---
name: "Stephen Lang"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/stephen-lang"
fi1m_id: "stephen-lang"
imdb_id: "nm0002332"
tmdb_id: 32747
wikidata_id: "Q312902"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 July 1952"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 65
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-05T11:35:55.591896+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."
---

# Stephen Lang

## Identity

Stephen Lang

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/stephen-lang
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** stephen-lang
- **IMDb ID:** nm0002332
- **TMDB ID:** 32747
- **Wikidata ID:** Q312902
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Lang, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312902, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002332/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/32747

Actor. Born 11 July 1952 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 July 1952, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1986–present
- **Also known as:** Steve Lang, Slang
- **Frequently works with:** [James Cameron](https://film.one/person/james-cameron.md), [Jon Landau](https://film.one/person/jon-landau.md), [Sam Worthington](https://film.one/person/sam-worthington.md), [Sigourney Weaver](https://film.one/person/sigourney-weaver.md), [Zoe Saldaña](https://film.one/person/zoe-saldana.md), [Amanda Silver](https://film.one/person/amanda-silver.md), [Michael Mann](https://film.one/person/michael-mann.md), [Rick Jaffa](https://film.one/person/rick-jaffa.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (1), 2000s 67 (2), 2010s 58 (1), 2020s 60 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 66 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 4, Drama 3, Science Fiction 3, Action 2, Crime 2, History 2
- **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $7,004m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Lang, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312902, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002332/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/32747

## Coming up

- *Avatar 4* (2029-12-19), as Colonel Miles Quaritch
- *Avatar 5* (2031-12-17), as Colonel Miles Quaritch

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Avatar*](https://film.one/film/avatar.md) (70), [*Avatar: The Way of Water*](https://film.one/film/avatar-the-way-of-water.md) (68), [*Avatar: Fire and Ash*](https://film.one/film/avatar-fire-and-ash.md) (58)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Manhunter*](https://film.one/film/manhunter.md) (84)

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

## Fi1m on Stephen Lang

> Stephen Lang gives screen authority a threatening physical weight, and we rate the conviction he brings to it. The trouble comes when a film assumes that his growl is enough to keep an old villain interesting.

Quaritch’s growl remains useful in *Avatar: Fire and Ash* (2025): Stephen Lang can make a threat sound as though its speaker expects immediate obedience. He gives James Cameron a villain who needs little introduction, but by the third film that familiarity has become a problem. We were weary of him threatening the same family again; the delivery still works, but we know what is coming. Lang keeps doing the job. Cameron needs to give him a different one.

Before *Avatar* (2009) brought wider recognition, Lang had built a screen career in supporting parts. He plays Freddy Lounds in Michael Mann’s *Manhunter* (1986), a thriller whose cold control and lasting unease still impress us. Its restraint makes a useful contrast with the repeated threats Cameron gives him. There were also parts in *Last Exit to Brooklyn* (1989) and, as Ike Clanton, *Tombstone* (1993), before Quaritch became the recurring assignment. That longer stretch of work deserves attention when the military bearing threatens to become the whole impression.

As soldiers and antagonists, he makes it easy to believe that these men could carry out their threats. That force also suits the Blind Man in *Don’t Breathe* (2016), a leading role built around a demanding physical performance. His stage work in the solo show *Beyond Glory* (2007) points to something the screen roles can underuse, an ability to give soldiers and veterans more than a threatening manner. We would like more of that care with character in the parts he is offered.

In *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, Oona Chaplin’s Varang is allowed an enjoyment of cruelty that makes the older villain look overfamiliar. Her interest in Quaritch also gives Lang something more promising than another pursuit of the Sullys. Yet the film repeats itself, and his dependable delivery cannot disguise how often we have heard the threat. We still value an actor who commits this firmly to material that does not repay him. For an evening’s viewing, we would choose *Manhunter* before returning to Quaritch.

## Biography

Stephen Lang is an American actor and playwright. Born in New York City on 11 July 1952, he graduated from Swarthmore College and began his career in theatre, appearing in numerous Broadway productions.

He is known for film roles including George Pickett in *Gettysburg* (1993), Stonewall Jackson in *Gods and Generals* (2003), Charles Winstead in *Public Enemies* (2009), and Colonel Miles Quaritch in *Avatar* (2009), *Avatar: The Way of Water* (2022) and *Avatar: Fire and Ash* (2025). Lang has also appeared in *Don't Breathe* (2016) and its sequel (2021). He served as co-artistic director of the Actors Studio in New York from 2004 to 2006.

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

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Avatar: Fire and Ash* (2025), Fi1m 58, as Quaritch — [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-fire-and-ash.md)
- *House of David* (2025), Fi1m 53, as Samuel — [page](https://film.one/tv/house-of-david.md)
- *Avatar: The Way of Water* (2022), Fi1m 68, as Colonel Miles Quaritch — [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-the-way-of-water.md)
- *Hostiles* (2017), Fi1m 58, as Colonel Abraham Biggs — [page](https://film.one/film/hostiles.md)
- *Avatar* (2009), Fi1m 70, as Colonel Miles Quaritch — [page](https://film.one/film/avatar.md)
- *Public Enemies* (2009), Fi1m 64, as Charles Winstead — [page](https://film.one/film/public-enemies.md)
- *Manhunter* (1986), Fi1m 84, as Freddy Lounds — [page](https://film.one/film/manhunter.md)

## Complete filmography (139)

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

- *Avatar 5* (2031), as Colonel Miles Quaritch
- *Avatar 4* (2029), as Colonel Miles Quaritch
- *Hellfire* (2026), as Man
- *The Optimist* (2026), as Herbert Heller
- *Avatar: Fire and Ash* (2025), as Quaritch — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-fire-and-ash.md)
- *Sisu: Road to Revenge* (2025), as Yeagor Dragunov
- *Barron's Cove* (2025), as Benji Faulkner
- *House of David* (2025), series, as Samuel — Fi1m 53, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-of-david.md)
- *Muzzle* (2023), as Leland
- *The Featherweight* (2023), as Bill Gore
- *My Love Affair with Marriage* (2023), as Jonas (voice)
- *Avatar: The Way of Water* (2022), as Colonel Miles Quaritch — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-the-way-of-water.md)
- *The Independent* (2022), as Gordon
- *Old Man* (2022), as Old Man
- *Death in Texas* (2022), as John
- *Mid-Century* (2022), as Frederick Banner
- *The Lost City* (2022), as Fantasy Villain
- *Don't Breathe 2* (2021), as The Blind Man · Executive Producer
- *Law & Order: Organized Crime* (2021), series, as Angus Boone
- *The Seventh Day* (2021), as Archbishop
- *Calls* (2021), series, as Doctor Wheating (voice)
- *Rogue Warfare: Death of a Nation* (2020), as The President
- *Solar Opposites* (2020), series, as Sgt. Argent (voice), Sergeant Argent (voice)
- *Rogue Warfare: The Hunt* (2019), as Président · Co-Executive Producer
- *Rogue Warfare* (2019), as President · Co-Executive Producer
- *VFW* (2019), as Fred · Executive Producer
- *The Gandhi Murder* (2019), as D.I.G Sunil Raina
- *Mortal Engines* (2018), as Shrike
- *The Rookie* (2018), series, as Chief Williams
- *Braven* (2018), as Linden
- *Hostiles* (2017), as Colonel Abraham Biggs — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/hostiles.md)
- *Justice* (2017), as Mayor Pierce
- *The Good Fight* (2017), series, as David Cord
- *Beyond Valkyrie: Dawn of the 4th Reich* (2016), as Emil F. Reinhardt
- *Gridlocked* (2016), as Korver
- *Don't Breathe* (2016), as The Blind Man
- *Isolation* (2016), as William
- *Band of Robbers* (2016), as Injun Joe
- *Into the Badlands* (2015), series, as Waldo
- *Beyond Glory* (2015), Actor
- *Sun Belt Express* (2015), as Officer Rick
- *Exeter* (2015), as Father Conway
- *23 Blast* (2014), as Coach Farris
- *Gutshot Straight* (2014), as Duffy
- *A Good Marriage* (2014), as Holt Ramsey
- *Jarhead 2: Field of Fire* (2014), as Major Gavins
- *The Girl on the Train* (2014), as Det. Lloyd Martin
- *Salem* (2014), series, as Increase Mather
- *In the Blood* (2014), as Casey
- *The Nut Job* (2014), as King (voice)
- *The Monkey's Paw* (2013), as Tony Cobb
- *Pioneer* (2013), as John Ferris
- *The Gettysburg Story* (2013), as Voice
- *Pawn* (2013), as Charlie
- *Officer Down* (2013), as Lieutenant Jake 'Lieu' LaRussa
- *Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You* (2012), as Barry Rogers
- *Terra Nova* (2011), series, as Commander Nathaniel Taylor
- *Conan the Barbarian* (2011), as Khalar Zym
- *White Irish Drinkers* (2011), as Patrick
- *Christina* (2010), as Inspector Edgar Reinhardt · Writer
- *False Creek Stories* (2010), as Narrator (voice)
- *Matadors* (2010), as Victor Galloway
- *Avatar* (2009), as Colonel Miles Quaritch — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/avatar.md)
- *The Men Who Stare at Goats* (2009), as Brigadier General Dean Hopgood
- *Public Enemies* (2009), as Charles Winstead — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/public-enemies.md)
- *From Mexico With Love* (2009), as Big Al Stevens
- *Save Me* (2008), as Ted
- *In Plain Sight* (2008), series, as James Wiley Shannon
- *George Washington: We Fight to Be Free* (2006), as Dr. James Craik
- *The Making of 'Last Exit to Brooklyn'* (2006), Actor
- *Psych* (2006), series, as Mr. Salamatchla
- *Jonny Zero* (2005), series, as Officer Tanner
- *The I Inside* (2004), as Mr. Travitt
- *Code 11-14* (2003), as Justin Shaw
- *Gods and Generals* (2003), as Lt. Gen. Thomas Stonewall Jackson
- *D-Tox* (2002), as Jack Bennett
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Axel Kaspers
- *After the Storm* (2001), as Sargeant Major Jim
- *Story of a Bad Boy* (2001), as Spryos
- *The Proposal* (2001), as Simon Baclg
- *Ed* (2000), series, as Jack Foster
- *The Fugitive* (2000), series, as Ben Charnquist
- *Running Mates* (2000), as Ron Noble - Financier (uncredited)
- *Trixie* (2000), as Jacob Slotnick
- *At the Mercy of a Stranger* (1999), as Dr. Thomas Cooper
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Michael Baxter
- *A Town Has Turned to Dust* (1998), as Sheriff Harvey Denton
- *Escape: Human Cargo* (1998), as Dennis McNatt
- *Niagara, Niagara* (1998), as Claude
- *Liberty!* (1997), series, as George Washington
- *Fire Down Below* (1997), as Earl Kellogg
- *Loose Women* (1997), as Prophet Buddy
- *The Trial of Adolf Eichmann* (1997), as Aaron Lindenstrauss / Dr. Joseph Melkman (voices)
- *Dead Man's Gun* (1997), series, as Clay Strand
- *Journey of the Heart* (1997), as Thomas Deblois
- *Shadow Conspiracy* (1997), as The Agent
- *An Occasional Hell* (1996), as Alex Laughton
- *Gang in Blue* (1996), as Moose Tavola
- *Strangers* (1996), series, as Theo
- *The Amazing Panda Adventure* (1995), as Michael Tyler
- *The Possession of Michael D.* (1995), as Michael
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Dr. James Houghton
- *Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure* (1995), as Jonas Hackett
- *A Season of Hope* (1995), as Michael Hackett
- *The Mother* (1994), as Boss
- *Baseball* (1994), series, as (voice)
- *Murder Between Friends* (1994), as Kerry Myers
- *Tombstone* (1993), as Ike Clanton
- *Gettysburg* (1993), as Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett
- *Guilty as Sin* (1993), as Phil Garson
- *Darkness Before Dawn* (1993), as Guy Grand
- *Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story* (1992), as Steven Ziegenmeyer
- *Babe Ruth* (1991), as George Herman 'Babe' Ruth
- *Performance* (1991), series, as Boss
- *Another You* (1991), as Dibbs
- *The Hard Way* (1991), as Party Crasher
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Terry Dorn — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990), series, as Criminal Gun Shooter (uncredited)
- *Last Exit to Brooklyn* (1989), as Harry Black
- *Finish Line* (1989), as Coach Harkins
- *Project X* (1987), as Watts
- *Crime Story* (1986), series, as Atty. David Abrams
- *Crime Story: Pilot* (1986), as Atty. David Abrams
- *Manhunter* (1986), as Freddy Lounds — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/manhunter.md)
- *Band of the Hand* (1986), as Joe
- *Stone Pillow* (1985), as Tim
- *Twice in a Lifetime* (1985), as Keith
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Joseph Morrison
- *Death of a Salesman* (1985), as Harold 'Happy' Loman
- *King of America* (1982), as Vassilis
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Vassilis
- *We're Fighting Back* (1981), as Janos
- *The Dregs*, Actor
- *Gettysburg 1863*, Actor
- *Eyes Along the Valley*, Actor
- *Mercy Good*, as Henry Woodard
- *Isolation Booth*, Actor
- *Convergence*, as Rear Admiral James Bradford
- *Final Invasion*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Stephen Lang](https://film.one/media/person/7543/gallery-32707bedf380.jpg) Stephen Lang — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Stephen_Lang_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Stephen_Lang_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Stephen Lang](https://film.one/media/person/7543/gallery-55fb8de95100.jpg) Stephen Lang — Image via TMDB
- ![Stephen Lang](https://film.one/media/person/7543/gallery-e4f507cba1e6.jpg) Stephen Lang — Image via TMDB
- ![Stephen Lang](https://film.one/media/person/7543/gallery-198e2066d837.jpg) Stephen Lang — Image via TMDB
- ![Stephen Lang](https://film.one/media/person/7543/gallery-f8e98e5f566f.jpg) Stephen Lang — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1991: 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/stephen-lang