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Michael Shannon

Actor

Michael Shannon

Born August 7, 1974 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA102 films

Michael Corbett Shannon (born August 7, 1974) is an American actor, producer, musician, and theatre director. He has been nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in the Sam Mendes period drama Revolutionary Road (2008) and the Tom Ford psychological thriller Nocturnal Animals (2016). He earned Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for his role in 99 Homes (2014), and a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for the Broadway revival of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night (2016).

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Shannon made his film debut in 1993 with Groundhog Day and received widespread attention for his performance in 8 Mile (2002). He is known for his on-screen versatility, performing in both comedies and dramas such as Pearl Harbor (2001), Bad Boys II (2003), Bug (2006), Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009), The Iceman (2012), Premium Rush (2012), The Night Before (2015), The Shape of Water (2017) and Knives Out (2019). He played Superman's Kryptonian adversary General Zod in Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and is set to reprise the role in The Flash (2022). Shannon is a frequent collaborator of Jeff Nichols, appearing in all of his films: Shotgun Stories (2007), Take Shelter (2011), Mud (2012), Midnight Special, and Loving (both 2016). He is also known for his role as Nelson Van Alden in the HBO period drama series Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014), for which he was nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2021, he had a main role in the Hulu drama miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers.

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The best way into Michael Shannon's work
Knives Out posterFirst watchKnives Out20197.8as Walt ThrombeyWhen renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Groundhog Day poster7.6Groundhog Day1993The Shape of Water poster7.2The Shape of Water2017Nocturnal Animals poster7.4Nocturnal Animals2016Bullet Train poster7.4Bullet Train2022Man of Steel poster6.7Man of Steel20138 Mile poster7.18 Mile2002Pearl Harbor poster6.9Pearl Harbor2001Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice poster6.0Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice2016

Filmography

102 films as actor
  1. TBAMcCarthyJoseph McCarthy
  2. TBADead Guy
  3. TBAThe Young KingMick
  4. TBAKing Snake
  5. TBADinner with Audrey
  6. TBAVegas: A Love Story
  7. TBADoctor Caligari's Cabinet of WondersDoctor Caligari
  8. TBALast MealsGovernor George Callahan
  9. 2026Mr. IrrelevantBill Parcells
  10. 2026BuddyWillie (voice)
  11. 2026Love Letter to Texas
  12. 2026BullsAlistair Whitman
  13. 2025NurembergJustice Robert H. Jackson
  14. 2024The EndFather
  15. 2024A Different ManMichael Shannon
  16. 2024The BikeridersZipco
  17. 2023The FlashGeneral Zod
  18. 2023A Little White LieShriver
  19. 2022AmsterdamHenry Norcross
  20. 2022Bullet TrainWhite Death
  21. 2022AbandonedRenner
  22. 2022Night's EndIsaac Dees
  23. 2021Heart of ChampionsJack Murphy
  24. 2020Echo BoomersMel Donnelly
  25. 2020The QuarryChief Moore
  26. 2019Knives OutWalt Thrombey
  27. 2019The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten ActsDon McGahn
  28. 2019State Like SleepEdward
  29. 2018What They HadNick
  30. 2018Poor BoyBlayde Griggs
  31. 2018Fahrenheit 451Captain Beatty
  32. 2018The Current WarGeorge Westinghouse
  33. 201812 StrongHal Spencer
  34. 2017The Shape of WaterRichard Strickland
  35. 2017PottersvilleMaynard Greiger
  36. 2016Frank & LolaFrank Reilly
  37. 2016Salt and FireMatt Riley
  38. 2016Nocturnal AnimalsBobby Andes
  39. 2016LovingGrey Villet
  40. 2016WolvesLee Keller
  41. 2016Complete UnknownTom Brayton
  42. 2016Batman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeZod
  43. 2016Elvis & NixonElvis Presley
  44. 2016Midnight SpecialRoy Tomlin
  45. 2015The Night BeforeMr. Green
  46. 2015FreeheldDane Wells
  47. 201599 HomesRick Carver
  48. 2015She's Funny That WayPoliceman Macy's
  49. 2015The HarvestRichard
  50. 2014Young OnesErnest Holm
  51. 2014They Came TogetherSpike
  52. 2013Choose YouAvicii
  53. 2013Man of SteelGeneral Zod
  54. 2013MudGalen
  55. 2013Michael Shannon Reads the Insane Delta Gamma Sorority Letter
  56. 2012Happy HourJust Mike
  57. 2012The IcemanRichard Kuklinski
  58. 2012Premium RushBobby Monday
  59. 2012The Broken TowerEmile
  60. 2011Take ShelterCurtis LaForche
  61. 2011Machine Gun PreacherDonnie
  62. 2011ReturnMike
  63. 2010My Son, My Son, What Have Ye DoneBrad McCullum
  64. 2010Jonah HexDoc Cross Williams
  65. 2010The RunawaysKim Fowley
  66. 201013Henry
  67. 2010Herbert WhiteHerbert White
  68. 2009Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New OrleansMundt
  69. 2009The GreatestJordan Walker
  70. 2009The Missing PersonJohn Rosow
  71. 2008Revolutionary RoadJohn Givings
  72. 2008MarvelousJohn
  73. 2007Shotgun StoriesSon Hayes
  74. 2007Before the Devil Knows You're DeadDex
  75. 2007Lucky YouRay Zumbro
  76. 2007BlackbirdMurl
  77. 2007BugPeter Evans
  78. 2006Let's Go to PrisonLynard
  79. 2006World Trade CenterDave Karnes
  80. 2005Dead BirdsClyde
  81. 2004The WoodsmanRosen
  82. 2004WaterBobby Matherson
  83. 2004CriminalGene
  84. 2004Grand Theft ParsonsLarry Oster-Berg
  85. 2004Zamboni ManWalt
  86. 2003Bad Boys IIFloyd Poteet
  87. 2003Kangaroo JackFrankie Lombardo
  88. 20028 MileGreg Buehl
  89. 2002High CrimesTroy Abbott
  90. 2001Vanilla SkyAaron
  91. 2001New Port SouthStanton
  92. 2001Pearl HarborGooz
  93. 2000TigerlandSgt. Filmore
  94. 2000Cecil B. DementedPetie
  95. 2000Jesus' SonDundun
  96. 2000The PhotographerMaurice
  97. 2000MullittPhil Kunz
  98. 1998Chicago CabCrack Head
  99. 1997The RideJimmy
  100. 1996Chain ReactionD.C. Flower Delivery Man
  101. 1993Groundhog DayFred
  102. 1992OverexposedYoung Man