--- name: "Jeffrey Donovan" canonical: "https://film.one/person/jeffrey-donovan" fi1m_id: "jeffrey-donovan" imdb_id: "nm0232998" tmdb_id: 52886 wikidata_id: "Q335608" roles: ["Actor"] born: "11 May 1968" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 67 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-22T02:03:15.799963+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." --- # Jeffrey Donovan ## Identity Jeffrey Donovan - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jeffrey-donovan - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** jeffrey-donovan - **IMDb ID:** nm0232998 - **TMDB ID:** 52886 - **Wikidata ID:** Q335608 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Donovan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335608, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0232998/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/52886 Actor. Born 11 May 1968 in Amesbury, Massachusetts, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 11 May 1968, Amesbury, Massachusetts, USA - **Active:** 1996–present - **Also known as:** Jeff Donovan, Jeffrey T. Donovan, 제프리 도노반, جفری داناوان - **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 57 (1), 2000s 68 (1), 2010s 69 (3), 2020s 69 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 66 across 7 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Crime 5, Drama 5, Thriller 4, Action 1, Action & Adventure 1, Animation 1 - **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $372m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Donovan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335608, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0232998/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/52886 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*Sicario*](https://film.one/film/sicario.md) (80) - **Peacock:** [*Let Him Go*](https://film.one/film/let-him-go.md) (64) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Jeffrey Donovan > Jeffrey Donovan is the stranger who offers to show you the way and makes it sound like a warning. Seven years as a television lead, then a steady trade in supporting parts for other people's thrillers, done well and rarely noticed. Bill Weboy pulls up beside the Blackledges on the road in *Let Him Go* (2020), grins, and offers to show them the way to the house. Nothing he says is a threat and everything about him is. Donovan plays the whole scene as a favour, and that is what made us feel unwell: the friendliness never breaks, so there is nowhere to put the fear. At the dinner that follows, Lesley Manville's Blanche passes the pork chops round with the warmth of a woman counting the exits, and Donovan is at the table. Nothing happens in that scene, and we did not breathe properly through any of it. That grin is the trade he has settled into. He started with small film and television parts in 1995, after stage work that took him to Broadway, and got a first lead in *Touching Evil* (2004), opposite Vera Farmiga, which did not last long. *Burn Notice* (2007–2013) did: seven seasons as Michael Westen, and he directed episodes and a prequel film along the way. When it ended he did not chase another lead. He went into other people's ensembles instead: Captain Jones in Clint Eastwood's *Changeling* (2008), Robert Kennedy in Eastwood's *J. Edgar* (2011), Dodd Gerhardt in the second season of *Fargo* (2015), Steve Forsing in *Sicario* (2015) and its sequel, then *Wrath of Man* (2021) and *Law & Order* (2022–2023). The parts are often small, and he is the kind of actor a review can honestly forget to mention. Ours of *Sicario* does not single him out, and that is fair. Forsing is one of the task-force men who know more than Emily Blunt's agent is told, and Donovan's job is to look like he knows, which he does without asking for credit. He was trained on the classical stage, and it shows less in any speech than in how quietly he can hold a line back. He has said of the difficult men he plays that 'it's just acting. It's just pretend', and that is Bill Weboy exactly: the pleasantness is the performance, and the menace is what is left when you look at it for long enough. The criticism, such as it is, is that he rarely gets a scene to himself. *J. Edgar* gives him a famous name and not much to do with it. *Let Him Go* is the exception, and it shows what he does with a little more space: the film is tender for an hour and ordinary afterwards, and Donovan is a good part of the reason the ordinary half is never dull. Someone should write him a Blanche Weboy of his own. Until they do, watch for the man at the side of the road who is only trying to help. ## Biography Jeffrey Donovan is an American actor. He was born on 11 May 1968 in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He studied drama at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, graduating with a BA, and later earned an MFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Donovan began acting in the mid-1990s with roles in television series such as Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order. He gained wider recognition for his lead performance as Michael Westen in the USA Network series Burn Notice (2007–2013). His film credits include Sleepers (1996), Hitch (2005), Changeling (2008), J. Edgar (2011), Sicario (2015) as Steve Forsing, Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018), and Wrath of Man (2021). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *INVINCIBLE* (2021), Fi1m 74, as Machine Head (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/invincible-2021.md) - *Let Him Go* (2020), Fi1m 64, as Bill Weboy — [page](https://film.one/film/let-him-go.md) - *Lucy in the Sky* (2019), Fi1m 44, as Jim Hunt — [page](https://film.one/film/lucy-in-the-sky.md) - *Sicario* (2015), Fi1m 80, as Steve Forsing — [page](https://film.one/film/sicario.md) - *Fargo* (2014), Fi1m 82, as Dodd Gerhardt — [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md) - *Changeling* (2008), Fi1m 68, as Captain J.J. Jones — [page](https://film.one/film/changeling.md) - *Sleepers* (1996), Fi1m 57, as Addison — [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) ## Complete filmography (58) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Cycle* (2026), as Marks — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/the-cycle.md) - *Eleven Days* (2026), Actor - *The Faithful* (2026), series, as Abraham - *Wardriver* (2026), as Bilson - *Surrounded* (2023), as Wheeler - *R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned* (2022), as Sheriff Roy Pulsipher - *Breaking* (2022), as Major Riddick - *First Love* (2022), as Greg Albright - *National Champions* (2021), as Mark Titus - *Wrath of Man* (2021), as Jackson - *Law & Order: Organized Crime* (2021), series, as Frank Cosgrove - *INVINCIBLE* (2021), series, as Machine Head (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/invincible-2021.md) - *Let Him Go* (2020), as Bill Weboy — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/let-him-go.md) - *Honest Thief* (2020), as Sean Meyers - *Wonder Woman: Bloodlines* (2019), as Steve Trevor (voice) - *Villains* (2019), as George - *Lucy in the Sky* (2019), as Jim Hunt — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/lucy-in-the-sky.md) - *Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile* (2019), as Utah Defense Attorney John O'Connell - *Sicario: Day of the Soldado* (2018), as Steve Forsing - *LBJ* (2017), as John F. Kennedy - *Shot Caller* (2017), as Bottles - *Shut Eye* (2016), series, as Charlie Haverford - *Sicario* (2015), as Steve Forsing — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/sicario.md) - *Extinction* (2015), as Jack - *Fargo* (2014), series, as Dodd Gerhardt — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md) - *J. Edgar* (2011), as Robert Kennedy - *Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe* (2011), as Michael Westen (cameo) · Director - *Changeling* (2008), as Captain J.J. Jones — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/changeling.md) - *Hindsight* (2008), as Paul - *Burn Notice* (2007), series, as Michael Westen · Director - *Believe in Me* (2006), as Clay Driscoll - *Come Early Morning* (2006), as Cal Percell - *Hitch* (2005), as Vance - *Sam & Joe* (2004), as Eric - *Touching Evil* (2004), series, as Detective David Creegan - *Final Draft* (2003), as Pascal (as Jeff Donovan) - *CSI: Miami* (2002), series, as Todd Kendrick - *Monk* (2002), series, as Steve Wagner - *Purpose* (2002), as Robert Jennings - *Crossing Jordan* (2001), series, as William Ivers - *Witchblade* (2001), series, Actor - *Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2* (2000), as Jeffrey "Jeff" Patterson - *Bait* (2000), as Julio - *The Beat* (2000), series, as Brad Urich - *When Trumpets Fade* (1998), as Bobby - *Witness to the Mob* (1998), as Agent #1 - *Catherine's Grove* (1997), as Thomas Mason - *Vegas Vacation* (1997), as Hotel Employee (uncredited) - *Critical Choices* (1996), as Randy - *Millennium* (1996), series, as Bobby Webber - *Sleepers* (1996), as Addison — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) - *The Pretender* (1996), series, as Kyle/John Doe, Kyle - *Spin City* (1996), series, as Tom - *Throwing Down* (1995), as Pete Gulley - *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Newton Dell / Miles Dell — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md) - *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Frank Cosgrove, Eddie Nicodos, Jacob Reese — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *Briefcase, 8*, Actor - *Hal*, as Dan Oliver ## Gallery - ![Jeffrey Donovan at a USO tour event near Baghdad, Iraq. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/122561/gallery-0b78aa354fef.jpg) Jeffrey Donovan at a USO tour event near Baghdad, Iraq. (2009) — Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Edwin L. Wriston, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/JeffreyDonovanUSONov09.jpg/1280px-JeffreyDonovanUSONov09.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Actor Jeffrey Donovan, star of the TV show "Burn Notice," visits U.S. Soldiers in Iraq. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/122561/gallery-550f6180fb88.jpg) Actor Jeffrey Donovan, star of the TV show "Burn Notice," visits U.S. Soldiers in Iraq. (2009) — Edwin L. Wriston, U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Jeffrey_Donovan%2C_2009.JPG/1280px-Jeffrey_Donovan%2C_2009.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Actor Jeffrey Donovan shoots at the unit's firing range at Combat Outpost Meade, Iraq, Nov. 13. A morale, welfare and recreation tour brought Donovan and fellow (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/122561/gallery-ffebaf1f6d67.jpg) Actor Jeffrey Donovan shoots at the unit's firing range at Combat Outpost Meade, Iraq, Nov. 13. A morale, welfare and recreation tour brought Donovan and fellow (2009) — Staff Sgt. Robert Jordan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Jeffrey_Donovan_1.jpg/1280px-Jeffrey_Donovan_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Spc. Parnell Richardson, of Wilson, N.C., shows Jeffrey Donovan an M-240-B machine gun, Nov. 13. A morale, welfare and recreation tour brought Donovan and fello (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/122561/gallery-7afdbf7ed30c.jpg) Spc. Parnell Richardson, of Wilson, N.C., shows Jeffrey Donovan an M-240-B machine gun, Nov. 13. A morale, welfare and recreation tour brought Donovan and fello (2009) — Staff Sgt. Robert Jordan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Jeffrey_Donovan_Iraq_1.jpg/1280px-Jeffrey_Donovan_Iraq_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jeffrey Donovan](https://film.one/media/person/122561/gallery-25f27ec28793.jpg) Jeffrey Donovan — Image via TMDB - ![Jeffrey Donovan](https://film.one/media/person/122561/gallery-037c5615e652.jpg) Jeffrey Donovan — Image via TMDB - ![Jeffrey Donovan](https://film.one/media/person/122561/gallery-c455671917a1.jpg) Jeffrey Donovan — Image via TMDB - ![Actor Jeffrey Donovan and journalist Horacio Cambeiro in Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America. (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/122561/gallery-601fbb4a3104.jpg) Actor Jeffrey Donovan and journalist Horacio Cambeiro in Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America. (2013) — Horacio Cambeiro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Jeffrey_Donovan_and_Horacio_Cambeiro.JPG/1280px-Jeffrey_Donovan_and_Horacio_Cambeiro.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Actor Jeffrey Donovan and journalist Horacio Cambeiro in Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America. (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/122561/gallery-c02e6252a0c9.jpg) Actor Jeffrey Donovan and journalist Horacio Cambeiro in Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America. (2013) — Horacio Cambeiro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Jeffrey_Donovan_and_Horacio_Cambeiro_%28cropped%29.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) --- © 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/jeffrey-donovan