Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#588
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
David Strathairn represents the rare performer whose career became more ambitious with every decade — 43 years in, and David is still choosing the harder script.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
David Strathairn appears in 47 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without David. L.A. Confidential is the clearest case: a film rated 7.8 by our editors, where the performance carries weight the script only implies.
The recognisable elements are versatility, transformation, quiet performance. Watch two of these films back to back and the method separates from the material — the same instrument, tuned differently for drama, history, thriller. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with Elegance Bratton, Byron Howard, Olivia Newman and others, David Strathairn helped set a standard other performers now audition against. Awards bodies have been slower than the work, which is usually the sign of a career built on choices rather than campaigns.
L.A. Confidential (1997) as Pierce Patchett · Zootopia 2 (2025) as Milton Lynxley (voice) · Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) as Tom Milton
Career snapshot
Ranked #588 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
47
1983–2026
Career length
43 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
7.8
L.A. Confidential
Average Nutevio score
6.1
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
7.9
Temple Grandin
Most frequent director
Philip Kaufman
2 films together
Longest collaboration
2×
With Philip Kaufman
Most common genre
Drama
37 titles
Average runtime
1h 52m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
6.9
out of 10
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio metric
Cultural impact and legacy, measured separately from craft — how far the work travelled once it left the cinema.
Nutevio Influence Score
6.6
out of 10
A quieter influence — felt inside the films rather than across the industry.
How far the work travelled past the people who saw it first.
What survives once the release-week conversation has burned off.
Institutional acknowledgement, weighted but never decisive.
Years of chosen, relevant work rather than years merely employed.
Statuettes, read as evidence rather than verdict.
Roles named without needing the film named alongside them.
Directors who wrote parts because this performer existed.
The reading other performers now have to answer.
Actor DNA
A fingerprint derived from the roles themselves — register, range and the kind of film they carry.
The shape of a career
Every performance plotted in time. Hover a point to read the title behind it.
Peak years
Where the scores, the awards and the sheer volume of work agree with each other.
Best decade
1990s
6.9 average MV
The 1990s are where the work and the material meet. A Midsummer Night's Dream, Simon Birch, L.A. Confidential — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
1990s
6.9
Across 10 catalogue films in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
1990s
6.9
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
1980s
0 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. Eight Men Out, At Close Range, Silkwood.
Most productive era
2010s
16 films
The busiest stretch of the catalogue — volume that reads as appetite rather than availability.
Range, mapped
Genres down the side, decades across the top. Warmer cells mean stronger titles.
| Genre | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | 6.83 films | 6.98 films | 6.67 films | 6.512 films | 4.87 films |
| Action | — | 6.61 film | 6.52 films | 6.53 films | 6.01 film |
| Thriller | 6.81 film | 7.03 films | 6.83 films | 6.16 films | 3.52 films |
| Comedy | — | 6.85 films | 6.01 film | 5.82 films | 7.02 films |
| Crime | 6.81 film | 7.33 films | 5.61 film | 6.13 films | 6.91 film |
| Romance | — | 6.41 film | 6.41 film | 6.11 film | 7.51 film |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio
1983Silkwood
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Wesley.
Highest rated performance
7.8 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer.
Career peak
Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Most recent film
2026Stages
The current state of the argument, as Porter Gates.
Our order
Every performance in the catalogue, ordered by Nutevio Score.
Every title
Filter by genre or decade, and compare any two titles side by side.
47 of 47 films
as Noah Vosen
Directed by Paul Greengrass
as Milton Lynxley (voice)
Directed by Byron Howard
as Professor Carlock
Directed by Mick Jackson
as Edward R. Murrow
Directed by George Clooney
as Tom Milton
Directed by Olivia Newman
From the library
Every movie and TV credit stored for this name in the Nutevio catalogue — filter by media, role or sort by rating.
Loading credits…
The defining work
#1
Noah Vosen
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Performance score7.8
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Noah Vosen gives David Strathairn a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
Milton Lynxley (voice)
Zootopia 2 (2025)
Performance score7.7
Zootopia 2 asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Milton Lynxley (voice) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
Professor Carlock
Temple Grandin (2010)
Performance score7.7
Temple Grandin asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Professor Carlock is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Edward R. Murrow
Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
Performance score7.7
Good Night, and Good Luck. asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Edward R. Murrow is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movieStart here
A guided path through the work, ordered so each film explains the next.
Best entry point
as Noah Vosen
Start here. The Bourne Ultimatum is the clearest statement of what David Strathairn does — accessible, 115 minutes, and rated 7.5 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet David at the most legible performance, then move forward in time so each film reads as a response to the one before it rather than a repetition of it.
Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
Keeps the drama register of The Bourne Ultimatum but asks for a colder reading of it.
Temple Grandin (2010)
Keeps the drama register of Good Night, and Good Luck. but asks for a colder reading of it.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)
Keeps the drama register of Temple Grandin but asks for a colder reading of it.
Zootopia 2 (2025)
Keeps the mystery register of Where the Crawdads Sing but asks for a colder reading of it.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Curtis Hanson
Director
2 films together
Notably L.A. Confidential
Philip Kaufman
Director
2 films together
Notably Hemingway & Gellhorn
Mike Nichols
Director
1 film together
Notably Silkwood
James Foley
Director
1 film together
Notably At Close Range
John Sayles
Director
1 film together
Notably Eight Men Out
Michael Caton-Jones
Director
1 film together
Notably Memphis Belle
Phil Alden Robinson
Director
1 film together
Notably Sneakers
Tim Robbins
Director
1 film together
Notably Bob Roberts
Penny Marshall
Director
1 film together
Notably A League of Their Own
Sydney Pollack
Director
1 film together
Notably The Firm
Taylor Hackford
Director
1 film together
Notably Dolores Claiborne
Mark Steven Johnson
Director
1 film together
Notably Simon Birch
Michael Hoffman
Director
1 film together
Notably A Midsummer Night's Dream
George Clooney
Director
1 film together
Notably Good Night, and Good Luck.
McG
Director
1 film together
Notably We Are Marshall
Wong Kar-Wai
Director
1 film together
Notably My Blueberry Nights
Gregory Hoblit
Director
1 film together
Notably Fracture
Paul Greengrass
Director
1 film together
Notably The Bourne Ultimatum
Mark Waters
Director
1 film together
Notably The Spiderwick Chronicles
Larysa Kondracki
Director
1 film together
Notably The Whistleblower
Mick Jackson
Director
1 film together
Notably Temple Grandin
Tony Gilroy
Director
1 film together
Notably The Bourne Legacy
Steven Spielberg
Director
1 film together
Notably Lincoln
Gareth Edwards
Director
1 film together
Notably Godzilla
John Madden
Director
1 film together
Notably The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Ewan McGregor
Director
1 film together
Notably American Pastoral
Sacha Gervasi
Director
1 film together
Notably November Criminals
Joe Wright
Director
1 film together
Notably Darkest Hour
Perry Lang
Director
1 film together
Notably An Interview with God
Michael Dougherty
Director
1 film together
Notably Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Edward James Olmos
Director
1 film together
Notably The Devil Has a Name
Tom Wright
Director
1 film together
Notably Walkaway Joe
Guillermo del Toro
Director
1 film together
Notably Nightmare Alley
Chloé Zhao
Director
1 film together
Notably Nomadland
Olivia Newman
Director
1 film together
Notably Where the Crawdads Sing
Byron Howard
Director
1 film together
Notably Zootopia 2
Elegance Bratton
Director
1 film together
Notably By Any Means
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Curtis Hanson
Director
2 films together · 7.2 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
L.A. ConfidentialPhilip Kaufman
Director
2 films together · 5.8 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Hemingway & GellhornByron Howard
Director
1 film together · 7.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Zootopia 2Olivia Newman
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Where the Crawdads SingPaul Greengrass
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Bourne UltimatumJoe Wright
Director
1 film together · 7.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Darkest HourMick Jackson
Director
1 film together · 7.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Temple GrandinGregory Hoblit
Director
1 film together · 7.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
FractureTaylor Hackford
Director
1 film together · 7.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Dolores ClaiborneChloé Zhao
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
NomadlandPenny Marshall
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
A League of Their OwnGeorge Clooney
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Good Night, and Good Luck.Perry Lang
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
An Interview with GodGuillermo del Toro
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Nightmare AlleySteven Spielberg
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
LincolnMcG
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
We Are MarshallMark Steven Johnson
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Simon BirchPhil Alden Robinson
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
SneakersMike Nichols
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
SilkwoodSydney Pollack
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The FirmJames Foley
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
At Close RangeMichael Dougherty
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Godzilla: King of the MonstersLarysa Kondracki
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The WhistleblowerMark Waters
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Spiderwick ChroniclesJohn Sayles
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Eight Men OutTim Robbins
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Bob RobertsMichael Caton-Jones
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Memphis BelleJohn Madden
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Second Best Exotic Marigold HotelGareth Edwards
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
GodzillaWong Kar-Wai
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
My Blueberry NightsMichael Hoffman
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
A Midsummer Night's DreamTony Gilroy
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Bourne LegacyEwan McGregor
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
American PastoralTom Wright
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Walkaway JoeEdward James Olmos
Director
1 film together · 5.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Devil Has a NameSacha Gervasi
Director
1 film together · 5.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
November CriminalsElegance Bratton
Director
1 film together · 0.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
By Any MeansSix degrees
Follow the thread outward — director, film, co-star, and the film after that.
Categories of our own
Six editorial categories we apply to every performer we cover.
Most rewatchable
L.A. Confidential
as Pierce Patchett
The one that survives a fourth viewing. Nothing in the performance depends on surprise, which is why it keeps paying out.
Most emotional performance
Where the Crawdads Sing
as Tom Milton
Grief played at conversational volume. The film never asks the audience to cry; the performance simply makes it difficult not to.
Most influential performance
L.A. Confidential
as Pierce Patchett
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
A League of Their Own
as Ira Lowenstein
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
The Bourne Ultimatum
as Noah Vosen
If the career had to be argued in a single scene, our editors would pick one from this film and rest the case.
In their films' words
“You can build a whole film around a performer who knows when not to speak. David Strathairn has known it for a long time.”
Head to head
Put two careers on the same scale and see where the argument actually sits.
Ours alone
Recognitions handed out by this desk, on criteria no awards body uses.
Career Achievement
Awarded
43 years of relevant work — not merely a long career, but a long career of choices.
Modern Classic Performer
Awarded
Defining performances delivered inside the last twenty-five years, in films already being taught rather than merely remembered.
Drama Legend
Awarded
37 catalogue titles in drama, each one a reference point for the films that followed.
Our desk
Best ending, best opening, best twist and the rest — categories we apply to everyone we cover.
Best ending
L.A. Confidential
as Pierce Patchett
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
L.A. Confidential
as Pierce Patchett
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
Where the Crawdads Sing
as Tom Milton
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
L.A. Confidential
as Pierce Patchett
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
The Bourne Ultimatum
as Noah Vosen
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
Twisted
as Dr. Melvin Frank
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
The Luckiest Man in America
as Bill
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
The Bourne Ultimatum
as Noah Vosen
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
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Have your say
Community
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Reference
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