylock
That's What I Am2011IMDb rating 7.0as Mr. Simon
Once Fallen2010IMDb rating 4.7as Liam
The Way Back2010IMDb rating 7.3as Mr. Smith
Virginia2010IMDb rating 5.4as Richard Tipton
Appaloosa2008IMDb rating 6.7as Virgil Cole
Cleaner2007IMDb rating 6.1as Eddie Lorenzo
Gone Baby Gone2007IMDb rating 7.6as Remy Bressant
National Treasure: Book of Secrets2007IMDb rating 6.5as Mitch Wilkinson
Copying Beethoven2006IMDb rating 6.7as Ludwig van Beethoven
A History of Violence2005IMDb rating 7.4as Carl Fogarty
Winter Passing2005IMDb rating 6.2as Don Holden
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson2004IMDb rating 8.3as Other Voices (voice)
Masked and Anonymous2003IMDb rating 5.3as Oscar Vogel
Radio2003IMDb rating 6.9as Coach Jones
The Human Stain2003IMDb rating 6.2as Lester Farley
The Hours2002IMDb rating 7.5as Richard Brown
A Beautiful Mind2001IMDb rating 8.2as Parcher
Buffalo Soldiers2001IMDb rating 6.7as Colonel Berman
Enemy at the Gates2001IMDb rating 7.5as Major König
The Prime Gig2001IMDb rating 6.0as Kelly Grant
Pollock2000IMDb rating 7.0as Jackson Pollock
Waking the Dead2000IMDb rating 6.4as Jerry Charmichael
The Third Miracle1999IMDb rating 6.5as Frank Shore
Stepmom1998IMDb rating 6.8as Luke Harrison
The Truman Show1998IMDb rating 8.2as Christof
Absolute Power1997IMDb rating 6.7as Seth Frank
Eye for an Eye1996IMDb rating 6.2as Mack McCann
The Rock1996IMDb rating 7.4as Brigadier General Francis X. Hummel, USMC
Apollo 131995IMDb rating 7.7as Gene Kranz
Just Cause1995IMDb rating 6.4as Blair Sullivan
Nixon1995IMDb rating 7.0as E. Howard Hunt
China Moon1994IMDb rating 6.3as Kyle Bodine
Needful Things1993IMDb rating 6.3as Sheriff Alan Pangborn
The Firm1993IMDb rating 6.9as Wayne Tarrance
Under Pressure: Making 'The Abyss'1993IMDb rating 8.0as Himself
Glengarry Glen Ross1992IMDb rating 7.6as Dave Moss
State of Grace1990IMDb rating 7.1as Frankie Flannery
Jacknife1989IMDb rating 6.4as Dave
The Abyss1989IMDb rating 7.5as Virgil 'Bud' Brigman
To Kill a Priest1988IMDb rating 6.1as Stefan
The Last Innocent Man1987IMDb rating 6.3as Harry Nash
Walker1987IMDb rating 6.7as William Walker
Alamo Bay1985IMDb rating 6.1as Shang
Sweet Dreams1985IMDb rating 7.0as Charlie Dick
Places in the Heart1984IMDb rating 7.4as Wayne Lomax
Swing Shift1984IMDb rating 6.0as Jack Walsh
The Right Stuff1983IMDb rating 7.8as John Glenn
Under Fire1983IMDb rating 7.0as Oates
Creepshow1982IMDb rating 6.8as Hank Blaine (segment "Father's Day")
Knightriders1981IMDb rating 6.3as Billy
Borderline1980IMDb rating 6.0as Hotchkiss

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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A Beautiful Mind2001 Biography, Dramaas Parcher
IMDb rating 8.21.1M votes
Gravity2013 Drama, Sci-Fi, Thrilleras Mission Controlvoice
IMDb rating 7.7907K votes
The Truman Show1998as Christof
IMDb rating 8.21.4M votes
Snowpiercer2013as Wilford
IMDb rating 7.1426K votes
The Rock1996as Brigadier General Francis X. Hummel, USMC
IMDb rating 7.4385K votes
The Abyss1989as Virgil 'Bud' Brigman
IMDb rating 7.5211K votes
Apollo 131995as Gene Kranz
IMDb rating 7.7343K votes
A History of Violence2005as Carl Fogarty
IMDb rating 7.4277K votes

Most often with

Agnieszka Holland directed three of these films, Peter Weir two and Ron Howard two. Amy Madigan appears in twelve of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Amy Madigan

Jennifer Connelly

Hal Holbrook

Darrell Larson

Samuel L. Jackson

Gene HackmanAgnieszka HollandDirector, 3 films

Peter WeirDirector, 2 films

Ron HowardDirector, 2 films

Films together

Amy Madigan12 films together, 1984 to 2018
Amy Madigan's page
- A Crooked Somebody2018IMDb rating 6.2Harris as Sam VaughnMadigan as Joyce Vaughn
- Frontera2014IMDb rating 6.6Harris as RoyMadigan as Olivia
- Sweetwater2013IMDb rating 6.2Harris as Sheriff JacksonMadigan as Madame Bovary
- That's What I Am2011IMDb rating 7.0Harris as Mr. SimonMadigan as Principal Kelner
- Once Fallen2010IMDb rating 4.7Harris as LiamMadigan as Rose
- Virginia2010IMDb rating 5.4Harris as Richard TiptonMadigan as Roseanna Tipton
- Gone Baby Gone2007IMDb rating 7.6Harris as Remy BressantMadigan as Bea McCready
- Winter Passing2005IMDb rating 6.2Harris as Don HoldenMadigan as Lori Lansky
- Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson2004IMDb rating 8.3Harris as Other VoicesvoiceMadigan as Other Voicesvoice
- Pollock2000IMDb rating 7.0Harris as Jackson PollockMadigan as Peggy Guggenheim
- Alamo Bay1985IMDb rating 6.1Harris as ShangMadigan as Glory
- Places in the Heart1984IMDb rating 7.4Harris as Wayne LomaxMadigan as Viola Kelsey
Jennifer Connelly6 films together, 2000 to 2022
Jennifer Connelly's page
- Top Gun: Maverick2022IMDb rating 8.2Harris as Rear AdmiralConnelly as Penny Benjamin
- Salvation Boulevard2011IMDb rating 5.3Harris as Peter BlaylockConnelly as Gwen Vandermeer
- Virginia2010IMDb rating 5.4Harris as Richard TiptonConnelly as Virginia
- A Beautiful Mind2001IMDb rating 8.2Harris as ParcherConnelly as Alicia Nash
- Pollock2000IMDb rating 7.0Harris as Jackson PollockConnelly as Ruth Kligman
- Waking the Dead2000IMDb rating 6.4Harris as Jerry CharmichaelConnelly as Sarah Williams
Hal Holbrook4 films together, 1982 to 2014
Hal Holbrook's page
- Planes: Fire & Rescue2014IMDb rating 5.9Harris as Blade RangervoiceHolbrook as Maydayvoice
- Waking the Dead2000IMDb rating 6.4Harris as Jerry CharmichaelHolbrook as Isaac Green
- The Firm1993IMDb rating 6.9Harris as Wayne TarranceHolbrook as Oliver Lambert
- Creepshow1982IMDb rating 6.8Harris as Hank Blaine (segment "Father's Day")Holbrook as Henry Northrup (segment "The Crate")
Darrell Larson4 films together, 1987 to 2005
Darrell Larson's page
- Winter Passing2005IMDb rating 6.2Harris as Don HoldenLarson as Director
- Stepmom1998IMDb rating 6.8Harris as Luke HarrisonLarson as Duncan Samuels
- Eye for an Eye1996IMDb rating 6.2Harris as Mack McCannLarson as Peter Green
- The Last Innocent Man1987IMDb rating 6.3Harris as Harry NashLarson as Philip Stafford
Samuel L. Jackson3 films together, 2004 to 2019
Samuel L. Jackson's page
- The Last Full Measure2019IMDb rating 6.8Harris as Ray MottJackson as Takoda
- Cleaner2007IMDb rating 6.1Harris as Eddie LorenzoJackson as Tom Cutler
- Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson2004IMDb rating 8.3Harris as Other VoicesvoiceJackson as Jack Johnsonvoice
Gene Hackman3 films together, 1983 to 1997
Gene Hackman's page
- Absolute Power1997IMDb rating 6.7Harris as Seth FrankHackman as President Allen Richmond
- The Firm1993IMDb rating 6.9Harris as Wayne TarranceHackman as Avery Tolar
- Under Fire1983IMDb rating 7.0Harris as OatesHackman as Alex Grazier
Agnieszka HollandDirector, 3 films, 1988 to 2006
All films by Agnieszka Holland
- Copying Beethoven2006IMDb rating 6.7Harris as Ludwig van Beethoven
- The Third Miracle1999IMDb rating 6.5Harris as Frank Shore
- To Kill a Priest1988IMDb rating 6.1Harris as Stefan
Peter WeirDirector, 2 films, 1998 to 2010
All films by Peter Weir
- The Way Back2010IMDb rating 7.3Harris as Mr. Smith
- The Truman Show1998IMDb rating 8.2Harris as Christof
Ron HowardDirector, 2 films, 1995 to 2001
All films by Ron Howard
- A Beautiful Mind2001IMDb rating 8.2Harris as Parcher
- Apollo 131995IMDb rating 7.7Harris as Gene Kranz
Also three films together9 more actors
- Val KilmerTop Gun: Maverick (2022), Masked and Anonymous (2003) and Pollock (2000)
- Michael BiehnThe Rock (1996), Under Pressure: Making 'The Abyss' (1993) and The Abyss (1989)
- Scott GlennBuffalo Soldiers (2001), Absolute Power (1997) and The Right Stuff (1983)
- Margo MartindaleThe Human Stain (2003), The Hours (2002) and The Firm (1993)
- Fred WardMasked and Anonymous (2003), Swing Shift (1984) and The Right Stuff (1983)
- Tom BowerAppaloosa (2008), Pollock (2000) and Nixon (1995)
- E.G. MarshallAbsolute Power (1997), Nixon (1995) and Creepshow (1982)
- J.C. QuinnUnder Pressure: Making 'The Abyss' (1993), The Abyss (1989) and Places in the Heart (1984)
- John Bedford LloydWinter Passing (2005), Under Pressure: Making 'The Abyss' (1993) and The Abyss (1989)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Ed Harris's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$5.9 billion

58 of the 80 films have a worldwide figure.

58Worldwide figure
8US gross only
6Never in cinemas
8Figure not found

Top grosser

Top Gun: Maverick2022Rear Admiral$1.5 billion

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 71% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Top Gun: Maverick2022as Rear Admiral
$1.5B25.3% of the total
2
Gravity2013as Mission Control (voice)
$723M12.3% of the total
3
National Treasure: Book of Secrets2007as Mitch Wilkinson
$459M7.8% of the total
4
Apollo 131995as Gene Kranz
$355M6.0% of the total
5
The Rock1996as Brigadier General Francis X. Hummel, USMC
$335M5.7% of the total
6
A Beautiful Mind2001as Parcher
$317M5.4% of the total
7
The Firm1993as Wayne Tarrance
$270M4.6% of the total
8
The Truman Show1998as Christof
$264M4.5% of the total

Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014), $151 million

Enemy at the Gates (2001), $97.0 million

A History of Violence (2005), $61.5 million

Places in the Heart (1984), $34.9 million

$1.7 billionfrom the other 50 films with a worldwide figure, 29% of the total

Awards

Twelve awards and honors from 1995 to 2019, five of them major.

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Ed Harris's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Golden Globes
2013	Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film	Game Change	Won
1998	Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture	The Truman Show	Won
	Awards		Won
SAG Awards
1996	Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture	Apollo 13	Won
1996	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role	Apollo 13	Won
Other honors
2019	New Jersey Hall of Fame		Won
2018	Sitges Grand Honorary Award		Honorary
2005	National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor	A History of Violence	Won
2001	Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor	Pollock	Won
1999	Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor	The Truman Show	Won
1998	National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor	The Truman Show	Won
1995	Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor	Apollo 13	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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