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David Strathairn Biography

Birth Name:

David Russell Strathairn

Birth Place:

San Fernando, California, United States

Profession

Actor

Fast Facts

Not formally trained as an actor, but attended Ringling Bros
Clown College and spent a six-month stint in the circus as one-half of a conjoined-twin costume
Helped form a children's theater company in Glen Falls, NY, in the early 1970s with Gordon Clapp (who would later play Medavoy on NYPD Blue)
Made his Broadway debut in the short-lived Einstein and the Polar Bear in 1981
Went on to perform in a number of shows on the Great White Way, including a 2003 staged reading of Salome, opposite Al Pacino
Had first film role in John Sayles' 1980 debut Return of the Secaucus 7, the first of several collaborations for the former college classmates
A nonsmoker, he had to light dozens of cigarettes---hand-rolled with much gentler pipe tobacco---to portray chain-smoking Edward R
Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

2012Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2012Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2010Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
2006Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead: nominated
2006Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor: nominated
2006Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2006Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2006BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2006London Film Critics Association-Best Actor: nominated
2005Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2005Venice Film Festival-Best Actor: winner
2005Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Actor: nominated
2005Online Film Critics Association-Best Actor: nominated
2005Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2005Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2000Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead: nominated
1997Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
1993Independent Spirit Awards-Best Supporting Male: nominated
1992Independent Spirit Awards-Best Supporting Male: winner