Jeff Daniels

Biography

Jeff Daniels is an American actor and musician who has worked across stage and screen, shifting between comedy and drama. Born in Athens, Georgia, and raised in Chelsea, Michigan, he began his career in New York theater, making his Broadway debut in Gemini in 1977 and appearing in Lanford Wilson's Fifth of July. His film breakthrough came in Terms of Endearment (1983), and he earned Golden Globe nominations for The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Something Wild (1986), and The Squid and the Whale (2005). He starred in films including Arachnophobia, Gettysburg, Speed (1994), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Fly Away Home, 101 Dalmatians, Pleasantville, Because of Winn-Dixie, RV, and Dumb and Dumber To (2014), and he appeared in Steve Jobs (2015), The Martian (2015), and Looper (2012). On television, he won Primetime Emmy Awards for The Newsroom in 2013 and for Godless in 2018. He received three Tony Award nominations and founded the Purple Rose Theatre Company.

71years old

Turns 72 on February 19in 141 days

Born February 19, 1955Athens
Star sign: PiscesFirst day of the sign, on the Aquarius cusp
Jeffrey Warren Daniels (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 56
Career span: 43 years1983 to 2026

Genres

Drama61%, 34 films
Comedy50%, 28 films
Crime18%, 10 films
Romance13%, 7 films
Adventure11%, 6 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Early training
In the summer of 1976, Daniels took part in a Bicentennial Repertory program at the Eastern Michigan University drama school, appearing in The Hot L Baltimore and three other plays. Marshall W. Mason, the guest director there, asked him to come to New York.
First role
Jeff Daniels made his Broadway debut as the assistant stage manager and in various roles in the play Gemini in 1977.
A first
In 2018, Jeff Daniels starred as Atticus Finch in Aaron Sorkin's Broadway stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. During the week ending December 23, 2018, the play grossed over $1.5 million, setting a box office record for a non-musical play at a Shubert Organization theater.

Jeff Daniels movies on Netflix

The Brink of War2026IMDb rating 6.2as Ronald Reagan
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story2024IMDb rating 8.0as Himself
The Saint of Second Chances2023IMDb rating 7.5as Narrator (voice)
9/11: Inside the President's War Room2021IMDb rating 7.5as Self - Narrator (voice)
Adam2020IMDb rating 6.5as Mickey
Allegiant2016IMDb rating 5.7as David
Steve Jobs2015IMDb rating 7.2as John Sculley
The Martian2015IMDb rating 8.0as Teddy Sanders
Dumb and Dumber To2014IMDb rating 5.6as Harry
Looper2012IMDb rating 7.4as Abe
Howl2010IMDb rating 6.6as David Kirk
Away We Go2009IMDb rating 7.0as Jerry
Paper Man2009IMDb rating 6.5as Richard Dunn
State of Play2009IMDb rating 7.1as George Fergus
The Answer Man2009IMDb rating 6.4as Arlen Faber
Space Chimps2008IMDb rating 4.5as Zartog (voice)
Traitor2008IMDb rating 6.9as Carter
A Plumm Summer2007IMDb rating 6.0as Narrator
Mama's Boy2007IMDb rating 5.2as Mert Rosenbloom
The Lookout2007IMDb rating 6.9as Lewis
Infamous2006IMDb rating 7.0as Alvin Dewey
RV2006IMDb rating 5.6as Travis Gornicke
Because of Winn-Dixie2005IMDb rating 6.4as Preacher
Good Night, and Good Luck.2005IMDb rating 7.4as Sig Mickelson
The Squid and the Whale2005IMDb rating 7.3as Bernard Berkman
Imaginary Heroes2004IMDb rating 7.0as Ben Travis
The Five People You Meet in Heaven2004IMDb rating 7.2as Blue Man
Gods and Generals2003IMDb rating 6.2as Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Blood Work2002IMDb rating 6.4as Jasper 'Buddy' Noone
Escanaba in da Moonlight2001IMDb rating 6.3as Rueben Soady
Cheaters2000IMDb rating 6.7as Dr. Gerard Plecki
The Crossing2000IMDb rating 7.1as Gen. George Washington
It's the Rage1999IMDb rating 5.5as Warren Harding
My Favorite Martian1999IMDb rating 5.1as Tim O'Hara
Pleasantville1998IMDb rating 7.5as Bill Johnson
Trial and Error1997IMDb rating 5.8as Charles Tuttle
101 Dalmatians1996IMDb rating 5.8as Roger
2 Days in the Valley1996IMDb rating 6.5as Alvin Strayer
Fly Away Home1996IMDb rating 6.9as Thomas "Tom" Alden
Dumb & Dumber1994IMDb rating 7.3as Harry Dunne
Speed1994IMDb rating 7.3as Harry
Gettysburg1993IMDb rating 7.6as Col. Joshua Chamberlain
Grand Tour: Disaster in Time1992IMDb rating 6.4as Ben Wilson
Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story1992IMDb rating 6.2as Tom Noonan
There Goes the Neighborhood1992IMDb rating 5.8as Willis Embry
The Butcher's Wife1991IMDb rating 5.4as Dr. Alex Tremor
Arachnophobia1990IMDb rating 6.5as Dr. Ross Jennings
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael1990IMDb rating 5.9as Denton Webb
Checking Out1988IMDb rating 4.8as Ray Macklin
The House on Carroll Street1988IMDb rating 6.2as Cochran
Radio Days1987IMDb rating 7.4as Biff Baxter
Heartburn1986IMDb rating 6.1as Richard
Something Wild1986IMDb rating 6.9as Charles Driggs
Marie: A True Story1985IMDb rating 6.6as Eddie Sisk
The Purple Rose of Cairo1985IMDb rating 7.6as Tom Baxter / Gil Shepherd
Terms of Endearment1983IMDb rating 7.4as Flap Horton

Best known for

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

Top

The Martian2015 Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fias Teddy Sanders
IMDb rating 8.01.0M votes
Dumb & Dumber1994 Comedyas Harry Dunne
IMDb rating 7.3448K votes
Speed1994as Harry
IMDb rating 7.3428K votes
Dumb and Dumber To2014as Harry
IMDb rating 5.6155K votes
Looper2012as Abe
IMDb rating 7.4633K votes
The Squid and the Whale2005as Bernard Berkman
IMDb rating 7.395K votes
101 Dalmatians1996as Roger
IMDb rating 5.8125K votes
Arachnophobia1990as Dr. Ross Jennings
IMDb rating 6.581K votes

Most often with

Bobby Farrelly directed two of these films, Peter Farrelly two and Woody Allen two. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Catherine O'Hara

Anna Paquin

Danny Aiello

Wallace Shawn

Robin Williams

Stephen TobolowskyBobby FarrellyDirector, 2 films

Peter FarrellyDirector, 2 films

Woody AllenDirector, 2 films

Films together

Catherine O'Hara3 films together, 1986 to 2009
Catherine O'Hara's page
- Away We Go2009IMDb rating 7.0Daniels as JerryO'Hara as Gloria
- There Goes the Neighborhood1992IMDb rating 5.8Daniels as Willis EmbryO'Hara as Jessie Lodge
- Heartburn1986IMDb rating 6.1Daniels as RichardO'Hara as Betty
Anna Paquin3 films together, 1996 to 2005
Anna Paquin's page
- The Squid and the Whale2005IMDb rating 7.3Daniels as Bernard BerkmanPaquin as Lili
- It's the Rage1999IMDb rating 5.5Daniels as Warren HardingPaquin as Annabel Lee
- Fly Away Home1996IMDb rating 6.9Daniels as Thomas "Tom" AldenPaquin as Amy Alden
Danny Aiello3 films together, 1985 to 1996
Danny Aiello's page
- 2 Days in the Valley1996IMDb rating 6.5Daniels as Alvin StrayerAiello as Dosmo Pizzo
- Radio Days1987IMDb rating 7.4Daniels as Biff BaxterAiello as Rocco
- The Purple Rose of Cairo1985IMDb rating 7.6Daniels as Tom Baxter / Gil ShepherdAiello as Monk
Wallace Shawn2 films together, 1987 to 1999
Wallace Shawn's page
- My Favorite Martian1999IMDb rating 5.1Daniels as Tim O'HaraShawn as Coleye
- Radio Days1987IMDb rating 7.4Daniels as Biff BaxterShawn as Masked Avenger
Robin Williams2 films together, 2006 to 2024
Robin Williams's page
- Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story2024IMDb rating 8.0Daniels as HimselfWilliams as Himself
- RV2006IMDb rating 5.6Daniels as Travis GornickeWilliams as Bob Munro
Stephen Tobolowsky2 films together, 1988 to 1990
Stephen Tobolowsky's page
- Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael1990IMDb rating 5.9Daniels as Denton WebbTobolowsky as Mayor Bill Klepler
- Checking Out1988IMDb rating 4.8Daniels as Ray MacklinTobolowsky as Pharmacist
Bobby FarrellyDirector, 2 films, 1994 to 2014
All films by Bobby Farrelly
- Dumb and Dumber To2014IMDb rating 5.6Daniels as Harry
- Dumb & Dumber1994IMDb rating 7.3Daniels as Harry Dunne
Peter FarrellyDirector, 2 films, 1994 to 2014
All films by Peter Farrelly
- Dumb and Dumber To2014IMDb rating 5.6Daniels as Harry
- Dumb & Dumber1994IMDb rating 7.3Daniels as Harry Dunne
Woody AllenDirector, 2 films, 1985 to 1987
All films by Woody Allen
- Radio Days1987IMDb rating 7.4Daniels as Biff Baxter
- The Purple Rose of Cairo1985IMDb rating 7.6Daniels as Tom Baxter / Gil Shepherd
Also two films together44 more actors
- C. Thomas HowellGods and Generals (2003) and Gettysburg (1993)
- Sigourney WeaverInfamous (2006) and Imaginary Heroes (2004)
- David StrathairnHowl (2010) and Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
- Stephen LangGods and Generals (2003) and Gettysburg (1993)
- Tom BerengerAdam (2020) and Gettysburg (1993)
- Mike StarrDumb & Dumber (1994) and Radio Days (1987)
- Glenn CloseSuper/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024) and 101 Dalmatians (1996)
- Kenneth WelshThe House on Carroll Street (1988) and Heartburn (1986)
- Jack NicholsonHeartburn (1986) and Terms of Endearment (1983)
- Charlize TheronTrial and Error (1997) and 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
- Diane KeatonMama's Boy (2007) and Radio Days (1987)
- Eli WallachMama's Boy (2007) and Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story (1992)
- Sandra BullockInfamous (2006) and Speed (1994)
- Joseph Gordon-LevittLooper (2012) and The Lookout (2007)
- Jim CarreyDumb and Dumber To (2014) and Dumb & Dumber (1994)
- Austin PendletonTrial and Error (1997) and 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
- Carla GuginoThe Lookout (2007) and Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)
- Tony HaleThe Answer Man (2009) and RV (2006)
- William BaldwinA Plumm Summer (2007) and The Squid and the Whale (2005)
- Mia FarrowRadio Days (1987) and The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
- Hope DavisThe Brink of War (2026) and Infamous (2006)
- Kristin ChenowethSpace Chimps (2008) and RV (2006)
- Graham BeckelWelcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) and Marie: A True Story (1985)
- Robert JoyCheaters (2000) and Radio Days (1987)
- Joan AllenIt's the Rage (1999) and Pleasantville (1998)
- Cheryl HinesSpace Chimps (2008) and RV (2006)
- Josh MostelState of Play (2009) and Radio Days (1987)
- Kevin ConwayGods and Generals (2003) and Gettysburg (1993)
- William Morgan SheppardGettysburg (1993) and There Goes the Neighborhood (1992)
- Margaret ColinThe Butcher's Wife (1991) and Something Wild (1986)
- Alex BorsteinThe Lookout (2007) and Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
- Michael WestonAdam (2020) and State of Play (2009)
- Royce D. ApplegateGods and Generals (2003) and Gettysburg (1993)
- Paul HermanRadio Days (1987) and The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
- Micole Mercurio2 Days in the Valley (1996) and Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)
- Grant JamesDumb and Dumber To (2014) and Infamous (2006)
- Michael TuckerChecking Out (1988) and Radio Days (1987)
- Felton PerryDumb & Dumber (1994) and Checking Out (1988)
- Hunter ParrishPaper Man (2009) and RV (2006)
- McNally SagalPleasantville (1998) and Trial and Error (1997)
- Adelle LutzChecking Out (1988) and Something Wild (1986)
- Brady BluhmDumb and Dumber To (2014) and Dumb & Dumber (1994)
- Bo BrinkmanGods and Generals (2003) and Gettysburg (1993)
- Patricia FalkenhainThe House on Carroll Street (1988) and Something Wild (1986)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.