---
name: "Daniel von Bargen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/daniel-von-bargen"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "5 June 1950"
died: "1 March 2015"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 80
updated: "2026-09-16T21:17:40.420677+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."
---

# Daniel von Bargen

Actor. Born 5 June 1950 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Died 1 March 2015.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 5 June 1950, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- **Died:** 1 March 2015
- **Active:** 1991–2000
- **Also known as:** Dan von Bargen, Daniel Van Bargen, دانیل فون بارگن

## Biography

Daniel von Bargen (5 June 1950 – 1 March 2015) was an American character actor of film, stage and television. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduated from Purdue University with a degree in drama, and began his career in regional theatre, including a long association with the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island. He later appeared on Broadway in the 1989 production of *Mastergate*.

Von Bargen was known for recurring television roles as Mr Kruger on *Seinfeld* (1997–1998) and Commandant Edwin Spangler on *Malcolm in the Middle* (2000–2002). His film credits included the SWAT communicator in *The Silence of the Lambs* (1991), the jury foreman in *Philadelphia* (1993), Lieutenant Nilsen in *Basic Instinct* (1992), Sheriff Cooley in *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (2000) and Chief Grady in *Super Troopers* (2001).

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

## On Fi1m (4)

- *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Sheriff Cooley — [page](https://film.one/film/o-brother-where-art-thou.md)
- *Philadelphia* (1993), Fi1m 76, as Jury Foreman — [page](https://film.one/film/philadelphia.md)
- *Basic Instinct* (1992), Fi1m 72, as Lieutenant Nilsen — [page](https://film.one/film/basic-instinct.md)
- *The Silence of the Lambs* (1991), Fi1m 91, as SWAT Communicator — [page](https://film.one/film/the-silence-of-the-lambs.md)

## Also known for

- *Malcolm in the Middle* (2000), Commandant Edwin Spangler
- *The Faculty* (1998), Mr. Tate
- *Crimson Tide* (1995), Vladimir Radchenko
- *G.I. Jane* (1997), Theodore Hayes
- *Broken Arrow* (1996), Air Force General Creely
- *Shaft* (2000), Lt Kearney
- *RoboCop 3* (1993), Moreno
- *Amistad* (1997), Warden Pendleton

---
© 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/daniel-von-bargen