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Keith Carradine

Acting Born Aug 8, 1949 San Mateo, California, USA 194 credits

Biography

Keith Ian Carradine (born August 8, 1949 in San Mateo, California) is an American actor and singer‑songwriter. He is noted for film roles such as Tom Frank in Robert Altman's Nashville, E. J. Bellocq in Louis Malle's Pretty Baby, and Mickey in Alan Rudolph's Choose Me. On television he portrayed Wild Bill Hickok on HBO's Deadwood, FBI agent Frank Lundy on Showtime's Dexter, Lou Solverson in the first season of FX's Fargo, Wyatt, the father of Penny, on CBS's The Big Bang Theory, and U.S. President Conrad Dalton on CBS's Madam Secretary. Carradine is a member of the Carradine acting family, the son of John Carradine and brother to Robert and David Carradine. He won an Academy Award for his original composition “I’m Easy.”

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Career

Career overview

Keith Carradine was born on August 8, 1949 in San Mateo, California. He began his career as an actor and singer‑songwriter, gaining early recognition for his original composition “I’m Easy,” for which he received an Academy Award. Carradine’s film work includes notable performances as Tom Frank in Robert Altman’s Nashville, E. J. Bellocq in Louis Malle’s Pretty Baby, and Mickey in Alan Rudolph’s Choose Me.

On television he has portrayed a range of characters, most prominently Wild Bill Hickok in HBO’s western series Deadwood and FBI agent Frank Lundy in Showtime’s crime drama Dexter. He appeared as Lou Solverson in the first season of FX’s anthology series Fargo, played Wyatt, the father of Penny, on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and took on the role of U.S. President Conrad Dalton in the CBS political drama Madam Secretary.

Carradine is part of the Carradine acting family, being the son of John Carradine and the brother of Robert and David Carradine. His career spans over a hundred credited roles across film and television, reflecting a long‑standing presence in American entertainment.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

Imperfect Women
Laws of ManLet's Call the Whole Thing OffThe Devil and the Daylong Brothers
High PotentialBlue Ridge: The SeriesAfraidSallywood
AccusedPretty Baby: Brooke Shields
A Nashville Country Christmas
Law & Order: Organized CrimeRugratsThe Power of the Dog
Deadwood: The Movie
The Old Man & the GunRay Meets HelenRay Meets Helen · Executive Producer
A Quiet PassionWay Out on a LimbWay Out on a Limb
Fear the Walking DeadBereave
FargoMadam SecretaryMadam SecretaryAltmanDakota's Summer
The FollowingAin't Them Bodies SaintsThe Making of 'Nashville'
Missing
Cowboys & AliensThe Family Tree
Raising HopePeacockHalves of a Dream: Making Trouble in Mind
DollhouseWinter of Frozen Dreams
CrashLake City
The Big Bang TheoryDamagesThe Death and Life of Bobby ZElvis & AnabelleAll Hat
DexterDexterWhere There's a Will
Criminal MindsNumb3rsInto the WestThe CaliforniansOur Very Own
DeadwoodComplete SavagesBalto III: Wings of ChangeHair HighThe Adventures of Ociee Nash
NCISSpider-Man: The New Animated SeriesWild West TechMonte WalshCoyote Waits
Street TimeFalconsThe OutsiderPublic Enemy #1The Angel Doll
Star Trek: EnterpriseCahootsWooly BoysThe Diamond of Jeru
Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny KembleAltman on His Own TermsBaby
SirensHard Time: Hostage HotelThe Hunter's MoonOut of the ColdNight Ride Home
Standoff
The ViewPerversions of ScienceFast TrackA Thousand AcresLast Stand at Saber River
Arli$$E! True Hollywood StoryThe WestThe West2 Days in the Valley
Wild BillThe Tie That BindsTrial by FireSome Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II

Full filmography

  • Imperfect Women (2026) as R.L. Hennessey
  • Laws of Man (2025) as Galen Armstrong
  • Let's Call the Whole Thing Off (2025) as Dr. Wagner
  • The Devil and the Daylong Brothers (2025) as Nehemiah Daylong
  • High Potential (2024) as Douglas Newmeyer
  • Blue Ridge: The Series (2024) as Brother Rusty
  • Afraid (2024) as Marcus
  • Sallywood (2024) as George Corrigan
  • Accused (2023) as Billy Carlson
  • Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (2023) as Self (archive footage)
  • A Nashville Country Christmas (2022) as Keaton
  • Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021) as Judge Clayton 'Clay' Bonner
  • Rugrats (2021) as Bob Brine (voice)
  • The Power of the Dog (2021) as The Governor
  • Deadwood: The Movie (2019) as Wild Bill Hickok (archive footage)
  • The Old Man & the Gun (2018) as Captain Calder
  • Ray Meets Helen (2018) as Ray
  • Ray Meets Helen (2018) Executive Producer
  • A Quiet Passion (2016) as Edward Dickinson
  • Way Out on a Limb (2016)
  • Way Out on a Limb (2016) as Self
  • Fear the Walking Dead (2015) as John Dorie
  • Bereave (2015) as Victor
  • Fargo (2014) as Lou Solverson
  • Madam Secretary (2014) as Conrad Dalton
  • Madam Secretary (2014) as President Conrad Dalton
  • Altman (2014) as Self
  • Dakota's Summer (2014) as Austin Rose
  • After the Fall (2014) as Charles
  • Terroir (2014) as Jonathan Bragg
  • Terroir (2014) Executive Producer
  • The Following (2013) as Barry
  • Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013) as Skerritt
  • The Making of 'Nashville' (2013) as Self
  • Missing (2012) as Martin Newman
  • Cowboys & Aliens (2011) as Sheriff John Taggart
  • The Family Tree (2011) as Reverend Diggs
  • Raising Hope (2010) as Coly Palomino
  • Peacock (2010) as Ray Crill
  • Halves of a Dream: Making Trouble in Mind (2010) as Self
  • Dollhouse (2009) as Matthew Harding
  • Winter of Frozen Dreams (2009) as Detective Lulling
  • Crash (2008) as Owen
  • Lake City (2008) as Roy
  • The Big Bang Theory (2007) as Wyatt Teller
  • Damages (2007) as Julian Decker
  • The Death and Life of Bobby Z (2007) as Johnson
  • Elvis & Anabelle (2007) as Jimmy
  • All Hat (2007) as Pete Culpepper
  • Dexter (2006) as Frank Lundy
  • Dexter (2006) as Special Agent Frank Lundy
  • Where There's a Will (2006) as Sherriff Clifford Laws
  • Criminal Minds (2005) as Frank Breitkopf
  • Numb3rs (2005) as Carl McGowan
  • Into the West (2005) as Captain Richard H. Pratt
  • The Californians (2005) as Elton Tripp
  • Our Very Own (2005) as Billy Whitfield
  • Deadwood (2004) as Wild Bill Hickock
  • Complete Savages (2004) as Nick Savage
  • Balto III: Wings of Change (2004) as Duke (voice)
  • Hair High (2004) as JoJo (voice)
  • The Adventures of Ociee Nash (2004) as Papa Nash
  • Gettysburg and Stories of Valor (2004) as Narrator
  • AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies (2004) as Self
  • NCIS (2003) as Mannheim Gold
  • Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003) as J. Jonah Jameson (voice)
  • Wild West Tech (2003) as Self - Host
  • Monte Walsh (2003) as Chester 'Chet' Rollins
  • Coyote Waits (2003) as John McGinnis
  • Street Time (2002) as Frank Dugan
  • Falcons (2002) as Simon
  • The Outsider (2002) as Noah Weaver
  • Public Enemy #1 (2002) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Angel Doll (2002) as Adult Jerry Barlow
  • Duelling Directors: Ridley Scott & Kevin Reynolds (2002) as Self (archive footage)
  • Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) as A.G. Robinson
  • Cahoots (2001) as Matt
  • Wooly Boys (2001) as Sheriff Hank Dawson
  • The Diamond of Jeru (2001) as John Lacklan
  • Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble (2000) as Pierce Butler
  • Altman on His Own Terms (2000) as Self
  • Baby (2000) as John Malone
  • Sirens (1999) as Officer Dan Wexler
  • Hard Time: Hostage Hotel (1999) as Cpl. Arlin Flynn
  • The Hunter's Moon (1999) as Turner
  • Out of the Cold (1999) as Dan Scott
  • Night Ride Home (1999) as Neal Mahler
  • A Song from the Heart (1999) as Oliver Comstock
  • Standoff (1998) as Agent Zeke Clayton
  • The View (1997) as Self
  • Perversions of Science (1997) as Arthur Bristol
  • Fast Track (1997) as Dr. Richard Beckett
  • A Thousand Acres (1997) as Ty Smith
  • Last Stand at Saber River (1997) as Vern Kidston
  • Keeping the Promise (1997) as William (Will) Hallowell
  • Arli$$ (1996) as Lamar Scott
  • E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
  • The West (1996) as Self
  • The West (1996) as Self (voice)
  • 2 Days in the Valley (1996) as Detective Creighton
  • Dead Man's Walk (1996) as Bigfoot Wallace
  • Special Report: Journey to Mars (1996) as Capt. Eugene T. Slader
  • Wild Bill (1995) as Buffalo Bill Cody
  • The Tie That Binds (1995) as John Netherwood
  • Trial by Fire (1995) as Owen Turner
  • Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II (1995) as Self
  • Baseball (1994) as Various (voice)
  • Baseball (1994) as (voice)
  • Andre (1994) as Harry Whitney
  • Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) as Will Rogers
  • In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness (1994) as Tom Lynch
  • Is There Life Out There? (1994) as Brad
  • Frasier (1993) as Carl (voice)
  • The Will Rogers Follies: A Life In Revue (1993) as Will Rogers
  • CrissCross (1992) as John Cross
  • Lincoln (1992) as William Herndon (voice)
  • Rabbit Ears - Annie Oakley (1992) as Narrator - Will Rogers (voice)
  • The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991) as Marvin Macy
  • Payoff (1991) as Peter "Mac" McAllister
  • Law & Order (1990) as Martin Garvik
  • Madonna: The Immaculate Collection (1990) as Boyfriend (segment "Material Girl")
  • The Bachelor (1990) as Dr. Emil Gräsler
  • Judgment (1990) as Pete Guitry
  • Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will? (1990) as Clarence
  • Cold Feet (1989) as Monte
  • The Revenge of Al Capone (1989) as Michael Rourke
  • Street of No Return (1989) as Michael
  • Confessional (1989) as Liam Devlin
  • The Forgotten (1989) as Cap. Tom Watkins
  • The Forgotten (1989) Executive Producer
  • American Experience (1988) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Moderns (1988) as Nick Hart
  • Backfire (1988) as Reed
  • My Father, My Son (1988) as Lt. Elmo Zumwalt III
  • Stones for Ibarra (1988) as Richard Everton
  • Murder Ordained (1987) as Trooper John Rule
  • Murder Ordained (1987) as Trooper John Rule
  • Eye on the Sparrow (1987) as James Lee
  • A Winner Never Quits (1986) as Pete Grey
  • The Inquiry (1986) as Tito Valerio Tauro
  • Half a Lifetime (1986) as J.J.
  • Trouble in Mind (1985) as Coop
  • Blackout (1985) as Allen Devlin
  • Maria's Lovers (1984) as Clarence Butts
  • Choose Me (1984) as Mickey
  • Scorned and Swindled (1984) as John Boslett
  • Chiefs (1983) as Foxy Funderburke
  • The Best of Sex and Violence (1982) as Self - Cameo Appearance
  • Southern Comfort (1981) as Spencer
  • The Long Riders (1980) as Jim Younger
  • A Rumor of War (1980) as Lt. Murph McCoy
  • Old Boyfriends (1979) as Wayne
  • An Almost Perfect Affair (1979) as Hal
  • Willa (1979) Songs
  • Pretty Baby (1978) as Bellocq
  • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) as Our Guests at Heartland
  • Old Friends... New Friends (1978) as Self
  • The Duellists (1977) as Armand d'Hubert
  • Welcome to L.A. (1976) as Carroll Barber
  • Lumière (1976) as David
  • The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1976 (1976) as Self
  • Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self (uncredited)
  • Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
  • Nashville (1975) as Tom Frank
  • You and Me (1975) as Death Guy
  • You and Me (1975) Original Music Composer
  • Thieves Like Us (1974) as Bowie
  • Antoine and Sebastian (1974) as John
  • Run, Run, Joe! (1974) as Joe
  • The Godchild (1974) as Lt. Lewis
  • Emperor of the North (1973) as Cigaret
  • Idaho Transfer (1973) as Arthur
  • Hex (1973) as Whizzer
  • Kung Fu (1972) as Teenage Caine (uncredited)
  • Kung Fu (1972) as Middle Caine (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Man on a String (1972) as Danny Brown
  • Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragon (1972) as Teen Caine (uncredited)
  • Great Performances (1971) as Self
  • McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) as Cowboy
  • A Gunfight (1971) as The Young Gunfighter
  • Love, American Style (1969) as George Pomerantz
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
  • The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
  • Bonanza (1959) as Ern
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee / Performer
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Audience Member
  • The Oscars (1953) as Self
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Richard Everton
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Neal
  • Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1948)
  • Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self
  • Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
  • Skeletons
  • Kill Me Now