--- name: "Bruce Dern" canonical: "https://film.one/person/bruce-dern" fi1m_id: "bruce-dern" imdb_id: "nm0001136" tmdb_id: 6905 wikidata_id: "Q357001" roles: ["Actor"] born: "4 June 1936" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 76 average_as: "actor" average_over: 8 updated: "2026-09-26T17:42:30.339812+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." --- # Bruce Dern ## Identity Bruce Dern - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/bruce-dern - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** bruce-dern - **IMDb ID:** nm0001136 - **TMDB ID:** 6905 - **Wikidata ID:** Q357001 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Dern, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q357001, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001136/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6905 Actor. Born 4 June 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 4 June 1936, Chicago, Illinois, USA - **Active:** 1964–2019 - **Also known as:** 布魯斯丹, Bruce MacLeish Dern - **Frequently works with:** [Quentin Tarantino](https://film.one/person/quentin-tarantino.md), [Shannon McIntosh](https://film.one/person/shannon-mcintosh.md) - **Cannes Film Festival:** 1 Cannes prize (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 8 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 68 (1), 1970s 76 (2), 2000s 79 (1), 2010s 76 (4) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 74 across 8 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 2 of 7 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 7, Adventure 2, Mystery 2, Romance 2, Thriller 2, Western 2 - **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,042m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Dern, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q357001, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001136/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6905 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*Big Love*](https://film.one/tv/big-love.md) (79) - **Hulu:** [*Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood*](https://film.one/film/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood.md) (77) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Hateful Eight*](https://film.one/film/the-hateful-eight.md) (68) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Bruce Dern > Bruce Dern can hold our attention through a long, unhelpful silence. We rate him most highly in *Nebraska*, where he lets a stubborn father remain hard to like even as we begin to care about him. In *Nebraska* (2013), Bruce Dern's Woody Grant shambles through scenes and says little to encourage his son to keep trying. Dern leaves the stubbornness and the disappointments in place, rather than supplying a lovable old man beneath them. We were moved by how hard he makes a frank conversation seem, because Will Forte's patient David has so little encouragement to go on. Alexander Payne gives both actors time to make staying together feel like a choice. His early casting tended to put that awkwardness to less sympathetic use. Villain roles such as *The Cowboys* (1972) limited his leading opportunities, while *Silent Running* (1972) offered a rare lead as Freeman Lowell. Supporting and character parts remained much of his work through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. *Nebraska* makes particular use of the resentment and quiet determination he can bring to an older man, without asking us to overlook the ways Woody has failed his family. The film does sometimes give him more time than he needs. Editor Kevin Tent lets the pauses run, which serves the performance once the film settles but leaves the opening slow to find its rhythm. Mark Orton's sympathetic music supports the gentler scenes, although Dern and Forte hardly need it to explain what they feel. Some of the rural jokes are easy, too; Dern's unwillingness to soften Woody is one reason the film remains worth the wait. Quentin Tarantino uses the resentment more directly in *The Hateful Eight* (2015), casting Dern as General Sandy Smithers. Sitting by the fire, he hates Warren on sight; their exchange is the film's best-written stretch, though it cannot excuse the excessive length or the pleasure taken in cruelty. We would recommend it for the cast, with no promise of agreeable company. In Tarantino's *Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood* (2019), Dern is George Spahn, the old ranch owner whom Cliff insists on seeing. Editor Fred Raskin draws out the approach to the house until a visit becomes frightening, placing Dern within the film's strongest sequence. Start with *Nebraska*, and give it time to get past that sluggish opening. ## Biography Bruce Dern is an American actor. Born in Chicago in 1936, he trained at the Actors Studio and began his career with small roles in films and on television in the early 1960s, including guest appearances in Western series. He gained prominence during the New Hollywood era with performances in films such as *They Shoot Horses, Don't They?* (1969), *The Cowboys* (1972) and *The Great Gatsby* (1974). Dern received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for *Coming Home* (1978) and Best Actor for *Nebraska* (2013). He has collaborated several times with director Quentin Tarantino, appearing as General Sandy Smithers in *The Hateful Eight* (2015) and George Spahn in *Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood* (2019). His other notable credits include *Django Unchained* (2012), *Monster* (2003) and *The 'Burbs* (1989). Dern is the father of actress Laura Dern. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, themoviedb.org, deadline.com.* ## On Fi1m (8) - *Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood* (2019), Fi1m 77, as George Spahn — [page](https://film.one/film/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood.md) - *The Hateful Eight* (2015), Fi1m 68, as General Sandy Smithers — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hateful-eight.md) - *Nebraska* (2013), Fi1m 82, as Woody Grant — [page](https://film.one/film/nebraska.md) - *Django Unchained* (2012), Fi1m 78, as Old Man Carrucan — [page](https://film.one/film/django-unchained.md) - *Big Love* (2006), Fi1m 79, as Frank Harlow — [page](https://film.one/tv/big-love.md) - *Coming Home* (1978), Fi1m 76, as Capt. Bob Hyde — [page](https://film.one/film/coming-home.md) - *Silent Running* (1972), Fi1m 76, as Freeman Lowell — [page](https://film.one/film/silent-running.md) - *Marnie* (1964), Fi1m 68, as Sailor — [page](https://film.one/film/marnie.md) ## Complete filmography (200) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Northbound* (2026), as Arthur - *Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern* (2026), Actor - *Robot Dracula* (2026), as Van Sellsing - *Bad Men Must Bleed* (2026), as George Wells - *Fractured* (2025), as Papa Joe - *Bhuthan: The World’s Happiest Man* (2025), Actor - *Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch* (2025), as Mike Cassidy - *The Devil’s Trap* (2024), as Mr. Cohen - *Bloodline Killer* (2024), as Dr. Lucien - *Palm Royale* (2024), series, as Skeet - *Accidental Texan* (2024), as Scheermeyer - *Hands That Bind* (2023), as Hank - *Old Dads* (2023), as Richie Jacobs - *Buck Alamo or (A Phantasmagorical Ballad)* (2023), as Death - *Butch vs. Sundance* (2023), as Mike Cassidy - *Hunting Games* (2023), as Henry - *The Weapon* (2023), as Doris - *Death in Texas* (2022), as Reynolds - *The Most Dangerous Game* (2022), as Whitney Tyler - *Mid-Century* (2022), as Emil Larson - *Coast* (2022), Executive Producer - *The Hater* (2022), as Frank - *Hellblazers* (2022), as Bill Unger - *Last Shoot Out* (2021), as Blair Callahan - *Christmas vs The Walters* (2021), as Cliff Walters - *The Gateway* (2021), as Marcus - *Overrun* (2021), as Arkadi Dubkova - *Last Call* (2021), as Coach Finnegan - *The Artist's Wife* (2020), as Richard Smythson - *Emperor* (2020), as Levi Coffin - *Ravage* (2020), as Mallincrkordt - *Badland* (2019), as Reginald Cooke - *Inherit the Viper* (2019), as Clay Carter - *Freaks* (2019), as Mr. Snowcone - *The Peanut Butter Falcon* (2019), as Carl - *Remember Me* (2019), as Claude - *Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood* (2019), as George Spahn — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood.md) - *The Hateful Eight* (2019), series, as General Sanford Smithers - *Nation's Fire* (2019), as PopPop - *The Mustang* (2019), as Myles - *Black Monday* (2019), series, as Rod "The Jammer" Jaminski - *Lez Bomb* (2018), as Grandpa - *American Dresser* (2018), as King - *White Boy Rick* (2018), as Grandpa Roman Wershe - *Warning Shot* (2018), as Calvin - *Chappaquiddick* (2018), as Joseph Kennedy - *Nostalgia* (2018), as Ronnie Ashemore - *Our Souls at Night* (2017), as Dorlan - *Mr. Mercedes* (2017), series, as John Rothstein - *Hickok* (2017), as Doc Rivers O'Roark - *The Lears* (2017), as Davenport Lear - *Class Rank* (2017), as Oswald Flannigan - *American Violence* (2017), as Richard Morton - *Goliath* (2016), series, as Frank Zax - *The Hateful Eight* (2015), as General Sandy Smithers — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hateful-eight.md) - *The Millionaires' Unit* (2015), as Narrator (voice) - *Northern Borders* (2015), as Austin Kittredge Sr. - *Cut Bank* (2014), as Georgie Wits - *Pete's Christmas* (2013), as Grandpa - *Fighting for Freedom* (2013), as Christian Dobbe - *Nebraska* (2013), as Woody Grant — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/nebraska.md) - *Coffin Baby* (2013), as Vance Henrickson - *Django Unchained* (2012), as Old Man Carrucan — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/django-unchained.md) - *Hitting the Cycle* (2012), as James - *Inside Out* (2011), as Vic Small - *Twixt* (2011), as Sheriff Bobby LaGrange - *Choose* (2011), as Dr. Ronald Pendleton - *Trim* (2010), as Dale - *The Lightkeepers* (2009), as Bennie - *The Hole* (2009), as Creepy Carl - *American Cowslip* (2009), as Cliff - *The Golden Boys* (2008), as Capt. Perez Ryder - *Swamp Devil* (2008), as Howard Blaime - *The Death and Life of Bobby Z* (2007), as Narrator - *The Cake Eaters* (2007), as Easy - *The Astronaut Farmer* (2007), as Hal - *The Hard Easy* (2006), as Gene - *Believe in Me* (2006), as Ellis Brawley - *Walker Payne* (2006), as Chester - *Big Love* (2006), series, as Frank Harlow — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/big-love.md) - *Down in the Valley* (2005), as Charlie - *Madison* (2005), as Harry Volpi - *CSI: NY* (2004), series, as Vet - *Monster* (2003), as Thomas - *Masked and Anonymous* (2003), as Editor - *Hard Ground* (2003), as Sheriff Hutch Hutchinson - *Milwaukee, Minnesota* (2003), as Sean McNally - *The Glass House* (2001), as Alvin Begleiter - *All the Pretty Horses* (2000), as Judge - *If... Dog... Rabbit* (1999), as McGurdy - *The Haunting* (1999), as Mr. Dudley - *Hard Time: The Premonition* (1999), as Winston - *Small Soldiers* (1998), as Link Static (voice) - *Perfect Prey* (1998), as Capt. Swaggert - *Comfort, Texas* (1997), Actor - *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Randy Strickland (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md) - *Last Man Standing* (1996), as Sheriff Ed Galt - *Mulholland Falls* (1996), as The Chief - *Down Periscope* (1996), as Rear Admiral Yancy Graham - *Wild Bill* (1995), as Will Plummer - *A Mother's Prayer* (1995), as John Walker - *Mrs. Munck* (1995), as Patrick Leary - *Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight* (1994), as George Putnam - *Dead Man's Revenge* (1994), as Payton McCay - *It's Nothing Personal* (1993), as Billy Archer - *Diggstown* (1992), as John Gillon - *Carolina Skeletons* (1991), as Junior Stoker - *Into the Badlands* (1991), as T.L. Barston - *The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson* (1990), as Scout Ed Higgins - *After Dark, My Sweet* (1990), as Garrett "Uncle Bud" Stoker - *Trenchcoat in Paradise* (1989), as John Hollander - *The 'Burbs* (1989), as Lt. Mark Rumsfield - *1969* (1988), as Cliff Denny - *World Gone Wild* (1987), as Ethan - *The Big Town* (1987), as M. Edwards - *Uncle Tom's Cabin* (1987), as Augustine St. Claire - *Roses Are for the Rich* (1987), as Douglas Osborne - *Roses Are for the Rich* (1987), series, as Douglas Osborne - *On the Edge* (1986), as Wes Holman - *Tough Love* (1985), as Rob Charters - *Space* (1985), series, as Stanley Mott - *That Championship Season* (1982), as George Sitkowski - *Harry Tracy, Desperado* (1982), as Harry Tracy - *Tattoo* (1981), as Karl Kinsky - *Middle Age Crazy* (1980), as Bobby Lee - *The Horror Show* (1979), as (archive footage) - *The Driver* (1978), as The Detective - *Coming Home* (1978), as Capt. Bob Hyde — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/coming-home.md) - *Black Sunday* (1977), as Lander - *Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood* (1976), as Grayson Potchuck - *The Twist* (1976), as William - *Family Plot* (1976), as George Lumley - *Smile* (1975), as Big Bob - *Posse* (1975), as Jack Strawhorn - *The Great Gatsby* (1974), as Tom Buchanan - *The Laughing Policeman* (1973), as Insp. Leo Larsen SFPD - *Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid* (1973), as Deputy Sheriff (uncredited) - *The King of Marvin Gardens* (1972), as Jason Staebler - *Thumb Tripping* (1972), as Smitty - *Silent Running* (1972), as Freeman Lowell — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/silent-running.md) - *The Cowboys* (1972), as Long Hair - *Drive, He Said* (1971), as Coach Bullion - *The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant* (1971), as Roger - *Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?* (1971), as Deputy Doyle Pickett - *The Immortal* (1970), series, as Luther Seacombe - *Rebel Rousers* (1970), as J.J. Weston - *Bloody Mama* (1970), as Kevin Dirkman - *They Shoot Horses, Don't They?* (1969), as James Bates - *Then Came Bronson* (1969), series, as Bucky O'Neill - *The Cycle Savages* (1969), as Keeg - *Number One* (1969), as Richie Fowler - *Castle Keep* (1969), as Lt. Billy Byron Bix - *Support Your Local Sheriff!* (1969), as Joe Danby - *Lancer* (1968), series, as Lucas Thatcher, Tom Nevill - *Land of the Giants* (1968), series, as Thorg - *Hang 'em High* (1968), as Miller - *Psych-Out* (1968), as Steve Davis - *Will Penny* (1967), as Rafe Quint - *Waterhole #3* (1967), as Deputy - *The High Chaparral* (1967), series, as Wade - *The Trip* (1967), as John - *The St. Valentine's Day Massacre* (1967), as Johnny May - *The War Wagon* (1967), as Hammond - *Gallegher Goes West* (1966), as Turk - *The Wild Angels* (1966), as Joe 'Loser' Kearns - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Pfc. Byron Landy, Virgil Roy Phipps - *The Loner* (1965), series, as Lud Grant - *Laredo* (1965), series, as Joe Durkee - *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as Follet, Dixon, Clovis, Gabe Skeels, John Weaver - *Run for Your Life* (1965), series, as Alex Ryder - *Branded* (1965), series, as Les - Wolfer Who Kidnaps Squaw - *Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte* (1964), as John Mayhew - *12 O'Clock High* (1964), series, as TSgt. Frank Jones, Lt. Michaels, Lt. Danton - *Marnie* (1964), as Sailor — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/marnie.md) - *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as Maynard - *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Hank, Cody, Hutch, Charley, Deputy Martin — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md) - *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1963), series, as Vernon - *The Outer Limits* (1963), series, as Ben Garth - *Stoney Burke* (1962), series, as E.J. Stocker - *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Roy Bullock, Jesse - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Pell, Lee Darrow, Bert Kramer - *Ben Casey* (1961), series, as Billy Harris - *Cain's Hundred* (1961), series, as Joe Krajac, Eddie Light - *The Crimebusters* (1961), as Joe Krajac - *Route 66* (1960), series, as Albert - *Surfside 6* (1960), series, as Johnny Page - *Thriller* (1960), series, as Johnny Norton - *Wild River* (1960), as Jack Roper - *The Detectives* (1959), series, as Jud Treadwell - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Cully Maco, Bayliss - *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Ed Rankin - *Naked City* (1958), series, as Nicky - *Sea Hunt* (1958), series, as FBI Agent John Furillo - *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Wilkins, Jud Fisher - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Doyle Phleger, Judd Print, Lou Stone, Guerin - *Welcome Back Lounge*, as Gideon - *All Day Happy Dance*, as Gramps - *Borderland*, as Cowboy - *CATnip*, Actor - *Crimes of Passion II*, Actor ## Gallery - ![Bel-Air Drive-In theater advertisement for the psychedelic counterculture film, The Trip. 22 November 1967.](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-5aebaa9996e7.jpg) Bel-Air Drive-In theater advertisement for the psychedelic counterculture film, The Trip. 22 November 1967. — American International Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Bel-Air_Drive-in_Ad_-_22_November_1967%2C_Fontana%2C_CA.jpg/1280px-Bel-Air_Drive-in_Ad_-_22_November_1967%2C_Fontana%2C_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Bruce Dern at Super-Con 2009 in San Jose, California.](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-e5d32090eb15.jpg) Bruce Dern at Super-Con 2009 in San Jose, California. — BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Bruce_Dern_at_Super-Con_2009_1.JPG/1280px-Bruce_Dern_at_Super-Con_2009_1.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Bruce Dern at Super-Con 2009 in San Jose, California.](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-ea965726e75d.jpg) Bruce Dern at Super-Con 2009 in San Jose, California. — BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Bruce_Dern_at_Super-Con_2009_2.JPG/1280px-Bruce_Dern_at_Super-Con_2009_2.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Bruce Dern](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-4194bfcc169c.jpg) Bruce Dern — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Bruce_Dern_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Bruce_Dern_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Bruce Dern](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-30d13c928599.jpg) Bruce Dern — Image via TMDB - ![Bruce Dern](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-b35435f85c10.jpg) Bruce Dern — Image via TMDB - ![Bruce Dern](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-3614959646a8.jpg) Bruce Dern — Image via TMDB - ![Century Theatre advertisement for the psychedelic counterculture film, The Trip. 6 October, 1967.](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-dd93bc3df9ce.png) Century Theatre advertisement for the psychedelic counterculture film, The Trip. 6 October, 1967. — American International Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Century_Theatre_ad_-_6_October_1967%2C_Buffalo%2C_NY.png/1280px-Century_Theatre_ad_-_6_October_1967%2C_Buffalo%2C_NY.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Bruce Dern](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-8f18ef2afcb5.jpg) Bruce Dern — Image via TMDB - ![Bruce Dern](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-ae279d98310f.jpg) Bruce Dern — Image via TMDB - ![Bruce Dern](https://film.one/media/person/8986/gallery-69d4415bd545.jpg) Bruce Dern — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated - 2014: Best Actor (nominated), for *Nebraska* - 1979: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Coming Home* ### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won - 2013: Best Actor (won), for *Nebraska* ### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won - 1983: Best Actor (won), for *That Championship Season* ### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated - star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 2010: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (won) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor 1982: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor (nominated), for *Tattoo* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © 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/bruce-dern