--- name: "Jeff Daniels" canonical: "https://film.one/person/jeff-daniels" fi1m_id: "jeff-daniels" imdb_id: "nm0001099" tmdb_id: 8447 wikidata_id: "Q53680" roles: ["Actor"] born: "19 February 1955" reviewed_on_fi1m: 17 average_fi1m_score: 74 average_as: "actor" average_over: 16 updated: "2026-10-13T21:40:42.538797+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." --- # Jeff Daniels ## Identity Jeff Daniels - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jeff-daniels - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** jeff-daniels - **IMDb ID:** nm0001099 - **TMDB ID:** 8447 - **Wikidata ID:** Q53680 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Daniels, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53680, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001099/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8447 Actor. Born 19 February 1955 in Athens, Georgia, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 19 February 1955, Athens, Georgia, USA - **Active:** 1983–present - **Also known as:** 제프 다니엘스, 杰夫·丹尼尔斯, Джефф Деніелс - **Titles on Fi1m:** 17: 16 acting, 1 other - **Frequently works with:** [Glenn Close](https://film.one/person/glenn-close.md), [Jack Nicholson](https://film.one/person/jack-nicholson.md), [Robert Greenhut](https://film.one/person/robert-greenhut.md) - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 2 Emmys (2 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 16 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 76 (4), 1990s 72 (3), 2000s 79 (3), 2010s 77 (5), 2020s 59 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 73 across 14 titles - **Score spread:** 8 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 7 of 15 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 10, Comedy 7, History 3, Romance 3, Action 2, Science Fiction 2 - **Screen time:** 26 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,991m across 14 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Daniels, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53680, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001099/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8447 ## Streaming the US now - **Netflix:** [*Speed*](https://film.one/film/speed.md) (86), [*The Squid and the Whale*](https://film.one/film/the-squid-and-the-whale.md) (83), [*Godless*](https://film.one/tv/godless.md) (74) - **Apple TV:** [*Something Wild*](https://film.one/film/something-wild.md) (82), [*Looper*](https://film.one/film/looper.md) (78) - **Disney+:** [*The Looming Tower*](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md) (70), [*101 Dalmatians*](https://film.one/film/101-dalmatians.md) (54) - **Pluto TV:** [*The Purple Rose of Cairo*](https://film.one/film/the-purple-rose-of-cairo.md) (84) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Martian*](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md) (82) - **Hulu:** [*Terms of Endearment*](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md) (81) - **HBO Max:** [*Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story*](https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story.md) (80) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Jeff Daniels > Jeff Daniels takes foolish people seriously, making a calm reply count beside a co-star’s exertions. We rate his timing and his unembarrassed commitment to a part, though the more forceful performances can grow overbearing. Harry Dunne answers Jim Carrey’s Lloyd in *Dumb and Dumber* (1994) with a calm that makes the stupidity more convincing. Jeff Daniels does not signal that he is too good for the joke, or allow Harry a private intelligence the script has somehow missed. His replies give Carrey’s insistence something to work against, without making the quieter man seem sensible. We grew fond of Harry because Daniels plays him without embarrassment, even when the film begins repeating itself. That willingness to remain foolish is a substantial part of the double act’s appeal. His supporting role in *Terms of Endearment* (1983) was followed by a leading part in Woody Allen’s *The Purple Rose of Cairo* (1985). The move into broad comedy with *Dumb and Dumber* gave that matter-of-fact manner another use. Later, in *The Newsroom* (2012–2014), his Will McAvoy put the emphasis on authority and rapid dialogue. That work suits his intensity, though Harry remains a useful reminder of how little he needs to press. In Peter Farrelly’s comedy, the support around the actors matters. Christopher Greenbury’s editing gives individual exchanges a snap, even if it lets too many similar gags accumulate across the journey. Todd Rundgren’s music keeps things buoyant without competing for attention, leaving Daniels’s next response room to land. The briefcase errand does its job; the recurring gags are what make the journey drag. Daniels helps us stay with it because Harry becomes agreeable company, and his quieter responses remain worth waiting for. The risk comes when Daniels pushes his assurance too hard. The excess and accent problems in *A Man in Full* (2024) make that forcefulness distracting. We prefer the actor who trusts a straightforward delivery and gives his partner time to finish, without asking us to notice how carefully he has timed the reply. Start with *Dumb and Dumber*, provided the bodily-function jokes have not exhausted their appeal. ## Biography Jeff Daniels is an American actor. Born in Athens, Georgia, on 19 February 1955, he was raised in Chelsea, Michigan, and briefly attended Central Michigan University before leaving to pursue acting. He made his film debut in *Ragtime* (1981) and appeared in *Terms of Endearment* (1983) and *The Purple Rose of Cairo* (1985). Daniels is known for his roles as Harry Dunne in *Dumb and Dumber* (1994) and Harry in *Speed* (1994). In 1991 he founded the Purple Rose Theatre Company, a non-profit theatre in Michigan named after the Woody Allen film in which he starred. Daniels has received three Tony Award nominations for Broadway performances, including in *God of Carnage* (2009). His other film credits include *The Squid and the Whale* (2005), *Looper* (2012), *Steve Jobs* (2015) and *The Martian* (2015). He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, purplerosetheatre.org, ibdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (17) ### Performed in (16) — the average rests on these - *The Brink of War* (2026), Fi1m 38, as Ronald Reagan — [page](https://film.one/film/the-brink-of-war.md) - *The Looming Tower* (2018), Fi1m 70, as John O'Neill — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md) - *Godless* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Frank Griffin — [page](https://film.one/tv/godless.md) - *Steve Jobs* (2015), Fi1m 80, as John Sculley — [page](https://film.one/film/steve-jobs.md) - *The Martian* (2015), Fi1m 82, as Theodore "Teddy" Sanders — [page](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md) - *Looper* (2012), Fi1m 78, as Abe — [page](https://film.one/film/looper.md) - *Good Night, and Good Luck.* (2005), Fi1m 83, as Sig Mickelson — [page](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck.md) - *The Squid and the Whale* (2005), Fi1m 83, as Bernard Berkman — [page](https://film.one/film/the-squid-and-the-whale.md) - *The Hours* (2002), Fi1m 72, as Louis Waters — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hours.md) - *101 Dalmatians* (1996), Fi1m 54, as Roger — [page](https://film.one/film/101-dalmatians.md) - *Dumb and Dumber* (1994), Fi1m 76, as Harry Dunne — [page](https://film.one/film/dumb-and-dumber.md) - *Speed* (1994), Fi1m 86, as Harry — [page](https://film.one/film/speed.md) - *Heartburn* (1986), Fi1m 55, as Richard — [page](https://film.one/film/heartburn.md) - *Something Wild* (1986), Fi1m 82, as Charles Driggs — [page](https://film.one/film/something-wild.md) - *The Purple Rose of Cairo* (1985), Fi1m 84, as Tom Baxter / Gil Shepherd — [page](https://film.one/film/the-purple-rose-of-cairo.md) - *Terms of Endearment* (1983), Fi1m 81, as Flap Horton — [page](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story* (2024), Fi1m 80, as Self — [page](https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story.md) ## Complete filmography (101) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Brink of War* (2026), as Ronald Reagan — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/the-brink-of-war.md) - *The American Revolution* (2025), series, as Thomas Jefferson (voice) - *A Man in Full* (2024), series, as Charlie Croker - *The American Buffalo* (2023), series, as (voice) - *The Saint of Second Chances* (2023), as Narrator (voice) - *Shrinking* (2023), series, as Randy — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/tv/shrinking.md) - *American Rust* (2021), series, as Det. Del Harris · Executive Producer - *Hemingway* (2021), series, as Ernest Hemingway (voice) - *The Comey Rule* (2020), series, as James Comey - *Adam* (2020), as Mickey - *The Morning Show* (2019), series, as Lukas - *Guest Artist* (2019), as Joseph Harris · Producer, Writer - *The Emperor's Newest Clothes* (2018), as The Emperor - *The Catcher Was a Spy* (2018), as Bill Donovan - *The Looming Tower* (2018), series, as John O'Neill — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md) - *Godless* (2017), series, as Frank Griffin — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/godless.md) - *Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge* (2017), series, as Narrator - *Allegiant* (2016), as David - *Hunting Hitler* (2015), series, Creator - *Steve Jobs* (2015), as John Sculley — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/steve-jobs.md) - *The Martian* (2015), as Theodore "Teddy" Sanders — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md) - *ARES: live* (2015), series, as Teddy Sanders - *Dumb and Dumber To* (2014), as Harry Dunne - *Looper* (2012), as Abe — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/looper.md) - *The Newsroom* (2012), series, as Will McAvoy - *Howl* (2010), as Professor David Kirk - *The Answer Man* (2009), as Arlen Faber - *Paper Man* (2009), as Richard Dunn - *Away We Go* (2009), as Jerry Farlander - *State of Play* (2009), as George Fergus - *Traitor* (2008), as Carter - *Space Chimps* (2008), as Zartog (voice) - *A Plumm Summer* (2008), as Narrator - *Sweet Nothing in My Ear* (2008), as Dan Miller - *Mama's Boy* (2007), as Mert Rosenbloom - *The Lookout* (2007), as Lewis - *Infamous* (2006), as Alvin Dewey - *RV* (2006), as Travis Gornicke - *The Squid and the Whale* (2005), as Bernard Berkman — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/the-squid-and-the-whale.md) - *Good Night, and Good Luck.* (2005), as Sig Mickelson — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck.md) - *Because of Winn-Dixie* (2005), as Preacher - *The Five People You Meet In Heaven* (2004), as Blue Man - *Remembering Ragtime* (2004), as P. C. O'Donnell (archive footage) - *Imaginary Heroes* (2004), as Ben Travis - *The Goodbye Girl* (2004), as Elliot Garfield - *I Witness* (2003), as James Rhodes - *Gods and Generals* (2003), as Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain - *The Hours* (2002), as Louis Waters — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hours.md) - *Blood Work* (2002), as Jasper 'Buddy' Noone - *Super Sucker* (2002), as Fred Barlow · Director, Writer - *Chasing Sleep* (2001), as Ed Saxon - *Escanaba in da Moonlight* (2001), as Rueben Soady · Director - *It's the Rage* (2000), as Warren - *Cheaters* (2000), as Dr. Gerard Plecki - *The Crossing* (2000), as Gen. George Washington - *My Favorite Martian* (1999), as Tim O'Hara - *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Jeff Daniels (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md) - *Pleasantville* (1998), as Mr. Johnson - *Trial and Error* (1997), as Charles Tuttle - *101 Dalmatians* (1996), as Roger — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/101-dalmatians.md) - *Fly Away Home* (1996), as Thomas Alden - *2 Days in the Valley* (1996), as Alvin Strayer - *Redwood Curtain* (1995), as Lyman Fellers - *Dumb and Dumber* (1994), as Harry Dunne — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/dumb-and-dumber.md) - *Speed* (1994), as Harry — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/speed.md) - *Gettysburg* (1993), as Col. Joshua Chamberlain - *Frasier* (1993), series, as Doug (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md) - *Rain Without Thunder* (1993), as Jonathan Garson - *There Goes the Neighborhood* (1992), as Willis Embry - *Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story* (1992), as Tom Noonan - *HBO First Look* (1992), series, Actor - *Timescape* (1992), as Ben Wilson - *The Butcher's Wife* (1991), as Dr. Alex Tremor - *Breakfast with the Arts* (1991), series, Actor - *Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael* (1990), as Denton Webb - *Arachnophobia* (1990), as Ross Jennings - *Love Hurts* (1990), as Paul Weaver - *No Place Like Home* (1989), as Mike Cooper - *Checking Out* (1988), as Ray Macklin - *Sweet Hearts Dance* (1988), as Sam Manners - *The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial* (1988), as Lt. Steve Maryk - *The House on Carroll Street* (1988), as Cochran - *Trying Times* (1987), series, as Jim - *Radio Days* (1987), as Biff Baxter - *Something Wild* (1986), as Charles Driggs — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/something-wild.md) - *Heartburn* (1986), as Richard — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/heartburn.md) - *Marie: A True Story* (1985), as Eddie Sisk - *The Purple Rose of Cairo* (1985), as Tom Baxter / Gil Shepherd — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-purple-rose-of-cairo.md) - *Terms of Endearment* (1983), as Flap Horton — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md) - *An Invasion of Privacy* (1983), as Francis Ryan - *Fifth of July* (1982), as Jed Jenkins - *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Jed Jenkins - *Ragtime* (1981), as P.C. O'Donnell - *A Rumor of War* (1980), series, as Chaplain - *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Neal Forrester - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Lyman Fellers - *The Reception*, Actor - *Gerald R. Ford: A Test of Character*, as Narrator - *Blind Logic: The Ralph R. Teetor Story*, as Ralph Teetor (voice) - *2034*, Actor - *Starman*, as Ed Watkins ## Gallery - ![Jeff Daniels](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-3def2214d2ac.jpg) Jeff Daniels — iDominick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Jeff_Daniels_at_PaleyFest_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018.](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-e4116873a88b.jpg) Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018. — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Jeff_Daniels_%2841544393510%29.jpg/1280px-Jeff_Daniels_%2841544393510%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018.](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-ebf243d52c29.jpg) Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018. — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Jeff_Daniels_%2841544393880%29.jpg/1280px-Jeff_Daniels_%2841544393880%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018.](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-c7dddf4d9028.jpg) Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018. — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Jeff_Daniels_%2841544393880%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Jeff Daniels](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-2f1e744ffc34.jpg) Jeff Daniels — Image via TMDB - ![Jeff Daniels](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-3a8a6b7c20f7.jpg) Jeff Daniels — Image via TMDB - ![Jeff Daniels](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-456274d0dcfb.jpg) Jeff Daniels — Image via TMDB - ![Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018.](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-43e420ee2028.jpg) Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018. — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Jeff_Daniels_%2842636343464%29.jpg/1280px-Jeff_Daniels_%2842636343464%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018.](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-239b8882bcfc.jpg) Jeff Daniels at the Montclair Film Festival 2018. — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Jeff_Daniels_%2842636343564%29.jpg/1280px-Jeff_Daniels_%2842636343564%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jeff Daniels](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-3a5dd4528412.jpg) Jeff Daniels — Image via TMDB - ![Jeff Daniels](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-84b43a18efaf.jpg) Jeff Daniels — Image via TMDB - ![Jeff Daniels](https://film.one/media/person/83960/gallery-907528d6eccd.jpg) Jeff Daniels — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 2 won - 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Godless* - 2013: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *The Newsroom* ### Other awards — 0 won, 2 nominated - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2016: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2009: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated), for *God of Carnage* *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/jeff-daniels