---
name: "Adam Goldberg"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/adam-goldberg"
fi1m_id: "adam-goldberg"
imdb_id: "nm0004965"
tmdb_id: 6163
wikidata_id: "Q281964"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 October 1970"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-17T15:48:03.619940+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Adam Goldberg

## Identity

Adam Goldberg

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/adam-goldberg
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** adam-goldberg
- **IMDb ID:** nm0004965
- **TMDB ID:** 6163
- **Wikidata ID:** Q281964
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Goldberg, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q281964, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004965/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6163

Actor. Born 25 October 1970 in Santa Monica, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 October 1970, Santa Monica, California, USA
- **Active:** 1993–2007
- **Also known as:** Адам Голдберг, 아담 골드버그, آدام گلدبرگ
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 86 (3), 2000s 76 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 71 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 1, Crime 1, History 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $892m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Goldberg, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q281964, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004965/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6163

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Saving Private Ryan*](https://film.one/film/saving-private-ryan.md) (84), [*A Beautiful Mind*](https://film.one/film/a-beautiful-mind.md) (62)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Adam Goldberg

> Adam Goldberg makes nervous, argumentative men worth listening to, even when they would be difficult company. We value him most in ensembles, where his dry humour and intensity keep a supporting character from becoming anonymous.

In *Dazed and Confused* (1993), Adam Goldberg’s Mike Newhouse brings a neurotic student’s unease to Richard Linklater’s last-day-of-school celebrations. Goldberg is good at making that sort of person worth our attention without insisting that we like him. His dry humour fits a comedy that finds cruelty beneath the fun, and his intensity helps keep the ensemble from becoming too cosy. We recommend the film warmly despite its occasional wandering; this is the sort of company in which his supporting work makes sense.

That breakthrough was followed by the career-making part of Private Mellish in Steven Spielberg’s *Saving Private Ryan* (1998). Mellish is tough and wise-cracking, another character whose sharpness matters within a group, though here the circumstances are considerably harsher. We were frightened and exhausted by Spielberg’s combat sequences, which make the soldiers’ terror difficult to shake. Goldberg contributes to the sense that these are separate people rather than soldiers supplied to fill out a squad. The familiar writing between battles remains a limitation, however persuasive the actors are.

Leading parts have been the exception, including a Jewish action hero in *The Hebrew Hammer* (2003) and a lead in *2 Days in Paris* (2007). Supporting work continued with Duffy Jennings in David Fincher’s *Zodiac* (2007) and Mr. Numbers in *Fargo* (2014). We would not judge that career by how often his name comes first. The more useful question is whether a director gives his familiar cynicism something specific to answer, rather than simply asking him to be difficult company again.

The risk is predictability: nervousness and sarcasm cannot do all the work of establishing a character. Linklater’s teenagers and Spielberg’s soldiers give Goldberg people to contend with, and both directors find a useful place for his intensity. Neither film needs him to carry the evening, but he helps make their groups worth attending to beyond the principal players. Start with *Dazed and Confused*; *Saving Private Ryan* needs a stronger stomach.

## Biography

Adam Goldberg is an American actor. Born on 25 October 1970 in Santa Monica, California, he attended Sarah Lawrence College and studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in Los Angeles.

Goldberg's early film roles include Mike in *Dazed and Confused* (1993) and Private Stanley Mellish in *Saving Private Ryan* (1998). He has appeared in supporting parts in films such as *A Beautiful Mind* (2001), *How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days* (2003), *Zodiac* (2007) and *Déjà Vu* (2006), and in television series including *Friends* (as Eddie Menuek), *Fargo* (as Mr Numbers) and *The Equalizer*. He has also directed and written the independent films *Scotch and Milk* (1998) and *I Love Your Work* (2003).

Goldberg received Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for ensemble cast performances in *Saving Private Ryan* and *A Beautiful Mind*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com, encyclopedia.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these

- *Zodiac* (2007), Fi1m 91, as Duffy Jennings — [page](https://film.one/film/zodiac.md)
- *A Beautiful Mind* (2001), Fi1m 62, as Richard Sol — [page](https://film.one/film/a-beautiful-mind.md)
- *Saving Private Ryan* (1998), Fi1m 84, as Private Mellish — [page](https://film.one/film/saving-private-ryan.md)
- *Dazed and Confused* (1993), Fi1m 86, as Mike — [page](https://film.one/film/dazed-and-confused.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Before Sunrise* (1995), Fi1m 89, as Man Sleeping on Train (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/before-sunrise.md)

## Complete filmography (84)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Messy* (2025), as The Mayor
- *America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys* (2025), series, Co-Executive Producer
- *The Exorcism* (2024), as Peter
- *The Equalizer* (2021), series, as Harry Keshegian
- *Running with the Devil* (2019), as The Snitch
- *God Friended Me* (2018), series, as Simon Hayes
- *Lore* (2017), series, as Peter Stubbe
- *Once Upon a Time in Venice* (2017), as Lou the Jew
- *Taken* (2017), series, as Kilroy
- *Graves* (2016), series, as Christopher Sachs
- *Between Us* (2016), as Liam
- *Rebirth* (2016), as Zack
- *The Jim Gaffigan Show* (2015), series, as Dave
- *No Way Jose* (2015), as Jose · Director, Writer, Editor, Producer
- *Fargo* (2014), series, as Mr. Numbers — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md)
- *Anna Nicole* (2013), as Howard K. Stern
- *Maron* (2013), series, as Jack Ross
- *#MerrittXanadu44* (2013), as Adam · Director, Cinematography
- *Lost Angeles* (2012), as Deepak
- *NYC 22* (2012), series, as Ray 'Lazarus' Harper
- *The Trivial Pursuits of Arthur Banks* (2011), series, Actor
- *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, as August West / Tim West
- *Traffic Light* (2011), series, as Reggie
- *Pony Excess* (2010), Producer
- *Norman* (2010), as Mr. Angelo
- *Miss Nobody* (2010), as Bill Malloy
- *(Untitled)* (2009), as Adrian Jacobs
- *White Collar* (2009), series, as Jason Lang
- *The Unusuals* (2009), series, as Detective Eric Delahoy
- *Christmas on Mars* (2008), as Mars Psychiatrist
- *Chelsea on the Rocks* (2008), as Tim
- *From Within* (2008), as Roy
- *Nancy Drew* (2007), as Arrogant Director Andy
- *Zodiac* (2007), as Duffy Jennings — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/zodiac.md)
- *2 Days in Paris* (2007), as Jack
- *Déjà Vu* (2006), as Denny
- *Man About Town* (2006), as Phil Balow
- *Keeping Up with the Steins* (2006), as Road Rage Driver
- *Stay Alive* (2006), as Miller Banks
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Philo — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md)
- *Head Cases* (2005), series, as Russell Shultz
- *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as Chris McNall
- *Medium* (2005), series, as Bruce Rossiter
- *Frankenstein* (2004), as Detec. Michael Sloane
- *Joey* (2004), series, as Jimmy
- *Entourage* (2004), series, as Nick Rubenstein — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *The Hebrew Hammer* (2003), as Mordechai Jefferson Carver
- *I Love Your Work* (2003), Director, Writer, Editor, Producer
- *Miss Match* (2003), series, as Jarred
- *Running With The Bulls* (2003), Director
- *How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days* (2003), as Tony
- *The Salton Sea* (2002), as Kujo
- *A Beautiful Mind* (2001), as Richard Sol — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/a-beautiful-mind.md)
- *According to Spencer* (2001), as Feldy
- *Waking Life* (2001), as One of Four Men
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Victor Garros
- *All Over the Guy* (2001), as Brett Miles Sanford
- *Fast Sofa* (2001), as Jack Weis
- *The $treet* (2000), series, as Evan Mitchell
- *Sunset Strip* (2000), as Marty Shapiro
- *EDtv* (1999), as John
- *Babe: Pig in the City* (1998), as Flealick (voice)
- *Will & Grace* (1998), series, as Kevin Wolchek
- *Saving Private Ryan* (1998), as Private Mellish — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/saving-private-ryan.md)
- *Some Girl* (1998), as Freud
- *Scotch and Milk* (1998), as Jim · Director, Writer
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Atty. Noah Burke
- *Relativity* (1996), series, as Doug
- *Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco* (1996), as Pete (voice)
- *Space: Above and Beyond* (1995), series, as Louie Fox
- *The Prophecy* (1995), as Jerry
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Sid Camden
- *Before Sunrise* (1995), as Man Sleeping on Train (uncredited) — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/before-sunrise.md)
- *Higher Learning* (1995), as David Isaacs
- *Double Rush* (1995), series, as Leo
- *Friends* (1994), series, as Eddie Menuek — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *ER* (1994), series, as Joshua 'Mr. Sullivan' Shem — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Dazed and Confused* (1993), as Mike — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/dazed-and-confused.md)
- *Son in Law* (1993), as Indian
- *Mr. Saturday Night* (1992), as Eugene Gimbel
- *Love & War* (1992), series, Actor
- *Babe Ruth* (1991), as Vendor
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Donald Klein — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *The Avoidant*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Adam Goldberg](https://film.one/media/person/83037/gallery-b4c462e88038.jpg) Adam Goldberg — Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV from Culver City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Adam_Goldberg_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Adam_Goldberg_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![www.redcarpetreporttv.com Mingle Media TV's Red Carpet Report host Quinn Marie were invited to come out to cover the International Documentary Association’s 31s (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/83037/gallery-9c4795354dba.jpg) www.redcarpetreporttv.com Mingle Media TV's Red Carpet Report host Quinn Marie were invited to come out to cover the International Documentary Association’s 31s (2015) — Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV from Culver City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Adam_Goldberg_at_the_31st_Annual_IDA_Documentary_Awards_Gala_-Interviews_-IDAawards_-_DSC_0341_%2823464344662%29.jpg/1280px-Adam_Goldberg_at_the_31st_Annual_IDA_Documentary_Awards_Gala_-Interviews_-IDAawards_-_DSC_0341_%2823464344662%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Adam Goldberg](https://film.one/media/person/83037/gallery-9e0467fb5a4b.jpg) Adam Goldberg — Image via TMDB
- ![Adam Goldberg](https://film.one/media/person/83037/gallery-ebf748272962.jpg) Adam Goldberg — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/adam-goldberg