---
name: "Anthony Michael Hall"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/anthony-michael-hall"
fi1m_id: "anthony-michael-hall"
imdb_id: "nm0001309"
tmdb_id: 1904
wikidata_id: "Q361215"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "14 April 1968"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-04T18:19:39.075588+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."
---

# Anthony Michael Hall

## Identity

Anthony Michael Hall

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/anthony-michael-hall
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** anthony-michael-hall
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001309
- **TMDB ID:** 1904
- **Wikidata ID:** Q361215
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Michael_Hall, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q361215, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001309/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1904

Actor. Born 14 April 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 14 April 1968, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- **Active:** 1983–2014
- **Also known as:** Michael Anthony Thomas Charles Hall, آنتونی مایکل هال
- **Frequently works with:** [John Hughes](https://film.one/person/john-hughes.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 72 (2), 1990s 83 (1), 2000s 74 (2), 2010s 82 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 73 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Comedy 3, Thriller 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,223m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Michael_Hall, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q361215, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001309/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1904

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Edward Scissorhands*](https://film.one/film/edward-scissorhands.md) (83), [*The Breakfast Club*](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md) (75)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Foxcatcher*](https://film.one/film/foxcatcher.md) (82)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*National Lampoon's Vacation*](https://film.one/film/national-lampoons-vacation.md) (70)

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

## Fi1m on Anthony Michael Hall

> Anthony Michael Hall makes the effort to please painfully visible. His tougher later roles widened the work, but we value him most when his comic timing allows an anxious teenager to be taken seriously.

In *The Breakfast Club* (1985), Anthony Michael Hall’s Brian Johnson approaches a personal conversation as though there might be a correct answer. His anxious concentration makes the familiar teenage misfit worth listening to. We were moved by his efforts to satisfy adults, because Hall makes that constant trying look exhausting. He keeps Brian funny without asking us to find his worry foolish.

*Sixteen Candles* (1984) established that misfit persona, and *Weird Science* (1985) reinforced it. With John Hughes writing these outsiders, Hall had an early identity that was easy to recognise and difficult to escape. His comic timing helped, but *The Breakfast Club* shows why timing alone was not enough. He makes Brian’s need for approval matter without making the boy cease to be funny.

Hughes also gives us the clearest measure of what works and what does not around Hall. In *The Breakfast Club*, the cast complicates the school stereotypes even when the dialogue starts to sound like prepared speeches. Molly Ringwald’s guarded Claire and Hall’s anxious Brian earn an affection that the writing sometimes presses too hard to secure. We grow impatient when Hughes insists on explaining feelings that these two have already made clear.

Tim Burton’s *Edward Scissorhands* (1990) gives Hall a different use, as the bullying boyfriend Jim. The casting marks a useful break with the Hughes misfits, though we would not make Hall the principal reason to see it. Johnny Depp and Dianne Wiest supply the tenderness that makes Burton’s suburban fairy tale worth forgiving for its blunt plotting. A harder character gives Hall something else to play, but the anxious boy remains the more persuasive introduction to his work.

The lead role of Johnny Smith in *The Dead Zone* (2002–07) gave him a sustained place in television. A supporting part as Mike Engel in Christopher Nolan’s *The Dark Knight* (2008) followed. We have no wish to hurry past the teenage work simply because adult roles followed. Start with *The Breakfast Club*, and allow Hughes a little more talking than is necessary.

## Biography

Anthony Michael Hall is an American actor. Born on 14 April 1968 in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, he began appearing in commercials at the age of seven. His breakthrough came with the role of Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983). He gained prominence starring in three John Hughes films: Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985) and Weird Science (1985).

To avoid typecasting, Hall joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (1985–1986) and took varied roles including in Edward Scissorhands (1990). He later starred as Johnny Smith in the series The Dead Zone (2002–2007) and appeared as Bill Gates in the television film Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999). Other credits include The Dark Knight (2008) and Halloween Kills (2021).

*Sources: imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Foxcatcher* (2014), Fi1m 82, as Jack — [page](https://film.one/film/foxcatcher.md)
- *The Dark Knight* (2008), Fi1m 85, as Engel — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight.md)
- *Entourage* (2004), Fi1m 63, as Anthony Michael Hall — [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *Edward Scissorhands* (1990), Fi1m 83, as Jim — [page](https://film.one/film/edward-scissorhands.md)
- *The Breakfast Club* (1985), Fi1m 75, as Brian Johnson — [page](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md)
- *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983), Fi1m 70, as Rusty Griswold — [page](https://film.one/film/national-lampoons-vacation.md)

## Complete filmography (94)

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

- *Roswell Delirium* (2025), as Jerry Baskin · Producer
- *Trigger Warning* (2024), as Ezekiel Swann
- *Air Force One Down* (2024), as Sam Waitman
- *Wednesday* (2022), series, as Ron Krueger — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/wednesday.md)
- *The Class* (2022), as Faulk · Executive Producer
- *Clerks III* (2022), as Auditioner
- *Bosch: Legacy* (2022), series, as Agent William Baron
- *Reacher* (2022), series, as Zachary Beck
- *Halloween Kills* (2021), as Tommy Doyle
- *Something About Her* (2021), as Jack
- *Bodied* (2018), as Professor Merkin
- *War Machine* (2017), as Greg Pulver
- *The Lears* (2017), as Glenn Lear
- *Riverdale* (2017), series, as Principal Featherhead
- *Live by Night* (2016), as Gary L. Smith
- *Natural Selection* (2016), as Mr. Stevenson
- *Rosewood* (2015), series, as Detective Willet
- *Results* (2015), as Grigory
- *Foxcatcher* (2014), as Jack — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/foxcatcher.md)
- *Z Nation* (2014), series, as Gideon Gould
- *Zombie Night* (2013), as Patrick
- *Dead in Tombstone* (2013), as Red Hernandez
- *Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* (2013), series, as Mister Kitson
- *The Goldbergs* (2013), series, as Security Guard, Mr. Perott
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as Robby Ressler — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Friend Request* (2013), as Burk
- *Sexy Evil Genius* (2013), as Mark Von Dutch
- *Aftermath* (2013), as Tom Fiorini
- *Awkward.* (2011), series, as Mr. Hart
- *Last Man Standing* (2011), as Nick Collins
- *Community* (2009), series, as Mike — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md)
- *Warehouse 13* (2009), series, as Walter Sykes
- *The Dark Knight* (2008), as Engel — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight.md)
- *Gotham Tonight* (2008), series, as Mike Engel
- *Final Approach* (2008), as Greg Gilliad
- *LA Blues* (2007), as Larry · Executive Producer
- *Psych* (2006), series, as Harris Trout
- *Hoboken Hollow* (2006), Producer
- *Funny Valentine* (2005), as Josh
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as (voice), Tom (voice)
- *Retrosexual: The '80s* (2004), series, as (archive footage)
- *Entourage* (2004), series, as Anthony Michael Hall — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *The Dead Zone* (2002), as Johnny Smith
- *CSI: Miami* (2002), series, as James Bradstone
- *The Dead Zone* (2002), series, as Johnny Smith · Director, Co-Producer, Producer, Co-Executive Producer
- *All About the Benjamins* (2002), as Lil J
- *Hitched* (2001), as Ted
- *Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story* (2001), as Mutt Lange
- *61** (2001), as Whitey Ford
- *Freddy Got Fingered* (2001), as Mr. Davidson
- *The Caveman's Valentine* (2001), as Bob
- *Les Vampyres* (2000), as Man with Torch
- *The Photographer* (2000), as Greg
- *Happy Accidents* (2000), as Anthony Michael Hall
- *A Touch of Hope* (1999), as Dr. Neil Bachman
- *Dirt Merchant* (1999), as Jeffry Alan Spacy
- *Revenge* (1999), as Brian Cutler
- *Pirates of Silicon Valley* (1999), as Bill Gates
- *The Crow: Stairway to Heaven* (1998), series, Actor
- *The Killing Grounds* (1998), as Art Styles
- *Cold Night Into Dawn* (1997), as Eddie Rogers
- *Trojan War* (1997), as Bus Driver
- *Exit in Red* (1997), as Nick
- *The Hunger* (1997), series, as Michael
- *The Jamie Foxx Show* (1996), series, as Tim
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *Hijacked: Flight 285* (1996), as Peter Cronin
- *The Grave* (1996), as Travis Purcell
- *A Bucket of Blood* (1995), as Walter
- *Deadly Games* (1995), series, as Chuck Manning
- *Texas* (1995), as Yancey Quimper
- *Who Do I Gotta Kill?* (1994), as Jimmy's Friend Kevin Friedland
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Thomas Prescott
- *Hail Caesar* (1994), as Julius Caesar McMurty · Director
- *Six Degrees of Separation* (1993), as Trent
- *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Dr. Johnson
- *Into the Sun* (1992), as Tom Slade
- *A Gnome Named Gnorm* (1991), as Casey Gallagher
- *Edward Scissorhands* (1990), as Jim — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/edward-scissorhands.md)
- *Whatever Happened to Mason Reese* (1990), as Voice of Mason Reese
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Reggie Skulnick
- *Johnny Be Good* (1988), as Johnny Walker
- *Out of Bounds* (1986), as Daryl Cage
- *Weird Science* (1985), as Gary
- *The Breakfast Club* (1985), as Brian Johnson — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md)
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Les Franklin
- *Sixteen Candles* (1984), as Geek (Ted)
- *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983), as Rusty Griswold — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/national-lampoons-vacation.md)
- *Running Out* (1983), as Kylie
- *Six Pack* (1982), as Doc
- *Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn* (1982), as Huck Finn
- *The Gold Bug* (1980), as The Boy
- *Final Invasion*, Actor
- *Halloween Store*, as Sheriff Van Hollis

## Gallery

- ![Anthony Michael Hall](https://film.one/media/person/77366/gallery-4e6064fe6171.jpg) Anthony Michael Hall — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Anthony_Michael_Hall_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Anthony_Michael_Hall_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anthony Michael Hall at GalaxyCon Raleigh 2019](https://film.one/media/person/77366/gallery-8641609eea92.jpg) Anthony Michael Hall at GalaxyCon Raleigh 2019 — Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/1-Raleigh-Anthony-Michael-Hall-QA.jpg/1280px-1-Raleigh-Anthony-Michael-Hall-QA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anthony Michael Hall (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/77366/gallery-0555b7a8a161.jpg) Anthony Michael Hall (2017) — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Anthony_Michael_Hall_%2834002178093%29.jpg/1280px-Anthony_Michael_Hall_%2834002178093%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anthony Michael Hall speaking at the 2017 Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewh](https://film.one/media/person/77366/gallery-abd7cd1022da.jpg) Anthony Michael Hall speaking at the 2017 Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewh — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Anthony_Michael_Hall_%2834134544914%29.jpg/1280px-Anthony_Michael_Hall_%2834134544914%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anthony Michael Hall](https://film.one/media/person/77366/gallery-3b9b39e96c4d.jpg) Anthony Michael Hall — Image via TMDB
- ![Anthony Michael Hall](https://film.one/media/person/77366/gallery-e7622bb235a8.jpg) Anthony Michael Hall — Image via TMDB
- ![Anthony Michael Hall](https://film.one/media/person/77366/gallery-eb079bbbe2b9.jpg) Anthony Michael Hall — Image via TMDB
- ![Anthony Michael Hall speaking at the 2017 Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewh](https://film.one/media/person/77366/gallery-24a264d6921f.jpg) Anthony Michael Hall speaking at the 2017 Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewh — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Anthony_Michael_Hall_%2834134551354%29.jpg/1280px-Anthony_Michael_Hall_%2834134551354%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anthony Michael Hall speaking at the 2017 Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewh](https://film.one/media/person/77366/gallery-3887e964f404.jpg) Anthony Michael Hall speaking at the 2017 Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewh — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Anthony_Michael_Hall_%2834134556704%29.jpg/1280px-Anthony_Michael_Hall_%2834134556704%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/anthony-michael-hall