---
name: "David Naughton"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-naughton"
fi1m_id: "david-naughton"
imdb_id: "nm0622544"
tmdb_id: 14463
wikidata_id: "Q718200"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 February 1951"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-17T23:35:05.245845+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."
---

# David Naughton

## Identity

David Naughton

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-naughton
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-naughton
- **IMDb ID:** nm0622544
- **TMDB ID:** 14463
- **Wikidata ID:** Q718200
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Naughton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718200, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0622544/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14463

Actor. Born 13 February 1951 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 February 1951, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Naughton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718200, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0622544/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14463

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*An American Werewolf in London*](https://film.one/film/an-american-werewolf-in-london.md) (80)

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

## Fi1m on David Naughton

> David Naughton's easy likeability gives *An American Werewolf in London* much of its sting. We rate the warmth and credible fear he brings to David Kessler, even when the writing gives him too little else to play.

David Naughton lets David Kessler seem baffled without making him seem stupid. In John Landis's *An American Werewolf in London* (1981), that distinction keeps an ordinary young man worth caring about amid the supernatural trouble. His exchanges with Griffin Dunne's Jack Goodman retain the ease of travelling companions who already know each other's habits. The humour comes from that familiarity, with Naughton giving Dunne someone credible to talk to. We found David's suffering hard to watch because Naughton had made us fond of him before the physical horror took hold.

His early work drew on a more openly energetic performer, in Dr Pepper commercials and the sitcom *Makin' It* (1979), whose theme song he sang. *Midnight Madness* (1980) was his film debut; *An American Werewolf in London* brought the breakthrough. Landis found a useful purpose for that affability, giving the frightening material someone it could hurt. Rick Baker's make-up effects are crucial, but Naughton's credible fear gives us a reason to stay with the person underneath them.

The limitation is how little more the screenplay allows David to become once his predicament is established. Jenny Agutter brings warmth to Nurse Alex Price, and the attachment between her and David remains credible for longer than the writing deserves. Their romance needs more time, particularly if it is to tell us something about him beyond his immediate distress. Naughton can sustain the confusion and fear, but he cannot supply all the depth Landis has left unwritten.

His subsequent work has consisted largely of television guest appearances and supporting parts in lower-profile films, with horror remaining part of the career. That limited run of film leads should not obscure how well he served the one that made his name. Start with *An American Werewolf in London*, allowing for the thin romance and taking its physical horror seriously.

## Biography

David Naughton is an American actor and singer. He trained at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied drama, and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

He is known for his lead role as David Kessler in the horror film *An American Werewolf in London* (1981) and for starring in the Disney comedy *Midnight Madness* (1980). He also appeared in the short-lived sitcom *Makin' It* (1979), for which he recorded the hit theme song, and featured in a long-running advertising campaign for Dr Pepper.

Naughton has worked extensively in television, with credits including *My Sister Sam*, *Seinfeld*, *ER* and *Grey's Anatomy*. His older brother, James Naughton, is also an actor.

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

## On Fi1m (1)

- *An American Werewolf in London* (1981), Fi1m 80, as David Kessler — [page](https://film.one/film/an-american-werewolf-in-london.md)

## Complete filmography (70)

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

- *The Obelisk* (2026), Actor
- *Waking Nightmare* (2023), as Dr. Doolin
- *Attack of the Killer Chickens: The Movie* (2022), as President Robertson
- *Rediscovering Christmas* (2019), as Harry
- *The Hatred* (2017), as Walter
- *Sharknado 5: Global Swarming* (2017), as Ambassador Kessler
- *Cool As Hell* (2013), as Clark
- *A Thousand Cuts* (2012), as Alan
- *American Horror Story* (2011), series, as Mr. Samuels
- *Little Hercules* (2009), as Dwayne Harr
- *The Mentalist* (2008), series, as Neurologist — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md)
- *Brutal Massacre: A Comedy* (2008), as Harry Penderecki
- *Hallows Point* (2007), as Shopkeeper
- *Big Bad Wolf* (2006), as Sheriff Ruben
- *Psych* (2006), series, as Ken Tucker
- *Big Love* (2006), series, as Mr. Usher — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/big-love.md)
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Nick Parker — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder* (2005), as Steven
- *Flying Virus* (2001), as Dr. Stephen North
- *Justice League* (2001), series, as The Streak (voice)
- *Crossing Jordan* (2001), series, as DA Jenetta
- *The Nightmare Room* (2001), series, as Mr. Ryan
- *A Crack in the Floor* (2001), as EMT Driver
- *Out of the Wilderness* (2001), as Professor Byrd
- *V.I.P.* (1998), series, as Roy
- *Chance of a Lifetime* (1998), as Art Haber
- *Mirror, Mirror III: The Voyeur* (1995), as Detective Kobeck
- *JAG* (1995), series, as Det. Grady
- *Ice Cream Man* (1995), as Martin Cassera
- *Urban Safari* (1995), as Joe Johnson
- *Cybill* (1995), series, as Andy
- *Beanstalk* (1994), as Mr. Ladd
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Michael Russell
- *ER* (1994), series, as Ben Stevens — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Desert Steel* (1994), as Zach
- *Caribbean Kill* (1994), Actor
- *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Harry Gelson
- *Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's* (1993), as Brad
- *Body Bags* (1993), as Pete
- *Amityville: A New Generation* (1993), as Dick Cutler
- *Wild Cactus* (1993), as Philip Marcus
- *Melrose Place* (1992), series, as Lou Chandler
- *Steel and Lace* (1991), as Dunn
- *Shades of L.A.* (1990), series, Actor
- *The Sleeping Car* (1990), as Jason McCree
- *Overexposed* (1990), as Phillip
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Dick — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Goddess of Love* (1988), as Ted Beckman
- *Kidnapped* (1988), as Vince McCarthy
- *Private Affairs* (1987), as Mauro
- *My Sister Sam* (1986), series, as Jack Kincaid
- *Separate Vacations* (1986), as Richard Moore
- *The Boy in Blue* (1986), as Bill
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as LaManna
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, Actor
- *Not for Publication* (1984), as Barry Denver
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Ken Parrish
- *Getting Physical* (1984), as Mickey Ritter
- *Hot Dog... The Movie* (1984), as Dan O'Callahan
- *At Ease* (1983), series, Actor
- *I, Desire* (1982), as David Balsiger
- *An American Werewolf in London* (1981), as David Kessler — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/an-american-werewolf-in-london.md)
- *Making an American Werewolf in London* (1981), Actor
- *Separate Ways* (1981), as Jerry Lansing
- *Life, Liberty and Pursuit on the Planet of the Apes* (1980), as Dr. Stole
- *Midnight Madness* (1980), as Adam Larson - Yellow Team Leader
- *The Other Side of Victory* (1979), as Michael Dooley
- *Makin' It* (1979), series, as Billy Manucci
- *Planet of the Apes* (1974), series, as Dr. Stole
- *Generation Angst*, as Father O'Kessler

## Gallery

- ![David Naughton](https://film.one/media/person/117584/gallery-fc4933700e9a.jpg) David Naughton — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/David_Naughton_Photo_Op_Nightmare_Weekend_Richmond_2023.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023](https://film.one/media/person/117584/gallery-73b59bd6cb1b.jpg) David Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/David_Naughton_%2853257870864%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023](https://film.one/media/person/117584/gallery-dc70e1e9c877.jpg) David Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/David_Naughton_%2853297342312%29.jpg/1280px-David_Naughton_%2853297342312%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023](https://film.one/media/person/117584/gallery-e8b209446e98.jpg) David Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023 — John Manard for Super Festivals/GalaxyCon from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/David_Naughton_%2853298449218%29.jpg/1280px-David_Naughton_%2853298449218%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Naughton](https://film.one/media/person/117584/gallery-49277c882f8e.jpg) David Naughton — Image via TMDB
- ![David Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023](https://film.one/media/person/117584/gallery-71b625358d95.jpg) David Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023 — John Manard for Super Festivals/GalaxyCon from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/David_Naughton_%2853336545455%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Naughton at Animate x Nightmare Weekend Des Moines in 2024](https://film.one/media/person/117584/gallery-4de1b49a5baa.jpg) David Naughton at Animate x Nightmare Weekend Des Moines in 2024 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/David_Naughton_%2854035799556%29.jpg/1280px-David_Naughton_%2854035799556%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/david-naughton