---
name: "Crispin Glover"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/crispin-glover"
fi1m_id: "crispin-glover"
imdb_id: "nm0000417"
tmdb_id: 1064
wikidata_id: "Q310060"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "20 April 1964"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-05T02:57:24.268800+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."
---

# Crispin Glover

## Identity

Crispin Glover

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/crispin-glover
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** crispin-glover
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000417
- **TMDB ID:** 1064
- **Wikidata ID:** Q310060
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispin_Glover, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310060, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000417/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1064

Actor. Born 20 April 1964 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 20 April 1964, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1985–2010
- **Also known as:** Crispin Hellion Glover
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 6 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Cameron Diaz](https://film.one/person/cameron-diaz.md), [Drew Barrymore](https://film.one/person/drew-barrymore.md), [John August](https://film.one/person/john-august.md), [Johnny Depp](https://film.one/person/johnny-depp.md), [Leonard Goldberg](https://film.one/person/leonard-goldberg.md), [Lucy Liu](https://film.one/person/lucy-liu.md), [McG](https://film.one/person/mcg.md), [Nancy Juvonen](https://film.one/person/nancy-juvonen.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 83 (2), 1990s 80 (2), 2000s 59 (2), 2010s 48 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 61 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 4, Comedy 3, Action 2, Fantasy 2, Crime 1, Drama 1
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,945m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispin_Glover, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310060, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000417/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1064

## Coming up

- *The Third Parent* (2027-01-22), as Tommy Taffy

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Back to the Future*](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future.md) (92), [*Alice in Wonderland*](https://film.one/film/alice-in-wonderland-2010.md) (48)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Charlie's Angels*](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels.md) (68), [*Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle*](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels-full-throttle.md) (50)
- **The Criterion Channel:** [*Dead Man*](https://film.one/film/dead-man.md) (81)

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

## Fi1m on Crispin Glover

> Crispin Glover makes awkwardness hard to ignore, sometimes at the risk of overplaying it. We value him most when the precise, peculiar behaviour lets us see a person underneath, as it does in *Back to the Future*.

George McFly can seem almost too awkward to be believed in *Back to the Future* (1985). Crispin Glover’s comic habits threaten to take over, but the embarrassment behind them remains clear. We felt for George because that embarrassment is so recognisable, even when the behaviour is exaggerated. It is a performance we like with a reservation: sometimes we notice the effort to be peculiar before we notice the man.

In Robert Zemeckis’s film, a teenager meeting his parents in their awkward youth gives Glover’s exaggeration a comic purpose. Fox makes Marty’s discomfort funny without turning the encounter cruel. Lea Thompson gives Lorraine a life beyond being Marty’s mother, providing a useful contrast to Glover’s more conspicuous comic habits. We recommend the film warmly; our reservation concerns the insistence of Glover’s mannerisms, not the comedy built around him.

George was his breakthrough, and the next phase took him towards independent films such as *River’s Edge* (1986), where he played Layne, and work with David Lynch. His strongly physical acting and unusual vocal delivery suit characters who do not fit comfortably among other people. The risk is that being conspicuous becomes the whole performance, leaving us watching the technique rather than caring what happens. George gives us a reason to care, and we would ask the same of the other outsiders he plays.

By the 2000s, mainstream supporting parts were helping to finance his own experimental films. For the Thin Man in *Charlie’s Angels* (2000), he reworked the part as a silent character, an unusually direct way of putting the acting in the body. *Willard* (2003), with Glover as Willard Stiles, gave him his first studio lead; *What Is It?* (2005) followed as his directorial debut. His move into directing makes sense for an actor so particular about how a character is presented, though that independence is no guarantee of a satisfying film. Start with *Back to the Future*, where we can laugh at George and still feel for him.

## Biography

Crispin Hellion Glover is an American actor, filmmaker, author and artist. Born on 20 April 1964 in New York City, he is the son of actors Bruce Glover and Betty Glover. He trained for the stage with Dan Mason and Peggy Feury.

Glover's breakout role was as George McFly in *Back to the Future* (1985). He has appeared in films including *River's Edge* (1986), *Wild at Heart* (1990), *What's Eating Gilbert Grape* (1993), the *Charlie's Angels* films (2000 and 2003), *Beowulf* (2007), *9* (2009), *Alice in Wonderland* (2010) and *Hot Tub Time Machine* (2010). He also directed and produced *What Is It?* (2005) and *It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine!* (2007) through his company Volcanic Eruptions, and has written and published several books.

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

## On Fi1m (7)

### Performed in (6) — the average rests on these

- *Alice in Wonderland* (2010), Fi1m 48, as Ilosovic Stayne / Knave of Hearts — [page](https://film.one/film/alice-in-wonderland-2010.md)
- *Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle* (2003), Fi1m 50, as Thin Man — [page](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels-full-throttle.md)
- *Charlie's Angels* (2000), Fi1m 68, as Thin Man — [page](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels.md)
- *Dead Man* (1995), Fi1m 81, as Train Fireman — [page](https://film.one/film/dead-man.md)
- *Wild at Heart* (1990), Fi1m 78, as Dell — [page](https://film.one/film/wild-at-heart.md)
- *Back to the Future* (1985), Fi1m 92, as George McFly — [page](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future.md)

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

- *Back to the Future Part II* (1989), Fi1m 74, as George McFly (archive footage) — [page](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future-part-ii.md)

## Complete filmography (77)

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

- *The Third Parent* (2027), as Tommy Taffy
- *No! YOU'RE WRONG. or: Spooky Action at a Distance* (2025), as Brutus Muldoon (1888) / Chronos Muldoon (1918) / Damocles Muldoon (1948) · Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
- *A Blind Bargain* (2025), as Dr. Gruber
- *Mr. K* (2025), as Mr. K
- *Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities* (2022), series, as Richard Upton Pickman
- *Smiley Face Killers* (2021), as Hooded Figure
- *Red Bird Lane* (2021), as Jonah
- *Lucky Day* (2019), as Luc
- *We Have Always Lived in the Castle* (2019), as Uncle Julian Blackwood
- *Saat des Terrors* (2018), as James Logan Davis
- *By the Rivers of Babylon* (2018), as William
- *The Con Is On* (2018), as Gabriel Anderson
- *Back to the Future: The Hill Valley Chronicles* (2018), series, as George McFly
- *American Gods* (2017), series, as Mr. World
- *Aimy in a Cage* (2015), as Claude Bohringer
- *Texas Rising* (2015), series, as Mosley Baker
- *Influence* (2015), as Dr Manfred Abuse
- *The Bag Man* (2014), as Ned
- *Freaky Deaky* (2012), as Woody Ricks
- *Open Season 3* (2010), as Fifi (voice)
- *Mr. Nice* (2010), as Ernie Combs
- *Hot Tub Time Machine* (2010), as Phil
- *Alice in Wonderland* (2010), as Ilosovic Stayne / Knave of Hearts — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/alice-in-wonderland-2010.md)
- *The Donner Party* (2009), as William Foster
- *9* (2009), as #6 (voice)
- *Open Season 2* (2008), as Fifi (voice)
- *Freezer Burn: The Invasion of Laxdale* (2008), as Viergacht
- *It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine.* (2007), Director, Music Supervisor, Editor, Producer
- *Beowulf* (2007), as Grendel (Voice)
- *Simon Says* (2007), as Simon / Stanley
- *The Wizard of Gore* (2007), as Montag the Magnificent
- *Epic Movie* (2007), as Willy
- *Drop Dead Sexy* (2005), as Eddie
- *What Is It?* (2005), as Dueling Demi-God Auteur / The Young Man's Inner Psyche and Id · Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, Additional Photography, Music Supervisor
- *Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart* (2004), Actor
- *The Year of the Rat* (2003), Actor
- *Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle* (2003), as Thin Man — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels-full-throttle.md)
- *Willard* (2003), as Willard Stiles
- *Like Mike* (2002), as Stan Bittleman
- *Crime and Punishment* (2002), as Rodion Raskolnikov
- *Fast Sofa* (2001), as Jules Langdon
- *Bartleby* (2001), as Bartleby
- *Charlie's Angels* (2000), as Thin Man — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels.md)
- *Nurse Betty* (2000), as Roy
- *Beaver Trilogy* (2000), as Larry Huff
- *The People vs. Larry Flynt* (1996), as Arlo
- *Dead Man* (1995), as Train Fireman — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/dead-man.md)
- *Even Cowgirls Get the Blues* (1994), as Howard Barth
- *Chasers* (1994), as Howard Finster
- *What's Eating Gilbert Grape* (1993), as Bobby McBurney
- *Hotel Room* (1993), series, as Danny
- *Rubin & Ed* (1992), as Rubin Farr
- *Little Noises* (1992), as Joey Kremple
- *30 Door Key* (1991), as Miętus
- *The Doors* (1991), as Andy Warhol
- *Wild at Heart* (1990), as Dell — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/wild-at-heart.md)
- *Where the Heart Is* (1990), as Lionel
- *Back to the Future Part II* (1989), as George McFly (archive footage) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future-part-ii.md)
- *Twister* (1989), as Howdy
- *River's Edge* (1986), as Layne
- *At Close Range* (1986), as Lucas
- *The Orkly Kid* (1985), as Larry
- *Back to the Future* (1985), as George McFly — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future.md)
- *Teachers* (1984), as Danny
- *High School U.S.A.* (1984), as Bo Middleton
- *Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* (1984), as Jimmy Mortimer
- *Racing with the Moon* (1984), as Gatsby Boy
- *High School U.S.A.* (1983), as Archie Feld
- *My Tutor* (1983), as Jack
- *The Kid with the 200 I.Q.* (1983), as New Student
- *Family Ties* (1982), series, as Doug
- *The Best of Times* (1981), as Crispin
- *The Facts of Life* (1979), series, Actor
- *Happy Days* (1974), series, Actor
- *Skinemax*, Actor
- *A Hero's Journey: The Making of Beowulf*, as Grendel
- *Death of a Brewer*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Photograph of Crispin Glover at the E! Post Oscars Party at club Drai's in the W Hotel, Hollywood, CA, March 7th, 2010](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-a1f38b0b47ef.jpg) Photograph of Crispin Glover at the E! Post Oscars Party at club Drai's in the W Hotel, Hollywood, CA, March 7th, 2010 — Thomas Attila Lewis, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Crispin-glover-03072010.jpg/1280px-Crispin-glover-03072010.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Crispin Glover](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-df4f9548ada9.jpg) Crispin Glover — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Crispin_Glover_2012_Shankbone.JPG/1280px-Crispin_Glover_2012_Shankbone.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Crispin Glover at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-2f31f4a5faac.jpg) Crispin Glover at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Crispin_Glover_2012_Shankbone_2.JPG/1280px-Crispin_Glover_2012_Shankbone_2.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Photograph of Crispin Glover at the E! Post Oscars Party at club Drai's in the W Hotel, Hollywood, CA, March 7th, 2010. Original work by Thomas Attila Lewis cro](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-77aa9ac9dab8.jpg) Photograph of Crispin Glover at the E! Post Oscars Party at club Drai's in the W Hotel, Hollywood, CA, March 7th, 2010. Original work by Thomas Attila Lewis cro — Thomas Attila Lewis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Crispin_Glover_cropped_2010.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Crispin Glover](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-9192548eea9d.jpg) Crispin Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Crispin Glover](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-07f02bd54a58.jpg) Crispin Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Crispin Glover](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-1a4763b5aa62.jpg) Crispin Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Crispin Hellion Glover January 6 2014](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-b6bccc2e0dbf.jpg) Crispin Hellion Glover January 6 2014 — Innocenceisgolden, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Crispin_Hellion_Glover_January_6_2014.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Crispin Glover](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-374dc88a3e60.jpg) Crispin Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Crispin Glover](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-597478c827cc.jpg) Crispin Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Crispin Glover](https://film.one/media/person/59882/gallery-4d64be37188f.jpg) Crispin Glover — 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/crispin-glover