--- name: "John Heard" canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-heard" fi1m_id: "john-heard" imdb_id: "nm0001334" tmdb_id: 11512 wikidata_id: "Q462327" roles: ["Actor"] born: "7 March 1946" died: "21 July 2017" reviewed_on_fi1m: 10 average_fi1m_score: 76 average_as: "actor" average_over: 10 updated: "2026-10-04T23:08:18.592016+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." --- # John Heard ## Identity John Heard - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/john-heard - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** john-heard - **IMDb ID:** nm0001334 - **TMDB ID:** 11512 - **Wikidata ID:** Q462327 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heard_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q462327, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001334/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11512 Actor. Born 7 March 1946 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Died 21 July 2017. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 7 March 1946, Washington, District of Columbia, USA - **Died:** 21 July 2017 - **Active:** 1981–2009 - **Also known as:** John Heard Jr. - **Frequently works with:** [Chris Columbus](https://film.one/person/chris-columbus.md), [Daniel Stern](https://film.one/person/daniel-stern.md), [Joe Pesci](https://film.one/person/joe-pesci.md), [John Hughes](https://film.one/person/john-hughes.md), [Macaulay Culkin](https://film.one/person/macaulay-culkin.md), [Penny Marshall](https://film.one/person/penny-marshall.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 10 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 81 (3), 1990s 71 (5), 2000s 80 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 70 across 10 titles - **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 7 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 8, Comedy 4, Thriller 4, Crime 3, Family 2, Mystery 2 - **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,423m across 7 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heard_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q462327, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001334/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11512 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*Big*](https://film.one/film/big.md) (81), [*Home Alone*](https://film.one/film/home-alone.md) (80), [*Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*](https://film.one/film/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york.md) (63) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Cutter's Way*](https://film.one/film/cutters-way.md) (82), [*The Pelican Brief*](https://film.one/film/the-pelican-brief.md) (63) - **The Roku Channel:** [*After Hours*](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md) (80) - **Tubi:** [*Awakenings*](https://film.one/film/awakenings.md) (73) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on John Heard > John Heard made fallible fathers and troubled authority figures worth watching. We value his supporting work, though *Cutter's Way* is a reason to look beyond the familiar parent and remember how much discomfort he could bring to a leading part. In *Home Alone* (1990), John Heard plays Peter McCallister, the father who leaves his son behind. That is a useful introduction to an actor frequently cast as a responsible adult, with comedy or moral doubt complicating the job. His dependability as a put-upon parent suits Chris Columbus's family comedy, which gives Macaulay Culkin the greater share of our attention. We laughed at the carefully timed slapstick, though Columbus pushes the sentiment harder than it needs. Heard fits the comedy without making the father's foolishness a reason to dismiss him. Earlier, he had been asked to carry films, with leading roles in *Heart Beat* (1980) and *Cutter's Way* (1981). As Alex Cutter, a wounded, abrasive Vietnam veteran, he had material for a much harsher performance than the family comedies suggest. The physical and emotional turmoil of that part makes it worth seeking out for anyone who knows only the harassed father. The shift towards supporting work was under way by the late 1980s: in *Big* (1988), he played Paul, Tom Hanks's adult rival. *Awakenings* (1990) casts him as Dr. Kaufman in Penny Marshall's medical drama. We recommend it for Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, whose concern for the patients makes the film persuasive despite the pressure from the script and score. Heard is part of the supporting cast, and it would be misleading to make him the principal reason to watch. His career contains plenty of such assignments, where making the surrounding adults credible is useful work even when it draws little attention. The recurring role of corrupt detective Vin Makazian in *The Sopranos* (1999) gave that authority a less respectable use. Heard's intensity suited troubled men as readily as his steadiness suited family ensembles. The later supporting work could make the earlier leading roles easy to overlook, and we would resist treating that shift as an assessment of his ability. Try *Cutter's Way* if the father in *Home Alone* is the only Heard you know. ## Biography John Heard was an American actor. Born in Washington, D.C., he studied at Clark University before beginning his career in theatre. He made his film debut in the ensemble *Between the Lines* (1977). Heard appeared in films including *Big* (1988), *Awakenings* (1990) as Dr. Kaufman, and *Home Alone* (1990) and *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York* (1992) as Peter McCallister. On television, he played roles in *The Sopranos* (1999–2004) as Vin Makazian, for which he received an Emmy nomination, *Prison Break* (2005–2006) as Frank Tancredi, and *Modern Family* (2009). He died in 2017. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (10) - *Southland* (2009), Fi1m 76, as Ben Sherman Sr. — [page](https://film.one/tv/southland.md) - *Battlestar Galactica* (2004), Fi1m 83, as Commander Barry Garner — [page](https://film.one/tv/battlestar-galactica.md) - *In the Line of Fire* (1993), Fi1m 78, as Professor Riger — [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-line-of-fire.md) - *The Pelican Brief* (1993), Fi1m 63, as Gavin Vereek — [page](https://film.one/film/the-pelican-brief.md) - *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York* (1992), Fi1m 63, as Peter — [page](https://film.one/film/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york.md) - *Awakenings* (1990), Fi1m 73, as Dr. Kaufman — [page](https://film.one/film/awakenings.md) - *Home Alone* (1990), Fi1m 80, as Peter — [page](https://film.one/film/home-alone.md) - *Big* (1988), Fi1m 81, as Paul — [page](https://film.one/film/big.md) - *After Hours* (1985), Fi1m 80, as Tom the Bartender — [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md) - *Cutter's Way* (1981), Fi1m 82, as Alex Cutter — [page](https://film.one/film/cutters-way.md) ## Complete filmography (166) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Imprisoned* (2019), Actor - *The Last Sharknado: It's About Time* (2018), as George (archive footage) - *Living Among Us* (2018), as Andrew - *Buoyancy* (2018), as Frank - *The Tale* (2018), as William P. Allens - *Last Rampage* (2017), as Blackwell - *Sharknado 5: Global Swarming* (2017), In Memory Of - *Pray for Rain* (2017), as Markus Gardner - *Searching for Fortune* (2017), as Michael Denton Sr. - *APB* (2017), series, as Joe - *MacGyver* (2016), series, as Arthur Ericson - *Is That a Gun in Your Pocket?* (2016), as Sheriff Parsons - *So B. It* (2016), as Thurman - *After the Reality* (2016), as Bob - *Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero* (2016), as JP Monroe - *Counting for Thunder* (2015), as Garrett Stalworth - *The Murder Pact* (2015), as John LaSalle - *Boiling Pot* (2015), as Tim Davis - *The Nurse* (2014), as Frank - *Animals* (2014), as Albert - *Sister* (2014), Actor - *Boys of Abu Ghraib* (2014), as Sam Farmer - *Warren* (2014), as Jack Cavanee - *The Insomniac* (2013), as Paul Epstein - *Adam Devine's House Party* (2013), series, as Dregory - *Torn* (2013), as Detective Kalkowitz - *Runner Runner* (2013), as Harry Furst - *Snake & Mongoose* (2013), as Wally Parks - *Sharknado* (2013), as George · In Memory Of - *Assault on Wall Street* (2013), as Jeremy Stancroft - *Would You Rather* (2013), as Conway - *Whisper Me a Lullaby* (2013), Actor - *Elementary* (2012), series, as Henry Watson - *Perception* (2012), series, as Congressman Evan Rickford - *A Perfect Ending* (2012), as Mason Westridge - *Stealing Roses* (2012), as Walter - *The Legends of Nethiah* (2012), as Nethiah's Father - *Too Big to Fail* (2011), as Joe Gregory - *Person of Interest* (2011), series, as Roger McCourt — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md) - *The Truth* (2010), as Jonathan Davenport - *Gravity* (2010), series, as B.C. - *Formosa Betrayed* (2010), as Tom Braxton - *Little Hercules* (2009), as Coach Nimms - *Modern Family* (2009), series, as Gunther Thorpe — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md) - *NCIS: Los Angeles* (2009), series, as Michael Thomas - *Southland* (2009), series, as Ben Sherman Sr. — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/southland.md) - *P.J.* (2008), as Dr. Alan Shearson - *Generation Gap* (2008), as Principal Winters - *The Lucky Ones* (2008), as Bob - *Justice League: The New Frontier* (2008), as Ace Morgan (voice) - *The Great Debaters* (2007), as Sheriff Dozier - *Battlestar Galactica: Razor* (2007), as Commander Barry Garner (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Cavemen* (2007), series, Actor - *Dead Lenny* (2007), as Dr. Robert Hooker - *Brothers Three: An American Gothic* (2007), as Father - *The Guardian* (2006), as Capt. Frank Larson - *Gamers* (2006), as Gordon's Dad - *Steel City* (2006), as Carl Lee - *Sweet Land* (2005), as Minister Sorrensen - *Tracks* (2005), as Prison Warden - *Prison Break* (2005), series, as Frank Tancredi — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/prison-break.md) - *Edison* (2005), as Tilman - *The Deal* (2005), as Professor Roseman - *The Chumscrubber* (2005), as Officer Lou Bratley - *Locusts* (2005), as Peter Axelrod - *Freak Weather* (2005), as David - *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as Peter Houseman - *My Tiny Universe* (2004), as Bobby - *Battlestar Galactica* (2004), series, as Commander Barry Garner — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/battlestar-galactica.md) - *Jack & Bobby* (2004), series, Actor - *Entourage* (2004), series, as Richard Wimmer — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md) - *White Chicks* (2004), as Warren Vandergeld - *Mind the Gap* (2004), as Henry Richards - *Word of Honor* (2003), as Dr. Steven Brandt - *Hack* (2002), series, as Paul 'Webster' Ballinger - *CSI: Miami* (2002), series, as Kenwall 'Duke' Duquesne - *The Pilot's Wife* (2002), as Jack Lyons - *Monday Night Mayhem* (2002), as Roone Arledge - *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Larry Wiegert - *O* (2001), as Dean Brable - *Dying on the Edge* (2001), as John Fuller - *The Big Heist* (2001), as Richard Woods - *The Boys of Sunset Ridge* (2001), as John Burroughs - *Animal Factory* (2000), as James Decker - *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Roger Ridley - *Pollock* (2000), as Tony Smith - *The Wednesday Woman* (2000), as Bill Davidson - *The Photographer* (2000), as Marcello - *Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder* (2000), as Larry Mason - *Perfect Murder, Perfect Town* (2000), series, as Larry Mason - *The Witness* (2000), as Gregor - *Home Alone - Making of & Behind the Scenes* (1999), as Peter - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Peter Sipes - *Desert Blue* (1999), as Prof. Lance Davidson - *The Sopranos* (1999), series, as Vin Makazian — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md) - *The Pact* (1999), as Jerome Carver - *Snake Eyes* (1998), as Gilbert Powell - *Men* (1997), as George - *Executive Power* (1997), as Walker - *One Eight Seven* (1997), as Childress - *Silent Cradle* (1997), as Dr. Britain - *My Fellow Americans* (1996), as Vice President Ted Matthews - *Before and After* (1996), as Wendell Bye - *The Client* (1995), series, as Roy Foltrigg - *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Paul Stein - *Because Mommy Works* (1994), as Ted Forman - *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Allen Lowry - *Spoils of War* (1994), as Andrew - *Me and Veronica* (1993), as Frankie - *The Pelican Brief* (1993), as Gavin Vereek — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/the-pelican-brief.md) - *In the Line of Fire* (1993), as Professor Riger — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-line-of-fire.md) - *There Was a Little Boy* (1993), as Gregg - *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York* (1992), as Peter — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york.md) - *Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster* (1992), as Dan Lawn - *Waterland* (1992), as Lewis Scott - *Gladiator* (1992), as John Riley - *Radio Flyer* (1992), as Daugherty - *Mindwalk* (1991), as Thomas Harriman - *Deceived* (1991), as Jack - *Rambling Rose* (1991), as Older Willcox "Buddy" Hillyer - *The End of Innocence* (1990), as Dean - *Awakenings* (1990), as Dr. Kaufman — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/awakenings.md) - *Home Alone* (1990), as Peter — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/home-alone.md) - *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Mitch Burke, Walter Grobman — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *Blown Away* (1990), as Charlie - *Cross of Fire* (1989), series, as David 'D.C.' Stephenson - *The Package* (1989), as Col. Glen Whitacre - *Virtuoso* (1989), as Michael Johnson - *Beaches* (1988), as John Pierce - *Betrayed* (1988), as Michael Carnes - *Big* (1988), as Paul — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/big.md) - *Necessity* (1988), as Charlie - *The Seventh Sign* (1988), as Reverend - *The Milagro Beanfield War* (1988), as Charlie Bloom - *The Telephone* (1988), as Telephone Man - *Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam* (1987), as Johnny Boy (voice) - *Out on a Limb* (1987), series, as David Manning - *The Trip to Bountiful* (1985), as Ludie Watts - *The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1985), series, as Bill Callahan - *Tender Is the Night* (1985), series, as Abe North - *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Ron Parrish - *After Hours* (1985), as Tom the Bartender — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md) - *Heaven Help Us* (1985), as Brother Timothy - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Michael Johnson - *Best Revenge* (1984), as Charlie - *Tales from the Darkside* (1984), series, as Billy Malone - *Too Scared to Scream* (1984), as Sid - *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Laurence Thurmond — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md) - *C.H.U.D.* (1984), as George Cooper - *Kate & Allie* (1984), series, Actor - *Violated* (1984), as Skipper - *Rock and Roll: The Early Days* (1984), as Narrator - *Legs* (1983), as Dan Foster - *Will There Really Be a Morning?* (1983), as Clifford Odets - *Cat People* (1982), as Oliver Yates - *Cutter's Way* (1981), as Alex Cutter — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/cutters-way.md) - *Heart Beat* (1980), as Jack Kerouac - *Chilly Scenes of Winter* (1979), as Charles - *The Scarlet Letter* (1979), series, as Arthur Dimmesdale - *On the Yard* (1978), as Juleson - *Rush It* (1978), as Byron - *First Love* (1977), as David Bonner - *Between the Lines* (1977), as Harry - *Valley Forge* (1975), as Harvie - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Harvie - *20 Questions*, series, Actor ## Gallery - ![Actor John Heard speaking at Los Angeles City Hall at a 9/11 Truth event, 2010](https://film.one/media/person/77542/gallery-23f46a8a1a40.png) Actor John Heard speaking at Los Angeles City Hall at a 9/11 Truth event, 2010 — AA911Truth, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/JohnHeardActor2010.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![John Heard](https://film.one/media/person/77542/gallery-794556fdea89.jpg) John Heard — Image via TMDB - ![John Heard](https://film.one/media/person/77542/gallery-ed44a915be94.jpg) John Heard — Image via TMDB - ![John Heard](https://film.one/media/person/77542/gallery-11615ac9ae34.jpg) John Heard — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - Theatre World Award 1977: Theatre World Award (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/john-heard