Nook NotesPick a film
John Diehl

Actor

John Diehl

Born May 1, 1950 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA88 films

John Diehl (born May 1, 1950) is an American character actor with over 150 credits to his name in film and television. He is best known for his roles as Charles Kawalsky in the 1994 film Stargate, Det. Larry Zito on the 1980s cop show Miami Vice, Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy on The Shield, and as "the Cruiser" in Stripes. His other notable roles include Pvt. Bucklin, the spokesman of the 2nd Maine mutineers in Gettysburg, Cooper in Jurassic Park III (2001), as G. Gordon Liddy in the Oliver Stone movie Nixon, the Klansman informant ("Mickey Mouse") in A Time to Kill, and as Keith, a credit card company supervisor in Mo Money. He also appeared as the spirit of Harley Earl in a series of commercials for Buick. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1968. For a time, he flirted with a professional boxing career, leaving Miami Vice to pursue it.

Start here

The best way into John Diehl's work
Falling Down posterFirst watchFalling Down19937.4as Dad (Back Yard Party)An ordinary man frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

88 films as actor
  1. 2025Train DreamsBilly
  2. 2022Armageddon TimeFred Trump
  3. 2020La SirenaNino
  4. 2020Serpent in the BottleMarvin Decker
  5. 2019Gary's WalkGary
  6. 2017Out of the WildHenry McBride
  7. 2016The North StarMaster Anderson
  8. 2015ForeverNeil
  9. 2014A Long Way Off
  10. 2013Singularity PrincipleJack Brenner
  11. 2012Apartment 1303 3DDetective
  12. 2012The Obama EffectSteve Warren
  13. 2011Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam AxeRear Admiral Lawrence
  14. 2011Natural SelectionAbe
  15. 2010Road to NowhereBobby Billings
  16. 2009Drifter: Henry Lee LucasSheriff Larabie
  17. 2009Follow the ProphetTed
  18. 2008The Lucky OnesTom Klinger
  19. 2006The Far Side of JerichoCash Thornton
  20. 2006The House Is BurningMr. Garson
  21. 2006Jesse Stone: Death in ParadiseJerry Snyder
  22. 2006Hidden PlacesFrank Wyatt
  23. 2005Down in the ValleySteve
  24. 2004Land of PlentyPaul
  25. 2004I Pass for HumanEx-husband
  26. 2003Dragnet: Sticks and StonesDr. Rupert Miles
  27. 2003BookiesVincent
  28. 2002TullyMal "Mac" MacAvoy
  29. 2001Falling Like ThisEddie Gallagher
  30. 2001Jurassic Park IIICooper
  31. 2001Pearl HarborSenior Doctor
  32. 2001The ZerosBurl
  33. 2000Lost SoulsHenry Birdson
  34. 2000Fail SafeCol. Cascio
  35. 1999Anywhere but HereJimmy
  36. 1999PurgatoryBadger
  37. 1998The Hi-Lo CountryLes Birk
  38. 1998Monument Ave.Digger
  39. 1998The Rat PackJoe DiMaggio
  40. 1998Amanda & the AlienColonel Rosencrans
  41. 1997Most WantedPolice Captain
  42. 1997The End of ViolenceLowell
  43. 1997Fire Down BelowFrank Elkins
  44. 1997Con AirPoe's Lawyer (uncredited)
  45. 1997CasualtiesPolito
  46. 1996Female PerversionsJake Rock
  47. 1996FoxfireMr. Buttinger
  48. 1996A Time to KillTim Nunley
  49. 1996Managua
  50. 1996The Destiny of Marty FineDeke
  51. 1996The GraveJ.C. Cole
  52. 1995NixonGordon Liddy
  53. 1995Three WishesLeland's Dad
  54. 1995Mind RipperAlex
  55. 1995Buffalo GirlsGeneral Custer
  56. 1994StargateLieutenant Kawalsky
  57. 1994The New AgeLyle
  58. 1994The ClientJack Nance
  59. 1994Almost DeadEddie Herbek
  60. 1993GettysburgPvt. Bucklin
  61. 1993The Paint JobFather
  62. 1993RemoteDelbert McCoy
  63. 1993Falling DownDad (Back Yard Party)
  64. 1992MikeyNeil Trenton
  65. 1992Mo' MoneyKeith Heading
  66. 1991MotoramaPhil
  67. 1991A Climate for KillingWayne Paris
  68. 1991WhoreDerelict
  69. 1991Kickboxer 2: The Road BackJack
  70. 1990The Dark Side of the MoonPhilip Jennings
  71. 1990Cool BlueClayton
  72. 1990MadHouseFred
  73. 1988GlitzTeddy Magyk
  74. 1987WalkerStebbins
  75. 1987White of the EyeMr Dupree
  76. 1987The Hanoi HiltonMurphy
  77. 1984Miami Vice: Brother's KeeperDet. Larry Zito
  78. 1984AngelThe Killer
  79. 1983D.C. CabHead Kidnapper
  80. 1983National Lampoon's VacationAssistant Mechanic
  81. 1983JoysticksArnie
  82. 1982HystericalTaxi Driver
  83. 1982The Ambush MurdersFerguson
  84. 1982Leon's CaseLeon
  85. 1981StripesCruiser
  86. 1981Escape from New YorkPunk
  87. 1980Falling in Love AgainBeaver (1940's)
  88. 1980A Cry for Love