---
name: "Michael Stuhlbarg"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-stuhlbarg"
fi1m_id: "michael-stuhlbarg"
imdb_id: "nm0836121"
tmdb_id: 72873
wikidata_id: "Q438445"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "5 July 1968"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 26
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 26
updated: "2026-10-23T04:06:16.188676+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."
---

# Michael Stuhlbarg

## Identity

Michael Stuhlbarg

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-stuhlbarg
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-stuhlbarg
- **IMDb ID:** nm0836121
- **TMDB ID:** 72873
- **Wikidata ID:** Q438445
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stuhlbarg, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q438445, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0836121/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/72873

Actor. Born 5 July 1968 in Long Beach, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 5 July 1968, Long Beach, California, USA
- **Active:** 2007–present
- **Also known as:** Michael Stühlbarg, Michael Stewart Stuhlbarg
- **Frequently works with:** [Peter Sarsgaard](https://film.one/person/peter-sarsgaard.md), [Bathsheba Doran](https://film.one/person/bathsheba-doran.md), [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://film.one/person/benedict-cumberbatch.md), [Benedict Wong](https://film.one/person/benedict-wong.md), [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://film.one/person/chiwetel-ejiofor.md), [Jeff Daniels](https://film.one/person/jeff-daniels.md), [Kevin Feige](https://film.one/person/kevin-feige.md), [Luca Guadagnino](https://film.one/person/luca-guadagnino.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 26 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 74 (3), 2010s 74 (17), 2020s 61 (6)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 70 across 26 titles
- **Score spread:** 9 at 80+, 12 at 60–79, 5 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 22 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 21, Crime 7, Action 5, Comedy 4, Adventure 3, Fantasy 3
- **Screen time:** 40 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,830m across 19 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stuhlbarg, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q438445, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0836121/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/72873

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Shape of Water*](https://film.one/film/the-shape-of-water.md) (83), [*Boardwalk Empire*](https://film.one/tv/boardwalk-empire.md) (80), [*The Staircase*](https://film.one/tv/the-staircase-2022.md) (75), [*Miss Sloane*](https://film.one/film/miss-sloane.md) (65)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*A Serious Man*](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md) (84), [*Blue Jasmine*](https://film.one/film/blue-jasmine.md) (82), [*Hugo*](https://film.one/film/hugo.md) (76)
- **Disney+:** [*The Looming Tower*](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md) (70), [*Dopesick*](https://film.one/tv/dopesick.md) (68), [*Doctor Strange*](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange.md) (66)
- **Apple TV:** [*Arrival*](https://film.one/film/arrival.md) (86)
- **Paramount+:** [*Men in Black 3*](https://film.one/film/men-in-black-3.md) (63)

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

## Fi1m on Michael Stuhlbarg

> Michael Stuhlbarg can make a polite listener look desperate without having him give up on the conversation. We rate him for that stubborn hope, and wish more films gave him the leading part.

In *A Serious Man* (2009), Michael Stuhlbarg has to listen to Fred Melamed’s Sy Ableman explain himself at leisure. As Larry Gopnik, he makes the effort to remain receptive look increasingly tiring. He still expects something useful to be said, which is why the exchange hurts as well as amuses. We value that persistence: Stuhlbarg lets a character struggle without making every pause a request for sympathy.

Joel and Ethan Coen give him a physics professor who believes reasonable questions ought to produce reasonable answers. When a student attempts to bribe Larry, Stuhlbarg makes even the business of replying seem an unfair demand. We laughed at the bribe, then grew anxious for Larry because he still had to find a way to answer. The Coens sometimes make the people tormenting him too easy to ridicule, but his bewilderment keeps the suffering from becoming merely another joke.

The lead in *A Serious Man* was his film breakthrough; much of the work that followed has been in supporting parts. Arnold Rothstein in *Boardwalk Empire* (2010–2013) and Mr. Perlman in *Call Me by Your Name* (2017) belong to that later stretch. He is frequently cast as intellectual or professional men, and the patient attention he gives another speaker helps explain the appeal.

Luca Guadagnino’s *After the Hunt* (2025) gives him Frederik Mendelssohn, a psychoanalyst and the husband of Julia Roberts’s Alma. Roberts plays a woman practised at not reacting; Stuhlbarg’s Frederik cooks and listens. He has the film’s funniest scenes and its saddest, making these ordinary activities worth our attention. It is a good supporting performance in a film whose prolonged indecision remains a substantial flaw.

We would welcome another part as demanding as Larry, rather than more evidence that he can improve a supporting scene. There is still something to explore in a man who wants to understand people who offer him no help. Start with *A Serious Man*, provided a comedy that makes its central character suffer sounds like an agreeable evening.

## Biography

Michael Stuhlbarg is an American actor. He trained at the Juilliard School, from which he holds a BFA, and also studied at UCLA.

He rose to prominence with his leading role as Larry Gopnik in the Coen brothers' *A Serious Man* (2009). Subsequent film roles include René Tabard in *Hugo* (2011), Griffin in *Men in Black 3* (2012), Andy Hertzfeld in *Steve Jobs* (2015), Dr Nicodemus West in *Doctor Strange* (2016) and its 2022 sequel, Agent Halpern in *Arrival* (2016), Mr Perlman in *Call Me by Your Name* (2017), Dr Robert Hoffstetler in *The Shape of Water* (2017), and Abe Rosenthal in *The Post* (2017). On television he has portrayed Arnold Rothstein in *Boardwalk Empire* (2010–2013) and Richard Sackler in *Dopesick* (2021).

Stuhlbarg has received nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards and a Golden Globe Award. He is married to Mai-Linh Lofgren.

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

## On Fi1m (26)

- *Digger* (2026), Fi1m 52, as Vice President — [page](https://film.one/film/digger.md)
- *After the Hunt* (2025), Fi1m 57, as Frederik Mendelssohn — [page](https://film.one/film/after-the-hunt.md)
- *The Amateur* (2025), Fi1m 54, as Schiller — [page](https://film.one/film/the-amateur.md)
- *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* (2022), Fi1m 60, as Dr. Nic West — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness.md)
- *The Staircase* (2022), Fi1m 75, as David Rudolf — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-staircase-2022.md)
- *Dopesick* (2021), Fi1m 68, as Richard Sackler — [page](https://film.one/tv/dopesick.md)
- *The Looming Tower* (2018), Fi1m 70, as Richard Clarke — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md)
- *Call Me by Your Name* (2017), Fi1m 86, as Mr. Perlman — [page](https://film.one/film/call-me-by-your-name.md)
- *The Post* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Abe Rosenthal — [page](https://film.one/film/the-post.md)
- *The Shape of Water* (2017), Fi1m 83, as Dr. Robert Hoffstetler — [page](https://film.one/film/the-shape-of-water.md)
- *Arrival* (2016), Fi1m 86, as Agent Halpern — [page](https://film.one/film/arrival.md)
- *Doctor Strange* (2016), Fi1m 66, as Dr. Nicodemus West — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange.md)
- *Miss Sloane* (2016), Fi1m 65, as Pat Connors — [page](https://film.one/film/miss-sloane.md)
- *Steve Jobs* (2015), Fi1m 80, as Andy Hertzfeld — [page](https://film.one/film/steve-jobs.md)
- *Trumbo* (2015), Fi1m 58, as Edward G. Robinson — [page](https://film.one/film/trumbo.md)
- *Fargo* (2014), Fi1m 82, as Sy Feltz — [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md)
- *Blue Jasmine* (2013), Fi1m 82, as Dr. Flicker — [page](https://film.one/film/blue-jasmine.md)
- *Hitchcock* (2012), Fi1m 55, as Lew Wasserman — [page](https://film.one/film/hitchcock.md)
- *Lincoln* (2012), Fi1m 82, as George Yeaman — [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *Men in Black 3* (2012), Fi1m 63, as Griffin — [page](https://film.one/film/men-in-black-3.md)
- *Seven Psychopaths* (2012), Fi1m 72, as Tommy — [page](https://film.one/film/seven-psychopaths.md)
- *Hugo* (2011), Fi1m 76, as René Tabard — [page](https://film.one/film/hugo.md)
- *Boardwalk Empire* (2010), Fi1m 80, as Arnold Rothstein — [page](https://film.one/tv/boardwalk-empire.md)
- *A Serious Man* (2009), Fi1m 84, as Larry Gopnik — [page](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md)
- *Body of Lies* (2008), Fi1m 60, as Ferris' Attorney — [page](https://film.one/film/body-of-lies.md)
- *Damages* (2007), Fi1m 78, as Dr. Bernard Herschenfeld — [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)

## Complete filmography (53)

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

- *Digger* (2026), as Vice President — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/digger.md)
- *After the Hunt* (2025), as Frederik Mendelssohn — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/after-the-hunt.md)
- *The Amateur* (2025), as Schiller — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-amateur.md)
- *The Instigators* (2024), as Mr. Besegai
- *Bones and All* (2022), as Jake
- *The Staircase* (2022), series, as David Rudolf — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-staircase-2022.md)
- *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* (2022), as Dr. Nic West — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness.md)
- *Dopesick* (2021), series, as Richard Sackler — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/dopesick.md)
- *American Oz* (2021), as L. Frank Baum (voice)
- *Your Honor* (2020), series, as Jimmy Baxter
- *Shirley* (2020), as Stanley Hyman
- *Traitors* (2019), series, as Rowe
- *The Looming Tower* (2018), series, as Richard Clarke — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md)
- *The Post* (2017), as Abe Rosenthal — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-post.md)
- *The Shape of Water* (2017), as Dr. Robert Hoffstetler — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/the-shape-of-water.md)
- *Call Me by Your Name* (2017), as Mr. Perlman — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/call-me-by-your-name.md)
- *Miss Sloane* (2016), as Pat Connors — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/miss-sloane.md)
- *Arrival* (2016), as Agent Halpern — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/arrival.md)
- *Doctor Strange* (2016), as Dr. Nicodemus West — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange.md)
- *Miles Ahead* (2016), as Harper Hamilton
- *Trumbo* (2015), as Edward G. Robinson — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/trumbo.md)
- *Steve Jobs* (2015), as Andy Hertzfeld — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/steve-jobs.md)
- *Pawn Sacrifice* (2015), as Paul Marshall
- *Carvalho's Journey* (2015), as Narrator
- *Cut Bank* (2014), as Derby Milton
- *Transparent* (2014), series, as Chaim — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/transparent.md)
- *The 50 Year Argument* (2014), as Narration
- *Fargo* (2014), series, as Sy Feltz — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md)
- *Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq* (2014), as Jerome Robbins (voice)
- *Blue Jasmine* (2013), as Dr. Flicker — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/blue-jasmine.md)
- *Hitchcock* (2012), as Lew Wasserman — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/hitchcock.md)
- *Lincoln* (2012), as George Yeaman — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *Seven Psychopaths* (2012), as Tommy — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/seven-psychopaths.md)
- *Men in Black 3* (2012), as Griffin — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/men-in-black-3.md)
- *Hugo* (2011), as René Tabard — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/hugo.md)
- *Boardwalk Empire* (2010), series, as Arnold Rothstein — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/boardwalk-empire.md)
- *Goldstar, Ohio* (2010), as The Interviewer
- *A Serious Man* (2009), as Larry Gopnik — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md)
- *Cold Souls* (2009), as Hedge Fund Consultant
- *Afterschool* (2009), as Mr. Burke
- *Body of Lies* (2008), as Ferris' Attorney — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/body-of-lies.md)
- *The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer* (2008), as Edward Teller
- *Damages* (2007), series, as Dr. Bernard Herschenfeld — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Ugly Betty* (2006), series, as Heinrich
- *Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip* (2006), series, as Jerry
- *Solidarity* (2005), as Paweł
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Marcel Costas
- *The Grey Zone* (2001), as Cohen
- *The Invention of Love* (2001), as Alfred William Pollard
- *The Hunley* (1999), as Wicks
- *A Price Above Rubies* (1998), as Young Hassid
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Timothy Pace — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *American Experience* (1988), series, as Officer Stephen Colden

## Gallery

- ![Michael Stuhlbarg](https://film.one/media/person/7855/gallery-eaafd0342d02.jpg) Michael Stuhlbarg — Behind The Velvet Rope TV, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Michael_Stuhlbarg_at_Artios.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-42 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7855/gallery-e4e7ad7d5b22.jpg) AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-42 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-42_%2854858455146%29.jpg/1280px-AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-42_%2854858455146%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-43 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7855/gallery-3a518ec01984.jpg) AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-43 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-43_%2854858761715%29.jpg/1280px-AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-43_%2854858761715%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-62 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7855/gallery-162cae2f3b36.jpg) AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-62 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-62_%2854858762320%29.jpg/1280px-AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-62_%2854858762320%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Michael Stuhlbarg](https://film.one/media/person/7855/gallery-f539f126a10c.jpg) Michael Stuhlbarg — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Stuhlbarg](https://film.one/media/person/7855/gallery-ab07abddab55.jpg) Michael Stuhlbarg — Image via TMDB
- ![AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-63 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7855/gallery-6ba32e17a7e2.jpg) AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-63 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-63_%2854857597882%29.jpg/1280px-AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-63_%2854857597882%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-64 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7855/gallery-2a2fd159594b.jpg) AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-64 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-64_%2854858704084%29.jpg/1280px-AfterTheHuntBFILFF111025-64_%2854858704084%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 2005: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)

*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/michael-stuhlbarg