---
name: "Christian Clemenson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/christian-clemenson"
fi1m_id: "christian-clemenson"
imdb_id: "nm0166061"
tmdb_id: 41517
wikidata_id: "Q1079204"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "17 March 1958"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-04T19:49:15.805725+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."
---

# Christian Clemenson

## Identity

Christian Clemenson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/christian-clemenson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** christian-clemenson
- **IMDb ID:** nm0166061
- **TMDB ID:** 41517
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1079204
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Clemenson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1079204, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0166061/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/41517

Actor. Born 17 March 1958 in Humboldt, Iowa, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 17 March 1958, Humboldt, Iowa, USA
- **Active:** 1986–present
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won · 2 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 76 (3), 1990s 78 (4), 2000s 82 (2), 2010s 78 (1), 2020s 80 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 75 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Comedy 7, Crime 2, History 2, Romance 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 17 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,234m across 8 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Clemenson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1079204, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0166061/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/41517

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*American Crime Story*](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md) (78), [*Boston Legal*](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md) (76)
- **Peacock:** [*United 93*](https://film.one/film/united-93.md) (88)

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

## Fi1m on Christian Clemenson

> Christian Clemenson is convincing as the professional who knows his work but can still get flustered. We value his precision and humanity, especially in *United 93*, though small parts have not always given him enough to do.

Christian Clemenson is often playing a man who knows his job and is still liable to get flustered. Lawyers, doctors and reporters suit that combination of intelligence and unease. He makes professional competence seem plausible without suggesting that it settles everything about a person. We believe he belongs at work before we know much else about him.

In James L. Brooks’s *Broadcast News* (1987), he plays Bobby, an early film part in a career built largely on supporting roles in films and guest appearances on television. The film’s people would rather discuss work than themselves, which makes it a useful place to encounter Clemenson’s particular strengths. Brooks is too forgiving of their faults, but the comedy understands how much feeling can go into doing a job.

The doctor in *Apollo 13* (1995) and the Younger Cop in *The Big Lebowski* (1998) continued the run of supporting parts. *Boston Legal* gave him more room: Jerry “Hands” Espenson began as a three-episode part in 2005 and became a regular role through 2008. A character could now develop over time, rather than having to register within a few scenes. The risk with his smaller roles is that we get the occupation and the manner, then the film moves on before we learn much else.

Paul Greengrass’s *United 93* (2006) makes the strongest case for his value within a film ensemble. As Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., Clemenson brings credibility and feeling to a real person within a disciplined reconstruction. We were frightened by the film’s patient attention to people working through a crisis, because their efforts make the danger feel immediate. The film gives less attention to the hijackers’ motives, but the care taken with the passengers matters more to us. Start here, but do not choose it for a restful evening.

## Biography

Christian Clemenson is an American actor. He was born on 17 March 1958 in Humboldt, Iowa. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, on a scholarship, then studied at Harvard University and received an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.

Clemenson is known for his portrayal of Jerry "Hands" Espenson in the television series *Boston Legal* (2004–2008), for which he won the 2006 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. His film credits include *Apollo 13* (1995), *The Big Lebowski* (1998) and *United 93* (2006), in which he played Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. He has appeared in numerous other television series, including *The Good Doctor* and *9-1-1*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (11)

- *Widow's Bay* (2026), Fi1m 80, as Dr. Morgan — [page](https://film.one/tv/widows-bay.md)
- *American Crime Story* (2016), Fi1m 78, as Bill Hodgman — [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *United 93* (2006), Fi1m 88, as Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. — [page](https://film.one/film/united-93.md)
- *Boston Legal* (2004), Fi1m 76, as Jerry Espenson — [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Armageddon* (1998), Fi1m 64, as Droning Guy — [page](https://film.one/film/armageddon.md)
- *The Big Lebowski* (1998), Fi1m 85, as Younger Cop — [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-lebowski.md)
- *Apollo 13* (1995), Fi1m 84, as Dr. Chuck — [page](https://film.one/film/apollo-13.md)
- *The Fisher King* (1991), Fi1m 80, as Edwin — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fisher-king.md)
- *Broadcast News* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Bobby — [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md)
- *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986), Fi1m 88, as Larry — [page](https://film.one/film/hannah-and-her-sisters.md)
- *Heartburn* (1986), Fi1m 55, as Sidney — [page](https://film.one/film/heartburn.md)

## Complete filmography (81)

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

- *Widow's Bay* (2026), series, as Dr. Morgan — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/widows-bay.md)
- *Fly Me to the Moon* (2024), as Walter
- *A Man in Full* (2024), series, as Stroock
- *Malignant* (2021), as Dr. Victor Fields
- *No Man of God* (2021), as Doctor James Dobson
- *9-1-1* (2018), series, as Franklin Prentiss
- *The Good Doctor* (2017), series, as Silas Chambers
- *Live by Night* (2016), as Ritz Investor
- *American Crime Story* (2016), series, as Bill Hodgman — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Colony* (2016), series, as Dan Bennett
- *Legends* (2014), series, as Mr. Porter
- *Manhattan* (2014), series, as Niels Bohr
- *Not Safe for Work* (2014), as Alan Emmerich
- *Masters of Sex* (2013), series, as Leslie Riordan — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/masters-of-sex.md)
- *J. Edgar* (2011), as Inspector Schell
- *Harry's Law* (2011), series, as Sam Berman
- *Shameless* (2011), series, as Christopher Collier — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md)
- *The Glades* (2010), series, as Ed Vickers
- *Ashley's Ashes* (2010), as Father Tim
- *The Mentalist* (2008), series, as Dr. Roy Carmen — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md)
- *Raising the Bar* (2008), series, as Tom
- *Californication* (2007), series, as Couples Counsellor — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *United 93* (2006), as Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/united-93.md)
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Ivan Fink — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as Henry Korfelt
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Jerry Espenson — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Veronica Mars* (2004), series, as Abel Koontz — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/veronica-mars.md)
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as Perry Sterling — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *CSI: Miami* (2002), series, as Tom Loman
- *Crossing Jordan* (2001), series, as Fr. Edward Klausner
- *The Division* (2001), series, as Capt. Leo Spivey
- *Bette* (2000), series, Actor
- *The District* (2000), series, as Cliff / Bob
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Charles Pellew
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Evan Woodkirk — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Forreston Graham
- *Ladies Man* (1999), series, as Dog Consultant
- *Lost & Found* (1999), as Ray
- *Mighty Joe Young* (1998), as Jack
- *Armageddon* (1998), as Droning Guy — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/armageddon.md)
- *Almost Heroes* (1998), as Father Girard
- *The Big Lebowski* (1998), as Younger Cop — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-lebowski.md)
- *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, as Mr. Hookland — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md)
- *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (1997), series, as Balthazar — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer.md)
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Barry Wall
- *Murder One* (1995), series, as Donald Losey — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/murder-one.md)
- *Apollo 13* (1995), as Dr. Chuck — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/apollo-13.md)
- *Cybill* (1995), series, as Ed Philo
- *ER* (1994), series, as Dr. Kurtag — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Josh & S.A.M.* (1993), as Policeman
- *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman* (1993), series, as Rollie Vale
- *And the Band Played On* (1993), as Dr. Dale Lawrence
- *The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.* (1993), series, as Socrates Poole
- *Hero* (1992), as James Conklin
- *Hearts Afire* (1992), series, as Martin Smithers
- *The Fisher King* (1991), as Edwin — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fisher-king.md)
- *Capital News* (1990), series, as Todd Lunden
- *Bad Influence* (1990), as Pismo Boll
- *Hard Time on Planet Earth* (1989), series, Actor
- *Disaster at Silo 7* (1988), as Colonel Brandon
- *Daddy's Boys* (1988), as Otis
- *Broadcast News* (1987), as Bobby — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md)
- *Surrender* (1987), as Dream Lawyer
- *Beauty and the Beast* (1987), series, as Jonathan Gould
- *21 Jump Street* (1987), series, as Charles Greening
- *Making Mr. Right* (1987), as Bruce
- *Independence* (1987), as Isaiah Creed
- *Black Widow* (1987), as Artie
- *Designing Women* (1986), series, Actor
- *Throb* (1986), series, Actor
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Pomerantz
- *It's Garry Shandling's Show* (1986), series, as The Amazing Al, Al
- *Heartburn* (1986), as Sidney — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/heartburn.md)
- *Legal Eagles* (1986), as Clerk
- *Matlock* (1986), series, as Cyril Henning, Dr. Tim Crider
- *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986), as Larry — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/hannah-and-her-sisters.md)
- *The Golden Girls* (1985), series, as Salesman — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-golden-girls.md)
- *Scarecrow and Mrs. King* (1983), series, Actor
- *Family Ties* (1982), series, as Mr. Flaherty
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, Actor — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *Fame* (1982), series, Actor

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won, 2 nominated

- 2009: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Boston Legal*
- 2007: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Boston Legal*
- 2006: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *Boston Legal*

### SAG Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 2009: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Boston Legal*
- 2008: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Boston Legal*

*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/christian-clemenson