Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels

Jeff Daniels

Born: February 19, 1955 (71 years)
Athens, Georgia, USA

Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels (born February 19, 1955) is an American actor. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan. He has performed in a number of stage productions, both on and off Broadway. He has been nominated for the Tony Award as Best Actor for the Broadway play God of Carnage (2009), along with his other three cast-mates. He has had a thriving film career, from his debut in 1981 in Ragtime, through State of Play in 2009. For his film work, he has received three Golden Globe Award nominations, including as Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical for Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) (hence the name of his theatre company). He has also received nominations by the Screen Actors Guild, Satellite Awards, and several for his work in The Squid and the Whale (London Critics Circle Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Chlotrudis Awards and Gotham Awards).

Movies Directed (2)
Movies as Actor (98)
The Brink of War

The Brink of War

as Ronald Reagan

Aug 14, 2026

Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words

Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words

as Self

Jul 27, 2025

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

as Self

Sep 21, 2024

Bye Bye Barry

Bye Bye Barry

as Self

Nov 20, 2023

The Saint of Second Chances

The Saint of Second Chances

as Narrator (voice)

Jun 11, 2023

9/11: Inside the President's War Room

9/11: Inside the President's War Room

as Self - Narrator (voice)

Aug 31, 2021

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age

as Self

Aug 14, 2021

Adam

Adam

as Mickey

Jul 2, 2020

Guest Artist

Guest Artist

as Joseph Harris

Feb 7, 2019

The Emperor's Newest Clothes

The Emperor's Newest Clothes

as The Emperor

Nov 15, 2018

The Catcher Was a Spy

The Catcher Was a Spy

as Bill Donovan

Jun 22, 2018

The Russian Five

The Russian Five

as self

Apr 11, 2018

Allegiant

Allegiant

as David

Mar 9, 2016

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs

as John Sculley

Oct 9, 2015

The Martian

The Martian

as Theodore "Teddy" Sanders

Sep 30, 2015

"That's Awesome!": The Story of 'Dumb and Dumber To'

"That's Awesome!": The Story of 'Dumb and Dumber To'

as Self

Feb 17, 2015

Of Miracles and Men

Of Miracles and Men

as Self - Narrator

Feb 8, 2015

Dumb and Dumber To

Dumb and Dumber To

as Harry Dunne

Nov 12, 2014

James Gandolfini: Tribute to a Friend

James Gandolfini: Tribute to a Friend

as Self

Dec 22, 2013

Looper

Looper

as Abe

Sep 26, 2012

Howl

Howl

as Professor David Kirk

Aug 26, 2010

Paper Man

Paper Man

as Richard Dunn

Jun 15, 2009

Away We Go

Away We Go

as Jerry Farlander

Jun 5, 2009

State of Play

State of Play

as George Fergus

Apr 17, 2009

The Answer Man

The Answer Man

as Arlen Faber

Jan 18, 2009

Traitor

Traitor

as Carter

Aug 23, 2008

Space Chimps

Space Chimps

as Zartog (voice)

Jun 25, 2008

A Plumm Summer

A Plumm Summer

as Narrator

Apr 25, 2008

Sweet Nothing in My Ear

Sweet Nothing in My Ear

as Dan Miller

Apr 20, 2008

Mama's Boy

Mama's Boy

as Mert Rosenbloom

Dec 14, 2007

The Lookout

The Lookout

as Lewis

Mar 9, 2007

Infamous

Infamous

as Alvin Dewey

Oct 13, 2006

Robin Williams: A Family Affair

Robin Williams: A Family Affair

as Self

Aug 15, 2006

RV Nation: The Culture of Road Warriors

RV Nation: The Culture of Road Warriors

as Self

Aug 15, 2006

Barry Sonnenfeld: The Kosher Cowboy

Barry Sonnenfeld: The Kosher Cowboy

as Self

Aug 15, 2006

RV Nation: The Culture of Road Warriors

RV Nation: The Culture of Road Warriors

as Self

Aug 15, 2006

Robin Williams: A Family Affair

Robin Williams: A Family Affair

as Self

Aug 15, 2006

RV

RV

as Travis Gornicke

Apr 28, 2006

Still Dumb After All These Years

Still Dumb After All These Years

as Self

Jan 3, 2006

The Squid and the Whale

The Squid and the Whale

as Bernard Berkman

Oct 5, 2005

Good Night, and Good Luck.

Good Night, and Good Luck.

as Sig Mickelson

Sep 16, 2005

Because of Winn-Dixie

Because of Winn-Dixie

as Preacher

Feb 18, 2005

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

as Blue Man

Dec 5, 2004

Remembering Ragtime

Remembering Ragtime

as P. C. O'Donnell (archive footage)

Nov 16, 2004

Imaginary Heroes

Imaginary Heroes

as Ben Travis

Sep 14, 2004

The Goodbye Girl

The Goodbye Girl

as Elliot Garfield

Jan 16, 2004

Dumb and Dumber - Making Of

Dumb and Dumber - Making Of

as Self

Jan 1, 2004

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Oct 26, 2003

I Witness

I Witness

as James Rhodes

Apr 13, 2003

Gods and Generals

Gods and Generals

as Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Feb 21, 2003

The Hours

The Hours

as Louis Waters

Dec 27, 2002

Blood Work

Blood Work

as Jasper 'Buddy' Noone

Aug 9, 2002

Super Sucker

Super Sucker

as Fred Barlow

Feb 24, 2002

Chasing Sleep

Chasing Sleep

as Ed Saxon

May 16, 2001

Escanaba in da Moonlight

Escanaba in da Moonlight

as Rueben Soady

Jan 26, 2001

Cheaters

Cheaters

as Dr. Gerard Plecki

May 20, 2000

The Crossing

The Crossing

as Gen. George Washington

Jan 10, 2000

All the Rage

All the Rage

as Warren Harding

Sep 11, 1999

My Favorite Martian

My Favorite Martian

as Tim O'Hara

Feb 11, 1999

Pleasantville

Pleasantville

as Mr. Johnson

Sep 17, 1998

Saturday Night Live: A Tribute to Chris Farley

Saturday Night Live: A Tribute to Chris Farley

as Self

Jan 1, 1998

Trial and Error

Trial and Error

as Charles Tuttle

May 30, 1997

Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Party

Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Party

as Self

Feb 28, 1997

101 Dalmatians

101 Dalmatians

as Roger

Nov 27, 1996

Fly Away Home

Fly Away Home

as Thomas Alden

Sep 13, 1996

2 Days in the Valley

2 Days in the Valley

as Alvin Strayer

Sep 11, 1996

Redwood Curtain

Redwood Curtain

as Lyman Fellers

Apr 23, 1995

Dumb and Dumber

Dumb and Dumber

as Harry Dunne

Dec 16, 1994

Speed

Speed

as Harry

Jun 9, 1994

Gettysburg

Gettysburg

as Col. Joshua Chamberlain

Oct 8, 1993

Rain Without Thunder

Rain Without Thunder

as Jonathan Garson

Feb 5, 1993

There Goes the Neighborhood

There Goes the Neighborhood

as Willis Embry

Oct 30, 1992

Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story

Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story

as Tom Noonan

Sep 12, 1992

Timescape

Timescape

as Ben Wilson

Jan 11, 1992

America's Classic Ballparks

America's Classic Ballparks

as Narrator

Oct 29, 1991

The Butcher's Wife

The Butcher's Wife

as Dr. Alex Tremor

Oct 25, 1991

Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael

Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael

as Denton Webb

Oct 12, 1990

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia

as Ross Jennings

Jul 20, 1990

Love Hurts

Love Hurts

as Paul Weaver

Apr 19, 1990

No Place Like Home

No Place Like Home

as Mike Cooper

Dec 3, 1989

Checking Out

Checking Out

as Ray Macklin

Oct 26, 1988

Sweet Hearts Dance

Sweet Hearts Dance

as Sam Manners

Sep 23, 1988

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

as Lt. Steve Maryk

May 8, 1988

The House on Carroll Street

The House on Carroll Street

as Cochran

Mar 4, 1988

Radio Days

Radio Days

as Biff Baxter

Jan 30, 1987

Something Wild

Something Wild

as Charles Driggs

Nov 7, 1986

Heartburn

Heartburn

as Richard

Jul 25, 1986

Marie: A True Story

Marie: A True Story

as Eddie Sisk

Sep 27, 1985

The Purple Rose of Cairo

The Purple Rose of Cairo

as Tom Baxter / Gil Shepherd

Mar 1, 1985

Terms of Endearment

Terms of Endearment

as Flap Horton

Nov 20, 1983

An Invasion of Privacy

An Invasion of Privacy

as Francis Ryan

Jan 12, 1983

Fifth of July

Fifth of July

as Jed Jenkins

Oct 11, 1982

Ragtime

Ragtime

as P.C. O'Donnell

Nov 20, 1981

Broadway: The Next Generation

Broadway: The Next Generation

as Self

Gerald R. Ford: A Test of Character

Gerald R. Ford: A Test of Character

as Narrator

Blind Logic: The Ralph R. Teetor Story

Blind Logic: The Ralph R. Teetor Story

as Ralph Teetor (voice)

2034

2034

Starman

Starman

as Ed Watkins

TV Shows as Actor (44)
The American Revolution

The American Revolution

as Thomas Jefferson (voice)

Nov 16, 2025

A Man in Full

A Man in Full

as Charlie Croker

May 2, 2024

The American Buffalo

The American Buffalo

as (voice)

Oct 16, 2023

Shrinking

Shrinking

as Randy

Jan 26, 2023

American Rust

American Rust

as Det. Del Harris

Sep 12, 2021

Hemingway

Hemingway

as Ernest Hemingway (voice)

Apr 5, 2021

The Comey Rule

The Comey Rule

as James Comey

Sep 27, 2020

Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party

Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party

as Himself

May 21, 2020

Washington

Washington

as Self - Narrator

Feb 16, 2020

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

as Self

Sep 9, 2019

The Looming Tower

The Looming Tower

as John O'Neill

Feb 28, 2018

Godless

Godless

as Frank Griffin

Nov 22, 2017

Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge

Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge

as Narrator

Nov 6, 2017

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

as Self, Casting Reject

Sep 8, 2015

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

as Self

Aug 2, 2015

ARES: live

ARES: live

as Teddy Sanders

Jun 7, 2015

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

as Self

Dec 21, 2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

as Self

Feb 17, 2014

Off Camera with Sam Jones

Off Camera with Sam Jones

as Self

Feb 6, 2014

The Newsroom

The Newsroom

as Will McAvoy

Jun 24, 2012

Impractical Jokers

Impractical Jokers

as Self

Dec 15, 2011

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

as Self

Feb 22, 2007

The Colbert Report

The Colbert Report

as Self

Oct 17, 2005

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

as Self

Jan 3, 2005

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

as Self

Sep 8, 2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

as Self, Self - Guest

Jan 26, 2003

Family Guy

Family Guy

as Jeff Daniels (voice)

Jan 31, 1999

The View

The View

as Self

Aug 11, 1997

The Daily Show

The Daily Show

as Self

Jul 22, 1996

Frasier

Frasier

as Doug (voice)

Sep 16, 1993

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

as Self - Guest

Sep 13, 1993

Late Show with David Letterman

Late Show with David Letterman

as Self - Guest

Aug 30, 1993

HBO First Look

HBO First Look

Jun 12, 1992

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

May 25, 1992

Breakfast with the Arts

Breakfast with the Arts

Jan 1, 1991

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

Sep 5, 1988

Trying Times

Trying Times

as Jim

Oct 18, 1987

MTV Video Music Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

as Self - Presenter

Sep 14, 1984

American Playhouse

American Playhouse

as Jed Jenkins

Jan 12, 1982

A Rumor of War

A Rumor of War

as Chaplain

Sep 24, 1980

CBS News Sunday Morning

CBS News Sunday Morning

as Self

Jan 28, 1979

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Host, Self - Cameo (uncredited)

Oct 11, 1975

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

as Neal Forrester

Sep 20, 1968

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Lyman Fellers

Dec 24, 1951