John Malkovich
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- December 9, 1953 in Christopher, Illinois, USA
- Active Years
- 1975–2026 (52 Years)
- Total Credits
- 209 credits in database
Acting Born Dec 9, 1953 Christopher, Illinois, USA 209 credits
Biography
John Gavin Malkovich, born December 9, 1953, in Christopher, Illinois, United States, is an American actor. He began his professional career in 1976 as a charter member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. After relocating to New York City, he performed in the Steppenwolf production of Sam Shepard’s play True West in 1980. Malkovich made his Broadway debut in 1984, portraying Biff in the revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. He directed Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker in 1986 and appeared in Lanford Wilson’s Burn This in 1987. His work has earned a Primetime Emmy Award and nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.
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Career overview
John Gavin Malkovich was born on December 9, 1953, in Christopher, Illinois, USA. An American actor, he has amassed a substantial body of work, with a record of 198 credited roles across film and television. Malkovich’s early professional experience was rooted in theatre; in 1976 he became a charter member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. After relocating to New York City, he continued his association with Steppenwolf by appearing in the company’s production of Sam Shepard’s play True West in 1980. His Broadway debut came four years later when he performed the role of Biff in the 1984 revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. He expanded his theatrical repertoire by directing Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker in 1986 and by acting in Lanford Wilson’s Burn This in 1987.
Throughout his career Malkovich has been recognized with a range of major industry honors. He has won a Primetime Emmy Award and has received nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. These accolades reflect his standing as a versatile and respected figure in both stage and screen acting.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
In the Hand of DanteWild Horse NineSacrificeBeing Related to John Malkovich
LubachThe Yellow TieOpusThe Life of Mirrors
RIPLEYThe New LookUnsinkableThe LineSafe Sets: Dying to Work in the Film Industry
Mr. Blake at Your Service!Fool's ParadiseOne RangerA Journey to SundanceBreaking Rachmaninoff
ShatteredShattered · ProducerMindcageWhite ElephantChariot
Ten Year Old TomRogue HostageThe Survivalist
Space ForceHome Movie: The Princess BrideThe New PopeAvaArkansas
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and VileVelvet BuzzsawMatchday: Inside FC BarcelonaGotta Get Down to It · Sound Mixer
Bird BoxMile 22The ABC MurdersThe Music CriticSupercon
The Wilde WeddingThe Wilde Wedding · Executive ProducerUnlockedBullet HeadRyuichi Sakamoto: CODA
BillionsDeepwater HorizonDemolition · ProducerZoolander 2Psychogenic Fugue
Late Night with Seth MeyersPenguins of MadagascarCrossbonesCut BankCesar Chavez
RED 2Warm BodiesSiberian EducationEcstasy
The Perks of Being a Wallflower · ProducerLines of WellingtonSide by SideAll Noncombatants Please Clear the SetDrunkboat
The Jonathan Ross ShowTransformers: Dark of the MoonYoung Adult · Executive ProducerButterflies100 Jahre Hollywood - Die Carl Laemmle Story
REDSecretariatJonah HexSaturday NightThe Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer
La Traversée du désirSNL Presents: A Very Gilly ChristmasWhich Way Home · Executive Producer
ProjectorparishiltonBurn After ReadingChangelingIn TranzitThe Great Buck Howard
The Graham Norton ShowJuno · ProducerBeowulfPolis Is This: Charles Olson and the Persistence of Place
On n'est pas couchéEragonArt School ConfidentialArt School Confidential · ProducerKlimt
The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonDe Wereld Draait DoorThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyColour Me KubrickDon't Crash: The Documentary of the Making of the Movie of the Book of the Radio Series of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'
The LibertineThe Libertine · Producer
Johnny EnglishKill the Poor · ProducerA Talking Picture
NapoleonGero von Boehm begegnet...Adaptation.The Dancer UpstairsThe Dancer Upstairs · Director
Friday Night with Jonathan RossKnockaround GuysGhost World · ProducerSavage SoulsI’m Going Home
Les MisérablesShadow of the VampireLady Behave · DirectorLady Behave · Writer
Being John MalkovichThe Messenger: The Story of Joan of ArcTime RegainedLadies RoomRKO 281
The Man in the Iron MaskRounders
Con AirPortrait: Jane Campion and The Portrait of a Lady
The Daily ShowThe Portrait of a LadyMary ReillyMulholland FallsThe Ogre
Full Filmography
209 titles- In the Hand of Dante (2026) as Joe Black
- Wild Horse Nine (2026) as Chris
- Sacrifice (2026) as Gunnar
- Being Related to John Malkovich (2026) as Self
- Lubach (2025)
- The Yellow Tie (2025) as Sergiu Celibidache
- Opus (2025) as Alfred Moretti
- The Life of Mirrors (2025)
- RIPLEY (2024) as Reeves Minot
- The New Look (2024) as Lucien Lelong
- Unsinkable (2024) as Chief Engineer Pollard
- The Line (2024) as Beach Miller
- Safe Sets: Dying to Work in the Film Industry (2024) as self
- Mr. Blake at Your Service! (2023) as Andrew Blake
- Fool's Paradise (2023) as Ed Cote
- One Ranger (2023) as Geddes
- A Journey to Sundance (2023) as Self
- Breaking Rachmaninoff (2023)
- Seneca (2023) as Seneca
- Shattered (2022) as Ronald
- Shattered (2022) Producer
- Mindcage (2022) as The Artist
- White Elephant (2022) as Glen Follett
- Chariot (2022) as Dr. Karn
- Savage Salvation (2022) as Peter
- Ten Year Old Tom (2021) as Mr. B (voice)
- Rogue Hostage (2021) as Sam Nelson
- The Survivalist (2021) as Aaron Ramsey
- Space Force (2020) as Dr. Adrian Mallory
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as The Impressive Clergyman
- The New Pope (2020) as Giovanni Paolo III / Sir John Brannox
- Ava (2020) as Duke
- Arkansas (2020) as Bright
- Valley of the Gods (2020) as Wes Tauros
- Last Call (2020) as Dr. Felton
- Last Call (2020) Producer
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) as Judge Edward D. Cowart
- Velvet Buzzsaw (2019) as Piers
- Matchday: Inside FC Barcelona (2019) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Gotta Get Down to It (2019) Sound Mixer
- Bird Box (2018) as Douglas
- Mile 22 (2018) as Bishop
- The ABC Murders (2018) as Hercule Poirot
- The Music Critic (2018) as The Narrator
- Supercon (2018) as Sid Newberry
- Casanova Gene (2018)
- The Wilde Wedding (2017) as Laurence
- The Wilde Wedding (2017) Executive Producer
- Unlocked (2017) as Bob Hunter
- Bullet Head (2017) as Walker
- Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA (2017) as Port (archive footage)
- I Love You, Daddy (2017) as Leslie Goodwin
- About Love. Adults Only (2017) as Ed
- Just Call Me God (2017) as Satur Diman Cha
- Billions (2016) as Grigor Andolov
- Deepwater Horizon (2016) as Donald Vidrine
- Demolition (2016) Producer
- Zoolander 2 (2016) as Chazz Spencer
- Psychogenic Fugue (2016) as All characters
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Penguins of Madagascar (2014) as Dave (voice)
- Crossbones (2014) as Blackbeard
- Cut Bank (2014) as Sheriff Vogel
- Cesar Chavez (2014) as Bogdanovitch
- The Penguins of Madagascar - Operation: Penguin Takeover (2014) as Dave / Dr. Octavius Brine (voice)
- Strap Hanging (2014) Director
- Casanova Variations (2014) as Giacomo
- Noseland (2014) as Self
- Jack Unterweger - The Charming Serial Killer (2014)
- Le paradoxe de John Malkovich (2014) as Himself
- RED 2 (2013) as Marvin Boggs
- Warm Bodies (2013) as Colonel Grigio
- Siberian Education (2013) as Grandfather Kuzya
- Ecstasy (2013) as Vinny
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Producer
- Lines of Wellington (2012) as General Wellington
- Side by Side (2012) as Self
- All Noncombatants Please Clear the Set (2012) as Self
- Drunkboat (2012) as Mort
- The Jonathan Ross Show (2011) as Self
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) as Bruce Brazos
- Young Adult (2011) Executive Producer
- Butterflies (2011) as Man
- 100 Jahre Hollywood - Die Carl Laemmle Story (2011) as Self
- RED (2010) as Marvin Boggs
- Secretariat (2010) as Lucien Laurin
- Jonah Hex (2010) as Turnbull
- Saturday Night (2010) as Self
- The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer (2010) as Jack Unterweger
- La Traversée du désir (2009) as Self
- SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (2009) as (archive footage)
- Which Way Home (2009) Executive Producer
- Projectorparishilton (2008)
- Burn After Reading (2008) as Osborne Cox
- Changeling (2008) as Rev. Gustav Briegleb
- In Tranzit (2008) as Pavlov
- The Great Buck Howard (2008) as Buck Howard
- Disgrace (2008) as David Lurie
- Mutant Chronicles (2008) as Constantine
- Afterwards (2008) as Joseph Kay
- Gardens of the Night (2008) as Michael
- Music at the Sea (2008) as Self
- Finding the Burn (2008) as Self / Osborne Cox (archive footage)
- Welcome Back, George (2008) as Self
- Snow Angel (2008) Writer
- Bloody Mondays & Strawberry Pies (2008) as Narrator
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- Juno (2007) Producer
- Beowulf (2007) as Unferth (Voice)
- Polis Is This: Charles Olson and the Persistence of Place (2007)
- On n'est pas couché (2006) as Self - Guest
- Eragon (2006) as King Galbatorix
- Art School Confidential (2006) as Professor Sandiford
- Art School Confidential (2006) Producer
- Klimt (2006) as Gustav Klimt
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- De Wereld Draait Door (2005) as Self
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) as Humma Kavula
- Colour Me Kubrick (2005) as Alan Conway
- Don't Crash: The Documentary of the Making of the Movie of the Book of the Radio Series of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (2005) as Self
- The Libertine (2004) as Charles II
- The Libertine (2004) Producer
- Johnny English (2003) as Pascal Sauvage
- Kill the Poor (2003) Producer
- A Talking Picture (2003) as Comandante John Walesa
- Napoleon (2002) as Charles de Talleyrand
- Gero von Boehm begegnet... (2002) as Self
- Adaptation. (2002) as John Malkovich (uncredited)
- The Dancer Upstairs (2002) as Abimael Guzman (uncredited)
- The Dancer Upstairs (2002) Director
- The Dancer Upstairs (2002) Producer
- Ripley's Game (2002) as Tom Ripley
- Hideous Man (2002) as Narrator
- Hideous Man (2002) Director
- Hideous Man (2002) Writer
- Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (2001) as Self - Guest
- Knockaround Guys (2001) as Teddy Deserve
- Ghost World (2001) Producer
- Savage Souls (2001) as Monsieur Numance
- I’m Going Home (2001) as John Crawford
- Hotel (2001) as Omar Jonnson
- Les Misérables (2000) as Javert
- Shadow of the Vampire (2000) as F. W. Murnau
- Lady Behave (2000) Director
- Lady Behave (2000) Writer
- Being John Malkovich (1999) as John Horatio Malkovich
- The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) as Charles VII
- Time Regained (1999) as Baron de Charlus
- Ladies Room (1999) as Roberto
- RKO 281 (1999) as Herman Mankiewicz
- The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) as Athos
- Rounders (1998) as Teddy KGB
- Con Air (1997) as Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom
- Portrait: Jane Campion and The Portrait of a Lady (1997) as Self
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- The Portrait of a Lady (1996) as Gilbert Osmond
- Mary Reilly (1996) as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde
- Mulholland Falls (1996) as General Thomas Timms
- The Ogre (1996) as Abel
- Cannes Man (1996) as Self
- Beyond the Clouds (1995) as The Director
- To Make a Film Is to Be Alive (1995) as Self (uncredited)
- The Convent (1995) as Michael
- Zona+ (1994) as Próprio
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Alive (1993) as Carlitos Páez / Narrator (uncredited)
- In the Line of Fire (1993) as Mitch Leary
- Heart of Darkness (1993) as Kurtz
- Of Mice and Men (1992) as Lennie Small
- Jennifer Eight (1992) as Agent St. Anne
- Annie Lennox: Totally Diva (1992)
- Performance (1991) as Deeley
- Shadows and Fog (1991) as Clown
- The Object of Beauty (1991) as Jake Bartholomew
- Queens Logic (1991) as Eliot
- Old Times (1991)
- Romy Award (1990) as Presenter
- The Sheltering Sky (1990) as Port
- Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter (1990) as Self
- Decade (1989) as Self
- Dangerous Liaisons (1988) as Vicomte Sébastien de Valmont
- The Accidental Tourist (1988) Executive Producer
- Miles from Home (1988) as Barry Maxwell
- Empire of the Sun (1987) as Basie
- Making Mr. Right (1987) as Jeff Peters / Ulysses
- The Glass Menagerie (1987) as Tom Wingfield
- The China Odyssey: Empire of the Sun (1987) as Self
- Santabear's High Flying Adventure (1987) as Santa Claus (voice)
- American Masters (1986) as Self
- Rocket to the Moon (1986) as Ben Stark
- Private Conversations: On the Set of ‘Death of a Salesman’ (1986) as Self / Biff
- Death of a Salesman (1985) as Biff Loman
- Eleni (1985) as Nicholas 'Nick' Gage
- Places in the Heart (1984) as Mr. Will
- The Killing Fields (1984) as Al Rockoff
- True West (1984) as Lee
- Say Goodnight, Gracie (1983) as Steve
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982) as Self - Guest
- American Playhouse (1982) as Lee
- American Playhouse (1982) as Ben Stark
- Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
- Word of Honor (1981) as Gary
- American Dream (1981)
- A Wedding (1978) as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Bishop as Lincoln Graves
- Lost and Found in Paris as Wim Waldemar
- A Hero's Journey: The Making of Beowulf as Unferth
- A Winter's Journey as Leiermann
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Malkovich best known for?
John Malkovich is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including In the Hand of Dante (2026), Wild Horse Nine (2026), Sacrifice (2026), Lubach (2025).
When and where was John Malkovich born?
John Malkovich was born on December 9, 1953 in Christopher, Illinois, USA.
How many credits does John Malkovich have?
John Malkovich has accumulated over 209 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1975 to 2026.
What is John Malkovich's background in cinema and television?
John Gavin Malkovich, born December 9, 1953, in Christopher, Illinois, United States, is an American actor. He began his professional career in 1976 as a charter member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. After relocating to New York City, he performed in the Steppenwolf production of Sam Shepard’s play True...
John Malkovich by the numbers
209credits
174films
35TV series
1975–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- RIPLEY (2024) as Reeves Minot — aged about 70
- Billions (2016) as Grigor Andolov — aged about 62
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as The Impressive Clergyman — aged about 66
- The New Pope (2020) as Giovanni Paolo III / Sir John Brannox — aged about 66
- Changeling (2008) as Rev. Gustav Briegleb — aged about 54
- The New Look (2024) as Lucien Lelong — aged about 70
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