Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#594
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
Shea Whigham represents the rare performer whose career became more ambitious with every decade — 27 years in, and Shea is still choosing the harder script.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
Shea Whigham appears in 49 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without Shea. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the clearest case: a film rated 8.5 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 action, science fiction, adventure. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with Bob Persichetti, Joseph Kosinski, Christopher McQuarrie and others, Shea Whigham 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.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) as George Stacy (voice) · Joker (2019) as Detective Burke · The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) as Captain Ted Beecham
Career snapshot
Ranked #594 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
49
2000–2027
Career length
27 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
8.5
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Average Nutevio score
6.3
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
8.3
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Most frequent director
Justin Lin
4 films together
Longest collaboration
4×
With Justin Lin
Most common genre
Drama
27 titles
Average runtime
1h 53m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
6.8
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
2010s
6.6 average MV
The 2010s are where the work and the material meet. Joker, Low Tide, To the Stars — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
2010s
6.6
Across 27 catalogue films in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
2010s
6.6
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
2000s
0 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. Fast & Furious, Blood Creek, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.
Most productive era
2010s
27 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 | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | 6.64 films | 6.818 films | 6.55 films |
| Action | 6.43 films | 6.68 films | 5.68 films |
| Thriller | 6.04 films | 6.614 films | 6.38 films |
| Comedy | 5.51 film | 7.24 films | 5.71 film |
| Crime | 6.43 films | 6.812 films | 6.15 films |
| Romance | — | 6.53 films | — |
| Horror | 5.31 film | 4.31 film | 5.71 film |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio
2000Tigerland
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Pvt. Wilson.
Career peak
2019Joker
Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Highest rated performance
2023Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
8.5 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer.
Most recent film
2027Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
The current state of the argument, as George Stacy (voice).
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.
49 of 49 films
as Detective Burke
Directed by Todd Phillips
as George Stacy (voice)
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos
as Captain Ted Beecham
Directed by Martin Scorsese
as Chip Hart
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
as Briggs
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
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
Detective Burke
Joker (2019)
Performance score8.3
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Detective Burke gives Shea Whigham a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
George Stacy (voice)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Performance score8.2
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. George Stacy (voice) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
Captain Ted Beecham
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Performance score8.0
The Wolf of Wall Street asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Captain Ted Beecham is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Chip Hart
F1 (2025)
Performance score7.7
F1 asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Chip Hart 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 Detective Burke
Start here. Joker is the clearest statement of what Shea Whigham does — accessible, 122 minutes, and rated 8.4 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet Shea 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.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Keeps the crime register of Joker but asks for a colder reading of it.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
A deliberate change of key after The Wolf of Wall Street — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Keeps the action register of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse but asks for a colder reading of it.
F1 (2025)
Keeps the action register of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One but asks for a colder reading of it.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Justin Lin
Director
4 films together
Notably F9
Joel Schumacher
Director
3 films together
Notably Tigerland
David O. Russell
Director
2 films together
Notably Silver Linings Playbook
Christopher McQuarrie
Director
2 films together
Notably Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Catherine Hardwicke
Director
1 film together
Notably Lords of Dogtown
Gavin O'Connor
Director
1 film together
Notably Pride and Glory
Werner Herzog
Director
1 film together
Notably Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Robert Rodriguez
Director
1 film together
Notably Machete
Robert Redford
Director
1 film together
Notably The Conspirator
Paolo Sorrentino
Director
1 film together
Notably This Must Be the Place
Oliver Stone
Director
1 film together
Notably Savages
Ken Kwapis
Director
1 film together
Notably Big Miracle
Martin Scorsese
Director
1 film together
Notably The Wolf of Wall Street
Jaume Collet-Serra
Director
1 film together
Notably Non-Stop
Terrence Malick
Director
1 film together
Notably Knight of Cups
Jon Watts
Director
1 film together
Notably Cop Car
Peter Billingsley
Director
1 film together
Notably Term Life
Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Director
1 film together
Notably Kong: Skull Island
Adam Wingard
Director
1 film together
Notably Death Note
Brad Anderson
Director
1 film together
Notably Beirut
Ben Lewin
Director
1 film together
Notably The Catcher Was a Spy
Drew Goddard
Director
1 film together
Notably Bad Times at the El Royale
Adam McKay
Director
1 film together
Notably Vice
Damien Chazelle
Director
1 film together
Notably First Man
Stefano Sollima
Director
1 film together
Notably Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Todd Phillips
Director
1 film together
Notably Joker
Oz Rodríguez
Director
1 film together
Notably Vampires vs. the Bronx
Scott Teems
Director
1 film together
Notably The Quarry
John Pollono
Director
1 film together
Notably Small Engine Repair
Anthony Russo
Director
1 film together
Notably The Gray Man
William Oldroyd
Director
1 film together
Notably Eileen
Joaquim Dos Santos
Director
1 film together
Notably Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Erica Tremblay
Director
1 film together
Notably Fancy Dance
Joseph Kosinski
Director
1 film together
Notably F1
Bob Persichetti
Director
1 film together
Notably Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Justin Lin
Director
4 films together · 6.8 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 4 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
F9Joel Schumacher
Director
3 films together · 5.8 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 3 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
TigerlandChristopher McQuarrie
Director
2 films together · 7.3 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part OneDavid O. Russell
Director
2 films together · 7.1 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Silver Linings PlaybookJoaquim Dos Santos
Director
1 film together · 8.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-VerseTodd Phillips
Director
1 film together · 8.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
JokerMartin Scorsese
Director
1 film together · 8.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Wolf of Wall StreetJoseph Kosinski
Director
1 film together · 7.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
F1Catherine Hardwicke
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Lords of DogtownStefano Sollima
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Sicario: Day of the SoldadoDamien Chazelle
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
First ManAdam McKay
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
VicePaolo Sorrentino
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
This Must Be the PlaceAnthony Russo
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Gray ManDrew Goddard
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Bad Times at the El RoyaleJaume Collet-Serra
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Non-StopKen Kwapis
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Big MiracleErica Tremblay
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Fancy DanceJordan Vogt-Roberts
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Kong: Skull IslandRobert Redford
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The ConspiratorOliver Stone
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
SavagesBrad Anderson
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
BeirutRobert Rodriguez
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
MacheteGavin O'Connor
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Pride and GloryBen Lewin
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Catcher Was a SpyWerner Herzog
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New OrleansJohn Pollono
Director
1 film together · 6.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Small Engine RepairPeter Billingsley
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Term LifeJon Watts
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Cop CarWilliam Oldroyd
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
EileenOz Rodríguez
Director
1 film together · 5.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Vampires vs. the BronxTerrence Malick
Director
1 film together · 5.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Knight of CupsScott Teems
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 QuarryAdam Wingard
Director
1 film together · 4.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Death NoteBob Persichetti
Director
1 film together · 0.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-VerseSix 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
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
as George Stacy (voice)
The one that survives a fourth viewing. Nothing in the performance depends on surprise, which is why it keeps paying out.
Most emotional performance
Big Miracle
as SAR Pilot Conrad
Grief played at conversational volume. The film never asks the audience to cry; the performance simply makes it difficult not to.
Most influential performance
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
as George Stacy (voice)
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
Bad Company
as Agent Wells (Uncredited)
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
Joker
as Detective Burke
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. Shea Whigham 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
27 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
27 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
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
as George Stacy (voice)
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
Joker
as Detective Burke
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
Knight of Cups
as Jim
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
Pride and Glory
as Kenny Dugan
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
as George Stacy (voice)
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
as Briggs
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
The Wolf of Wall Street
as Captain Ted Beecham
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
Joker
as Detective Burke
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
If you like this performer
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Works with the same directors — Martin Scorsese
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Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
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Works with the same directors — Martin Scorsese
Robert De Niro
Works with the same directors — Martin Scorsese
David Krumholtz
Built a career in the same territory: action and adventure
Tom Hanks
Built a career in the same territory: animation and comedy
Have your say
Community
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Reference
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