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Jeff Daniels

Birth Place: Chelsea, MI, USA

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BIO

Jeff Daniels is an American actor, musician, and playwright whose career includes roles in films, stage productions, and television, for which he has won two Primetime Emmy Awards and received several Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Tony Award nominations. He made his film debut in Ragtime (1981), and amassed such additional credits as Terms of Endearment (1983), Arachnophobia (1990), Gettysburg (1993), Speed (1994), Dumb and Dumber (1994), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), 101 Dalmatians (1996), Fly Away Home (1996), Pleasantville (1998), The Hours (2002), Gods and Generals (2003), The Squid and the Whale (2005), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), Infamous (2006), The Lookout (2007), Looper (2012), Steve Jobs (2015), and The Martian (2015).



From 2012 to 2014, Daniels starred as Will McAvoy in the HBO political drama series The Newsroom, for which he won the 2013 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. He won a second Primetime Emmy Award in 2018 for his supporting performance in the Netflix miniseries Godless (2017) and an additional nomination that year for his leading performance as John P. O'Neill in the Hulu miniseries The Looming Tower (2018). Daniels has also received a number of award nominations for his work on stage, including Tony Award nominations for Best Actor for his roles in the plays God of Carnage, Blackbird and To Kill a Mockingbird. He is the founder and current executive director of the Chelsea, Michigan–based Purple Rose Theatre Company.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

To Kill A Mockingbird To Kill A Mockingbird
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2021
Atticus Finch
Blackbird Blackbird
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2016
Ray
God of Carnage God of Carnage
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2009
Alan
Michael [Replacement]
Blackbird
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 2007
Ray
Redwood Curtain
[Broadway]
1993
Lyman
Lemon Sky
[Off-Broadway]
1985
Performer
The Golden Age
[Broadway]
1984
Tom
Three Sisters
[Off-Broadway]
1982
Andrei Sergeevich Prozorov
Johnny Got His Gun
[Off-Broadway]
1982
Joe Bonham
Fifth of July
[Broadway]
1980
Jed Jenkins
Fifth of July
[Off-Broadway]
1978
Jed
Two from the Late Show
[Off-Broadway]
1978
Nephew (Brontosaurus)
Lulu
[Off-Broadway]
1978
Schwarz/ Mr. Hunidei
Gemini
[Broadway]
1977
Francis Geminiani (Understudy)
Randy Hastings (Understudy)
Herschel Weinberger (Understudy)
My Life
[Off-Broadway]
1977
Young Eddie
The Farm
[Off-Broadway]
1976
Arthur

Productions

FlintFlint
 
[Regional (US), 2018]
Playwright
Gemini
 
[Broadway, 1977]
Assistant Stage Manager

Writing

Time
Composer

Movies

Ragtime
[ 1981 ] P.C. O Donnell
Terms of Endearment
[ 1983 ] Flap Horton
Marie
[ 1985 ] Eddie Sisk
The Purple Rose of Cairo
[ 1985 ] Tom Baxter, Gil Shepherd
Something Wild
[ 1986 ] Charles Driggs
Heartburn
[ 1986 ] Richard
Radio Days
[ 1987 ] Biff Baxter
The House on Carroll Street
[ 1988 ] Cochran
Checking Out
[ 1988 ] Ray Macklin
Sweet Hearts Dance
[ 1988 ] Sam Manners
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
[ 1990 ] Denton Webb
Love Hurts
[ 1990 ] Paul Weaver
Arachnophobia
[ 1990 ] Ross Jennings
Grand Tour: Disaster in Time
[ 1991 ] Ben Wilson
The Butcher's Wife
[ 1991 ] Dr. Alex Tremor
Rain Without Thunder
[ 1992 ] Jonathan Garson
There Goes the Neighborhood
[ 1992 ] Willis Embry
Gettysburg
[ 1993 ] Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Dumb and Dumber
[ 1994 ] Harry
Speed
[ 1994 ] Harry
2 Days in the Valley
[ 1996 ] Alvin Strayer
101 Dalmatians
[ 1996 ] Roger
Fly Away Home
[ 1996 ] Thom Alden
Trial and Error
[ 1997 ] Charles Tuttle
Pleasantville
[ 1998 ] Mr. Johnson
My Favorite Martian
[ 1999 ] Tim O Hara
All the Rage
[ 1999 ] Warren Harding
Chasing Sleep
[ 2000 ] Ed Saxon
Escanaba in da Moonlight
[ 2001 ] Rueben Soady
Super Sucker
[ 2002 ] Fred Barlow
Blood Work
[ 2002 ] Jasper Buddy Noone
The Hours
[ 2002 ] Louis Waters
I Witness
[ 2003 ] James Rhodes
Gods and Generals
[ 2003 ] Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Imaginary Heroes
[ 2004 ] Ben Travis
The Squid and the Whale
[ 2005 ] Bernard Berkman
Because of Winn-Dixie
[ 2005 ] Preacher
Good Night, and Good Luck.
[ 2005 ] Sig Mickelson
Infamous
[ 2006 ] Alvin Dewey
RV
[ 2006 ] Travis Gornicke
The Lookout
[ 2007 ] Lewis
Mama's Boy
[ 2007 ] Mert Rosenbloom
A Plumm Summer
[ 2007 ] Narrator
Traitor
[ 2008 ] Carter
Space Chimps
[ 2008 ] Zartog
The Answer Man
[ 2009 ] Arlen Faber
State of Play
[ 2009 ] George Fergus
Away We Go
[ 2009 ] Jerry
Paper Man
[ 2009 ] Richard Dunn
Howl
[ 2010 ] David Kirk
Looper
[ 2012 ] Abe
Dumb and Dumber To
[ 2014 ] Harry
Steve Jobs
[ 2015 ] John Sculley
The Martian
[ 2015 ] Teddy Sanders
Allegiant
[ 2016 ] David
The Catcher Was a Spy
[ 2018 ] Bill Donovan
Guest Artist
[ 2019 ] Joseph Harris
Adam
[ 2020 ] Mickey

TV Shows

The Newsroom
Will McAvoy
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
[ 2018-2024 ] BeaverCasting Reject
A Man in Full
Charlie Croker
American Rust
[ 2021-2024 ] Del Harris

Awards and Nominations

Drama League Awards - 2019 - Distinguished Performance Award

Jeff Daniels, To Kill a Mockingbird

Tony Awards - 2019 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Jeff Daniels, To Kill a Mockingbird

Drama League Awards - 2016 - Distinguished Performance Award

Jeff Daniels, Blackbird

Tony Awards - 2016 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Jeff Daniels, Blackbird

Tony Awards - 2009 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Jeff Daniels, God of Carnage

Tony Awards - 2009 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Jeff Daniels, God of Carnage

The Lortels - 2008 - Outstanding Lead Actor

Jeff Daniels, Blackbird

Drama Desk Awards - 1983 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Jeff Daniels, Johnny Got His Gun

Drama Desk Awards - 1981 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Jeff Daniels, 5th of July

Videos

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News


A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN Comes to Farmers Alley Theatre Photo
A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN Comes to Farmers Alley Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Mar 13, 2025

Farmers Alley Theatre will present the Kalamazoo premiere of A Jukebox for the Algonquin by Paul Stroili: a brand new comedy with heart. Learn more about the show here!
Jeff Daniels Will Guest Star in SHRINKING Season 3 Photo
Jeff Daniels Will Guest Star in SHRINKING Season 3
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 12, 2025

Tony-nominee Jeff Daniels has joined the cast of the Apple TV+ hit comedy series Shrinking. Deadline reports that the Broadway alum will appear in the upcoming third season in a guest capacity as the father of Jimmy, played by Jason Segal.
Cast Set For Citadel Theatre's JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN Photo
Cast Set For Citadel Theatre's JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN
by Stephi Wild - Mar 11, 2025

Citadel Theatre will close its 2024-25 season with the Chicago premiere of A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN, by Chicago/Skokie-based actor and playwright Paul Stroili.
Broadway Stage and Screen- A Spring 2025 Watch Guide Photo
Broadway Stage and Screen- A Spring 2025 Watch Guide
by Sidney Paterra - Mar 2, 2025

hile many of them are original concepts or based on plays, 14 are already films or series that you can watch from home now. If you are seeing any of the below productions in 2025, check out how you can study up beforehand or unpack afterwards!
Paul Stroili's MY MOTHER AND THE MICHIGAN/OHIO WAR to Begin in April The Purple Rose Photo
Paul Stroili's MY MOTHER AND THE MICHIGAN/OHIO WAR to Begin in April The Purple Rose Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 21, 2025

Paul Stroili's latest play, My Mother and The Michigan/Ohio War will begins preview at The Purple Rose Theatre. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Jane Lynch, Sharon Lawrence, Gina Torres, John Ross Bowie And More Set For PARENTS IN Photo
Jane Lynch, Sharon Lawrence, Gina Torres, John Ross Bowie And More Set For PARENTS IN CHAINS World Premiere
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 21, 2025

Ensemble Theatre Company has announced additional casting for an add-on production to its season, the world premiere of a new comedy, PARENTS IN CHAINS, written by Emmy and Peabody award-winner Jay Martel and directed by Andy Fickman.
BEING SEEN to Make European Debut at OSO Arts Centre Photo
BEING SEEN to Make European Debut at OSO Arts Centre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 3, 2025

London audiences will soon experience the sharp wit and theatrical brilliance of BEING SEEN, a Joseph Jefferson Best Actor Award-winning production written and directed by Richard Gustin. Learn more!
Review: BOOK OF DAYS at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre Photo
Review: BOOK OF DAYS at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
by Alan Portner - Feb 1, 2025

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre kicks off its 2025 calendar year offerings with an offbeat murder mystery/character study by Lanford Wilson called BOOK OF DAYS performed at The Westport Bowery. The play, originally commissioned by Jeff Daniels in 1998 for his own small town (Michigan) theater company, is set in a southwestern Missouri rural community at a time not specifically named. Lanford Wilson is best known for his naturalistic use of dialogue.  His best- known work is the two-hander “Talley’s Folly.” BOOK OF DAYS draws on Wilson’s own theatrical roots in small-town America. He was from Lebanon, Missouri.
Jeff Daniels Appears Onstage at The Purple Rose For First Time Photo
Jeff Daniels Appears Onstage at The Purple Rose For First Time
by Stephi Wild - Jan 29, 2025

A few lucky, unsuspecting audiences were surprised with a special treat last month when Jeff Daniels, appeared onstage in The Purple Rose Theatre Company (PRTC)'s production of “OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY GRINCH IN FIGHT WITH RUDOLPH POLICE CALLED.”
Ken Burns’s THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Sets PBS Premiere Photo
Ken Burns’s THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Sets PBS Premiere
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 9, 2025

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a new six-part, 12-hour documentary series that explores the country’s founding and its eight-year War for Independence, will premiere on Sunday, November 16.
Last Chance To Vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Michigan Awards; NEWSIES THE MUSICAL at Croswell Opera House Leads Best Musical!
by BWW Awards - Dec 27, 2024

This is the last chance to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Michigan Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
Final Week To Vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Michigan Awards; Croswell Opera House Leads Favorite Local Theatre!
by BWW Awards - Dec 23, 2024

This is the final week to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Michigan Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
Vote For The 2024 BroadwayWorld Michigan Awards; NEWSIES THE MUSICAL at Croswell Opera House Leads Best Musical!
by BWW Awards - Dec 16, 2024

Voting continues for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Michigan Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
Latest Standings Announced For The 2024 BWW Michigan Awards
by BWW Awards - Dec 9, 2024

Don't miss your chance to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Michigan Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
Jeff Daniels' 'Alive and Well Enough Continues' Memoir Launches on Audible Photo
Jeff Daniels' 'Alive and Well Enough Continues' Memoir Launches on Audible
by Josh Sharpe - Dec 5, 2024

Audible has released Alive and Well Enough Continues, the second season of the acclaimed Audible Original from actor Jeff Daniels. This new season is a continuation of the audio-only memoir, mixing storytelling, original music, and performance.
SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY Sets Streaming Debut Photo
SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY Sets Streaming Debut
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 26, 2024

SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY, directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui (“McQueen”), debuts SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 (8:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
GOD OF CARNAGE Play Reading to be Presented by Tangent Theatre & The Moviehouse Photo
GOD OF CARNAGE Play Reading to be Presented by Tangent Theatre & The Moviehouse
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 13, 2024

Tangent Theatre and The Moviehouse announced a special reading of GOD OF CARNAGE by Yasmina Reza, exploring themes of conflict and civility. Join the event for an engaging theatrical experience.
Arena Stage Announces Cast And Creative Team For New Thriller DATA Photo
Arena Stage Announces Cast And Creative Team For New Thriller DATA
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 8, 2024

Arena Stage announced the cast and creative team for the new thriller DATA.
Meet the Cast of OUR TOWN, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway Photo
Meet the Cast of OUR TOWN, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Sep 17, 2024

Thornton Wilder’s Our Town will begin previews on Tuesday, September 17 ahead of an opening on Thursday, October 10 at the Barrymore Theatre for a strictly limited engagement. Meet the cast of Our Town here!
Purple Rose Opens 34th Season With OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY GRINCH IN FIGHT WITH RUDOLP Photo
Purple Rose Opens 34th Season With OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY GRINCH IN FIGHT WITH RUDOLPH POLICE CALLED
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 16, 2024

The Purple Rose Theatre Company announced the World Premiere of OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY GRINCH IN FIGHT WITH RUDOLPH POLICE CALLED, written and directed by Jeff Daniels, to open its 34th season.
More News

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Jeff Daniels been in?

Jeff Daniels has appeared on Broadway in 7 shows.

How many West End shows has Jeff Daniels been in?

Jeff Daniels has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Jeff Daniels been nominated for?

Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for To Kill a Mockingbird, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for To Kill a Mockingbird, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Blackbird, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Blackbird, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for God of Carnage, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for God of Carnage, Outstanding Lead Actor (The Lortels) for Blackbird, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Johnny Got His Gun and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for 5th of July.

How many shows has Jeff Daniels written?

Jeff Daniels has written 1 shows including Time (Composer).

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