John Diehl
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- May 1, 1950 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Active Years
- 1980–2025 (46 Years)
- Total Credits
- 128 credits in database
Biography
John Henry Diehl is an American actor born on May 1, 1950, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Active in both film and television, his acting career comprises 126 known credits listed on The Movie Database. He is recognized for a diverse range of screen appearances, encompassing feature films and television productions. His personal information and professional background establish him as a male performer with a documented history in the entertainment industry, operating under the primary professional name John Diehl alongside alternate non-English name listings.
Career overview
John Diehl is an American character actor born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 1, 1950. He has accumulated over 150 credits in film and television throughout his career, with a known credit count of 126 listed on his profile.
Among his most recognized television and film roles, Diehl portrayed Detective Larry Zito on the 1980s cop show Miami Vice and appeared as Charles Kawalsky in the 1994 film Stargate. His extensive filmography includes playing the Cruiser in Stripes, Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy on The Shield, and Private Bucklin, the spokesman of the 2nd Maine mutineers, in Gettysburg.
Further notable roles in his career include Cooper in the 2001 film Jurassic Park III, G. Gordon Liddy in Oliver Stone's movie Nixon, the Klansman informant known as Mickey Mouse in A Time to Kill, and Keith, a credit card company supervisor, in Mo Money. Additionally, he appeared as the spirit of Harley Earl in a series of commercials.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
128 titles- Train Dreams (2025) as Billy
- John Candy: I Like Me (2025) as Self - Actor, Stripes (archive footage)
- Dark Winds (2022) as B.J. Vines
- Armageddon Time (2022) as Fred Trump
- La Sirena (2020) as Nino
- Serpent in the Bottle (2020) as Marvin Decker
- Castle Rock (2018) as John
- Snowfall (2017) as Colonel Robert McDonald
- Out of the Wild (2017) as Henry McBride
- The North Star (2016) as Master Anderson
- Forever (2015) as Neil
- A Long Way Off (2014)
- Almost Human (2013) as Edward Kennex
- Singularity Principle (2013) as Jack Brenner
- Scandal (2012) as Ray Dwyer
- Apartment 1303 3D (2012) as Detective
- The Obama Effect (2012) as Steve Warren
- Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe (2011) as Rear Admiral Lawrence
- Natural Selection (2011) as Abe
- Rizzoli & Isles (2010) as Arthur Dunbar
- Road to Nowhere (2010) as Bobby Billings
- Lie to Me (2009) as Charlie Everett
- Drifter: Henry Lee Lucas (2009) as Sheriff Larabie
- Follow the Prophet (2009) as Ted
- The Lucky Ones (2008) as Tom Klinger
- Women's Murder Club (2007)
- Friday Night Lights (2006) as Richard Sherman
- Jericho (2006) as Governor Trader
- Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006) as Jerry Snyder
- Hidden Places (2006) as Frank Wyatt
- The House Is Burning (2006) as Mr. Garson
- The Far Side of Jericho (2006) as Cash Thornton
- Point Pleasant (2005) as David Burke
- Down in the Valley (2005) as Steve
- Land of Plenty (2004) as Paul
- I Pass for Human (2004) as Ex-husband
- Cold Case (2003) as Isaac Keller
- Bookies (2003) as Vincent
- Dragnet: Sticks and Stones (2003) as Dr. Rupert Miles
- Without a Trace (2002) as Doyle
- The Shield (2002) as Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy
- Tully (2002) as Mal "Mac" MacAvoy
- The Guardian (2001) as Fortunato
- Pearl Harbor (2001) as Senior Doctor
- The Zeros (2001) as Burl
- Jurassic Park III (2001) as Cooper
- Falling Like This (2001) as Eddie Gallagher
- Falling Like This (2001) Co-Producer
- Strong Medicine (2000) as Mr. Lawson
- Lost Souls (2000) as Henry Birdson
- Fail Safe (2000) as Col. Cascio
- The West Wing (1999) as Claypool
- Get Real (1999) as Harris Forman
- Anywhere but Here (1999) as Jimmy
- Purgatory (1999) as Badger
- The Hi-Lo Country (1998) as Les Birk
- The Rat Pack (1998) as Joe DiMaggio
- Amanda & the Alien (1998) as Colonel Rosencrans
- Monument Ave. (1998) as Digger
- Con Air (1997) as Poe's Lawyer (uncredited)
- Fire Down Below (1997) as Frank Elkins
- Most Wanted (1997) as Police Captain
- The End of Violence (1997) as Lowell
- Casualties (1997) as Polito
- Nash Bridges (1996) as Albert foss
- The Pretender (1996) as Sheriff Delmont
- Profiler (1996) as Toby 'The Wick' Wood
- A Time to Kill (1996) as Tim Nunley
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- Foxfire (1996) as Mr. Buttinger
- Female Perversions (1996) as Jake Rock
- The Grave (1996) as J.C. Cole
- The Destiny of Marty Fine (1996) as Deke
- Managua (1996)
- JAG (1995) as Jack Raglan
- The Outer Limits (1995) as Joe
- Nixon (1995) as Gordon Liddy
- Mind Ripper (1995) as Alex
- Three Wishes (1995) as Leland's Dad
- Buffalo Girls (1995) as General Custer
- ER (1994) as Johnson's Son
- Stargate (1994) as Lieutenant Kawalsky
- The Client (1994) as Jack Nance
- Almost Dead (1994) as Eddie Herbek
- The New Age (1994) as Lyle
- The X-Files (1993) as Wilson Pinker Rawls
- NYPD Blue (1993) as Joe brady
- The John Larroquette Show (1993) as Chris
- Falling Down (1993) as Dad (Back Yard Party)
- Gettysburg (1993) as Pvt. Bucklin
- Remote (1993) as Delbert McCoy
- The Paint Job (1993) as Father
- Mikey (1992) as Neil Trenton
- Mo' Money (1992) as Keith Heading
- Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991) as Jack
- Whore (1991) as Derelict
- Motorama (1991) as Phil
- Eddie Dodd (1991)
- A Climate for Killing (1991) as Wayne Paris
- MadHouse (1990) as Fred
- The Dark Side of the Moon (1990) as Philip Jennings
- Cool Blue (1990) as Clayton
- In the Heat of the Night (1988) as John sevrance
- Monsters (1988) as Miles Magnus
- Glitz (1988) as Teddy Magyk
- Walker (1987) as Stebbins
- The Hanoi Hilton (1987) as Murphy
- White of the Eye (1987) as Mr Dupree
- Beauty and the Beast (1987) as Vernon Toulane
- L.A. Law (1986) as Kevin Delahanty
- L.A. Law (1986) as Tim
- Miami Vice (1984) as Larry Zito
- Angel (1984) as The Killer
- Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper (1984) as Det. Larry Zito
- National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) as Assistant Mechanic
- D.C. Cab (1983) as Head Kidnapper
- Joysticks (1983) as Arnie
- Cagney & Lacey (1982)
- Cassie & Co. (1982) as Gelson
- Hysterical (1982) as Taxi Driver
- The Ambush Murders (1982) as Ferguson
- Leon's Case (1982) as Leon Bernstein
- Falcon Crest (1981) as Gus Wallach
- Hill Street Blues (1981)
- Escape from New York (1981) as Punk
- Stripes (1981) as Cruiser
- Falling in Love Again (1980) as Beaver (1940's)
- A Cry for Love (1980)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Diehl best known for?
John Diehl is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Train Dreams (2025), John Candy: I Like Me (2025), Dark Winds (2022), Armageddon Time (2022).
When and where was John Diehl born?
John Diehl was born on May 1, 1950 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
How many credits does John Diehl have?
John Diehl has accumulated over 128 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1980 to 2025.
What is John Diehl's background in cinema and television?
John Henry Diehl is an American actor born on May 1, 1950, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Active in both film and television, his acting career comprises 126 known credits listed on The Movie Database. He is recognized for a diverse range of screen appearances, encompassing feature films and television productions. His personal ...
John Diehl by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Snowfall (2017) as Colonel Robert McDonald — aged about 67
- The X-Files (1993) as Wilson Pinker Rawls — aged about 43
- The West Wing (1999) as Claypool — aged about 49
- The Shield (2002) as Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy — aged about 52
- Friday Night Lights (2006) as Richard Sherman — aged about 56
- Rizzoli & Isles (2010) as Arthur Dunbar — aged about 60
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