--- name: "Frank Langella" canonical: "https://film.one/person/frank-langella" fi1m_id: "frank-langella" imdb_id: "nm0001449" tmdb_id: 8924 wikidata_id: "Q310944" roles: ["Actor"] born: "1 January 1938" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 72 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-02T23:14:15.470011+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." --- # Frank Langella ## Identity Frank Langella - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/frank-langella - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** frank-langella - **IMDb ID:** nm0001449 - **TMDB ID:** 8924 - **Wikidata ID:** Q310944 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Langella, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310944, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001449/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8924 Actor. Born 1 January 1938 in Bayonne, New Jersey, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 1 January 1938, Bayonne, New Jersey, USA - **Active:** 2005–2016 - **Also known as:** Frank A. Langella Jr., فرانک لانگلا - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 75 (3), 2010s 70 (4) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 69 across 7 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 5, Adventure 3, Comedy 2, Crime 2, History 2, Action 1 - **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $939m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Langella, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310944, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001449/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8924 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*The Americans*](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md) (91) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Frost/Nixon*](https://film.one/film/frost-nixon.md) (81) - **Tubi:** [*Captain Fantastic*](https://film.one/film/captain-fantastic.md) (63) - **HBO Max:** [*Superman Returns*](https://film.one/film/superman-returns.md) (60) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Frank Langella > Frank Langella makes men accustomed to obedience interesting when they have to persuade. We value the charm and vulnerability he brings to authority, particularly when his films are less willing to complicate matters. In *Frost/Nixon* (2008), Frank Langella makes the effort to remain in control visible even while Nixon is being charming. He lets us see a man who wants a sympathetic hearing and knows how to encourage one. We felt uncomfortable sympathy during the interviews because his need to be understood kept showing through the calculation. Salvatore Totino’s close views give that struggle enough space to hold our attention without diversions. Langella leaves just enough doubt about the charm for us to wonder how much of it has been rehearsed. His early film work included *Diary of a Mad Housewife* (1970) and *The Twelve Chairs* (1970), before *Dracula* brought wider fame on Broadway in 1977 and on film in 1979. His career moved between stage work and supporting film roles, with seductive and villainous typecasting limiting some of the opportunities. The later prominence of Nixon, played on Broadway in 2007 before the film, was a return to wider attention. The attraction of that part is how often his authority seems in need of reassurance. In George Clooney’s *Good Night, and Good Luck.* (2005), his William Paley makes the network’s commercial pressures harder to dismiss. Langella plays the network president without turning him into a monster, giving us reasons to listen when the journalists’ convictions meet the business of broadcasting. The film can be thin on the lives of its supporting characters, but Paley has a credible concern beyond endorsing the newsroom’s sense of duty. We rate this performance particularly highly because he complicates a film that usually makes it clear whom to support. Ron Howard gives him more room in *Frost/Nixon*, though the film’s clear-cut contest sometimes makes too little of the danger in his performance. Michael Corenblith’s unobtrusive television setting helps keep our attention on the men and their efforts to control appearances. The film’s eagerness to make Nixon sympathetic risks softening a performance that can still suggest manipulation. That is a limit of the film rather than a reason to discount the acting. Start with *Good Night, and Good Luck.*, then try *Frost/Nixon* with some caution about how firmly Howard tells us whom to back. ## Biography Frank Langella is an American stage and film actor. He was born on 1 January 1938 in Bayonne, New Jersey, and graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in drama in 1959. He made his Broadway debut in 1966. Langella has won four Tony Awards: for featured roles in *Seascape* (1975) and *Fortune's Fool* (2002), and leading roles in *Frost/Nixon* (2007) and *The Father* (2016). He received an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Richard Nixon in the 2008 film adaptation of *Frost/Nixon*. His film credits include *Diary of a Mad Housewife* (1970), *Dracula* (1979), *Good Night, and Good Luck* (2005) as William Paley, *Superman Returns* (2006), *Frost/Nixon* (2008), *Captain Fantastic* (2016) and *The Trial of the Chicago 7* (2020). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *Captain Fantastic* (2016), Fi1m 63, as Jack Bertrang — [page](https://film.one/film/captain-fantastic.md) - *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), Fi1m 66, as Beefeater Vicar — [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md) - *Noah* (2014), Fi1m 58, as Og (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/noah.md) - *The Americans* (2013), Fi1m 91, as Gabriel — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md) - *Frost/Nixon* (2008), Fi1m 81, as Richard Nixon — [page](https://film.one/film/frost-nixon.md) - *Superman Returns* (2006), Fi1m 60, as Perry White — [page](https://film.one/film/superman-returns.md) - *Good Night, and Good Luck.* (2005), Fi1m 83, as William Paley — [page](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck.md) ## Complete filmography (99) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost* (2025), Thanks - *Angry Neighbors* (2022), as Harry March - *The Trial of the Chicago 7* (2020), as Judge Julius Hoffman - *Kidding* (2018), series, as Sebastian Piccirillo - *Youth in Oregon* (2017), as Raymond Engersol - *Captain Fantastic* (2016), as Jack Bertrang — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/captain-fantastic.md) - *All the Way* (2016), as Sen. Richard Russell - *The Driftless Area* (2015), as Tim Geer - *Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films* (2014), as Skeletor (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet* (2014), as Pasha (voice) - *Grace of Monaco* (2014), as Father Francis Tucker - *5 to 7* (2014), as Sam Bloom - *Draft Day* (2014), as Anthony Molina - *Parts Per Billion* (2014), as Andy - *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), as Beefeater Vicar — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md) - *Noah* (2014), as Og (voice) — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/noah.md) - *Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight* (2013), as Chief Justice Warren Burger - *The Americans* (2013), series, as Gabriel — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md) - *The Time Being* (2012), as Warner Dax - *Robot & Frank* (2012), as Frank - *Unknown* (2011), as Rodney Cole - *All Good Things* (2010), as Sanford Marks - *Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics* (2010), as Perry White (archive footage) - *Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps* (2010), as Lewis Zabel - *The Box* (2009), as Arlington Steward - *The Tale of Despereaux* (2008), as Mayor (voice) - *Frost/Nixon* (2008), as Richard Nixon — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/frost-nixon.md) - *The Caller* (2008), as Jimmy Stevens - *Objects and Memory* (2008), as Narrator - *Starting Out in the Evening* (2007), as Leonard Schiller - *Return to Rajapur* (2006), as Ned Bears - *Crossroads* (2006), as Father Tew - *Superman Returns* (2006), as Perry White — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/superman-returns.md) - *10.5: Apocalypse* (2006), series, as Dr. Earl Hill - *The Water Is Wide* (2006), as Superintendent - *King Tutankhamun - The Mystery Unsealed* (2006), Actor - *Capitol Law* (2006), as Managing Partner - *Kitchen Confidential* (2005), series, as Pino - *Good Night, and Good Luck.* (2005), as William Paley — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck.md) - *Back in the Day* (2005), as Lieutenant Hudson - *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Commodore Francis Stoat (voice) - *Now You See It...* (2005), as Max - *Unscripted* (2005), series, as Goddard - *How You Look to Me* (2005), as Professor Driskoll - *House of D* (2004), as Reverend Duncan - *Inside High Noon* (2003), as Narrator (voice) - *111 Gramercy Park* (2003), as William - *The Beast* (2001), series, Actor - *Sweet November* (2001), as Edgar Price - *Cry Baby Lane* (2000), as Mr. Bennett - *Stardom* (2000), as Blaine De Castillon - *Jason and the Argonauts* (2000), series, as Aertes - *Innocents* (2000), as Robert Denright - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Al Baker - *The Ninth Gate* (1999), as Boris Balkan - *Alegría* (1999), as Fleur - *I'm Losing You* (1998), as Perry Needham Krohn - *Small Soldiers* (1998), as Archer (voice) - *Lolita* (1997), as Clare Quilty - *The Greatest Pharaohs* (1997), series, as Narrator - *Mummies: Tales from the Egyptian Crypts* (1996), series, as Narrator - *Eddie* (1996), as Wild Bill Burgess - *Moses* (1996), series, as Mermefta - *Cutthroat Island* (1995), as Dawg - *Bad Company* (1995), as Vic Grimes - *Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage* (1994), as Narrator - *Junior* (1994), as Noah Banes - *Doomsday Gun* (1994), as Dr. Gerald Bull - *Brainscan* (1994), as Detective Hayden - *Dave* (1993), as Bob Alexander - *Body of Evidence* (1993), as Jeffrey Roston - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Minister Jaro — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md) - *Lincoln* (1992), as John Wilkes Booth (voice) - *1492: Conquest of Paradise* (1992), as Santangel - *True Identity* (1991), as Leland Carver - *The Magic Balloon* (1990), Actor - *And God Created Woman* (1988), as James Tiernan - *Masters of the Universe* (1987), as Skeletor - *The Men's Club* (1986), as Harold Canterbury - *Liberty* (1986), as Frederic Auguste Bartholdi - *I, Leonardo: A Journey of the Mind* (1983), as Leonardo da Vinci - *Sherlock Holmes: The Strange Case of Alice Faulkner* (1981), as Sherlock Holmes - *Sphinx* (1981), as Akmed Khazzan - *Those Lips, Those Eyes* (1980), as Harry Crystal - *Dracula* (1979), as Count Dracula - *The Prince of Homburg* (1977), as The Prince of Homburg - *The Eccentricities of a Nightingale* (1976), as John Buchanan - *The American Woman: Portraits of Courage* (1976), as John Adams - *The Swiss Family Robinson* (1975), series, Actor - *The Seagull* (1975), as Konstantin Treplev - *The Mark of Zorro* (1974), as Don Diego / Zorro - *The Wrath of God* (1972), as Thomas De La Plata - *The Deadly Trap* (1971), as Philippe - *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Konstantin Treplev, John Buchanan, The Prince of Homburg - *The Twelve Chairs* (1970), as Ostap Bender - *Diary of a Mad Housewife* (1970), as George Prager - *NET Playhouse* (1966), series, as Benito Cereno - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Dr. Henry Piedmont - *The Beast in the Jungle*, Actor ## Gallery - ![Frank Langella](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-0060d3088b38.jpg) Frank Langella — Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Frank_Langella_Deauville_2012.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Legendary Actor. 4/13/16 (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-b1b7513fe4ac.jpg) Legendary Actor. 4/13/16 (2016) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Frank_Langella_%2826420122855%29.jpg/1280px-Frank_Langella_%2826420122855%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Photo of Frank Langella from the play The Tooth of Crime. (1972)](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-a64f420e58c8.jpg) Photo of Frank Langella from the play The Tooth of Crime. (1972) — McCarter Theater-Princeton University-public relations, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Frank_Langella_1972.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Frank Langella (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-4ed76f4ab72f.jpg) Frank Langella (2010) — Anthony Quintano, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Frank_Langella_%E2%80%94_%22Wall_Street_Money_Never_Sleeps%22_Premiere%2C_New_York_City%2C_2010_%2855362076452%29.jpg/1280px-Frank_Langella_%E2%80%94_%22Wall_Street_Money_Never_Sleeps%22_Premiere%2C_New_York_City%2C_2010_%2855362076452%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Frank Langella](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-30eac6c62ba7.jpg) Frank Langella — Image via TMDB - ![Frank Langella](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-e4ac3d9970a9.jpg) Frank Langella — Image via TMDB - ![Frank Langella](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-d69400804f4a.jpg) Frank Langella — Image via TMDB - ![Frank Langella (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-1b7de8907b8d.jpg) Frank Langella (2010) — Anthony Quintano, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Frank_Langella_%E2%80%94_%22Wall_Street_Money_Never_Sleeps%22_Premiere%2C_New_York_City%2C_2010_%2855363166343%29.jpg/1280px-Frank_Langella_%E2%80%94_%22Wall_Street_Money_Never_Sleeps%22_Premiere%2C_New_York_City%2C_2010_%2855363166343%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Frank Langella (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-512f4d2c073a.jpg) Frank Langella (2010) — Anthony Quintano, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Frank_Langella_%E2%80%94_%22Wall_Street_Money_Never_Sleeps%22_Premiere%2C_New_York_City%2C_2010_%2855363427230%29.jpg/1280px-Frank_Langella_%E2%80%94_%22Wall_Street_Money_Never_Sleeps%22_Premiere%2C_New_York_City%2C_2010_%2855363427230%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Frank Langella](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-8640789ba022.jpg) Frank Langella — Image via TMDB - ![Frank Langella](https://film.one/media/person/98792/gallery-15684463cd30.jpg) Frank Langella — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 2009: Best Actor (nominated), for *Frost/Nixon* ### Other awards — 5 won, 3 nominated - Sitges Grand Honorary Award 2017: Sitges Grand Honorary Award (won) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2016: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (won) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2012: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2007: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (won) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2004: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated) - Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 2002: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (won) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1978: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated) - Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1975: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (won) *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/frank-langella