Jeff Daniels
Biography
Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels (born February 19, 1955) is an American actor. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan. He has performed in a number of stage productions, both on and off Broadway. He has been nominated for the Tony Award as Best Actor for the Broadway play God of Carnage (2009), along with his other three cast-mates.
He has had a thriving film career, from his debut in 1981 in Ragtime, through State of Play in 2009. For his film work, he has received three Golden Globe Award nominations, including as Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical for Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) (hence the name of his theatre company). He has also received nominations by the Screen Actors Guild, Satellite Awards, and several for his work in The Squid and the Whale (London Critics Circle Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Chlotrudis Awards and Gotham Awards).
Known For
TV
Family Guy
Jeff Daniels (voice)
1999
TV
The Daily Show
Self
1996
TV
Frasier
Doug (voice)
1993
TV
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
TV
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Guest
1993
TV
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015
TV
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self
2005
TV
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
TV
The Colbert Report
Self
2005
TV
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
TV
The View
Self
1997
TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
TV
CBS News Sunday Morning
Self
1979
TV
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
TV
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
TV
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
TV
Shrinking
2023
Filmography
2025TVThe American Revolutionas Thomas Jefferson (voice)2025FilmPaddy Chayefsky: Collector of Wordsas Self2024FilmSuper/Man: The Christopher Reeve Storyas Self2024TVA Man in Fullas Charlie Croker2023FilmBye Bye Barryas Self2023TVThe American Buffaloas (voice)2023FilmThe Saint of Second Chancesas Narrator (voice)2023TVShrinking2021TVAmerican Rustas Det. Del Harris2021Film9/11: Inside the President's War Roomas Self - Narrator (voice)2021FilmBroadway: Beyond the Golden Ageas Self2021TVHemingwayas Ernest Hemingway (voice)2020TVThe Comey Ruleas James Comey2020FilmAdamas Mickey2020TVImpractical Jokers: Dinner Partyas Himself2020TVWashingtonas Self - Narrator2019TVThe Kelly Clarkson Showas Self2019FilmGuest Artistas Joseph Harris2018FilmThe Emperor's Newest Clothesas The Emperor2018FilmThe Catcher Was a Spyas Bill Donovan2018FilmThe Russian Fiveas self2018TVThe Looming Toweras John O'Neill2017TVGodlessas Frank Griffin2017TVRolling Stone: Stories From the Edgeas Narrator2016FilmAllegiantas David2015FilmSteve Jobsas John Sculley2015FilmThe Martianas Theodore "Teddy" Sanders2015TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Self2015TVClose Up with The Hollywood Reporteras Self2015TVARES: liveas Teddy Sanders2015Film"That's Awesome!": The Story of 'Dumb and Dumber To'as Self2015FilmOf Miracles and Menas Self - Narrator2014TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actorsas Self2014FilmDumb and Dumber Toas Harry Dunne2014TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas Self2014TVOff Camera with Sam Jonesas Self2013FilmJames Gandolfini: Tribute to a Friendas Self2012FilmLooperas Abe2012TVThe Newsroomas Will McAvoy2011TVImpractical Jokersas Self2010FilmHowlas Professor David Kirk2009FilmPaper Manas Richard Dunn2009FilmAway We Goas Jerry Farlander2009FilmState of Playas George Fergus2009FilmThe Answer Manas Arlen Faber2008FilmTraitoras Carter2008FilmSpace Chimpsas Zartog (voice)2008FilmA Plumm Summeras Narrator2008FilmSweet Nothing in My Earas Dan Miller2007FilmMama's Boyas Mert Rosenbloom2007FilmThe Lookoutas Lewis2007TVThe Graham Norton Showas Self2006FilmInfamousas Alvin Dewey2006FilmRobin Williams: A Family Affairas Self2006FilmRV Nation: The Culture of Road Warriorsas Self2006FilmBarry Sonnenfeld: The Kosher Cowboyas Self2006FilmRVas Travis Gornicke2006FilmStill Dumb After All These Yearsas Self2005TVThe Colbert Reportas Self2005FilmThe Squid and the Whaleas Bernard Berkman2005FilmGood Night, and Good Luck.as Sig Mickelson2005FilmBecause of Winn-Dixieas Preacher2005TVThe Late Late Show with Craig Fergusonas Self2004FilmThe Five People You Meet In Heavenas Blue Man2004FilmRemembering Ragtimeas P. C. O'Donnell (archive footage)2004FilmImaginary Heroesas Ben Travis2004FilmThe Goodbye Girlas Elliot Garfield2004FilmDumb and Dumber - Making Ofas Self2003FilmSaturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farleyas Self (archive footage) (uncredited)2003TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Showas Self2003FilmI Witnessas James Rhodes2003FilmGods and Generalsas Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self2002FilmThe Hoursas Louis Waters2002FilmBlood Workas Jasper 'Buddy' Noone2002FilmSuper Suckeras Fred Barlow2001FilmChasing Sleepas Ed Saxon2001FilmEscanaba in da Moonlightas Rueben Soady2000FilmCheatersas Dr. Gerard Plecki2000FilmThe Crossingas Gen. George Washington1999FilmAll the Rageas Warren Harding1999FilmMy Favorite Martianas Tim O'Hara1999TVFamily Guyas Jeff Daniels (voice)1998FilmPleasantvilleas Mr. Johnson1998FilmSaturday Night Live: A Tribute to Chris Farleyas Self1997TVThe Viewas Self1997FilmTrial and Erroras Charles Tuttle1997FilmWalt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Partyas Self1996Film101 Dalmatiansas Roger1996FilmFly Away Homeas Thomas Alden1996Film2 Days in the Valleyas Alvin Strayer1996TVThe Daily Showas Self1995FilmRedwood Curtainas Lyman Fellers1994FilmDumb and Dumberas Harry Dunne1994FilmSpeedas Harry1993FilmGettysburgas Col. Joshua Chamberlain1993TVFrasieras Doug (voice)1993TVLate Night with Conan O'Brienas Self - Guest1993TVLate Show with David Lettermanas Self - Guest1993FilmRain Without Thunderas Jonathan Garson1992FilmThere Goes the Neighborhoodas Willis Embry1992FilmTeamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Storyas Tom Noonan1992TVHBO First Look1992TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992FilmTimescapeas Ben Wilson1991FilmAmerica's Classic Ballparksas Narrator1991FilmThe Butcher's Wifeas Dr. Alex Tremor1991TVBreakfast with the Arts1990FilmWelcome Home, Roxy Carmichaelas Denton Webb1990FilmArachnophobiaas Ross Jennings1990FilmLove Hurtsas Paul Weaver1989FilmNo Place Like Homeas Mike Cooper1988FilmChecking Outas Ray Macklin1988FilmSweet Hearts Danceas Sam Manners1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Mark1988FilmThe Caine Mutiny Court-Martialas Lt. Steve Maryk1988FilmThe House on Carroll Streetas Cochran1987TVTrying Timesas Jim1987FilmRadio Daysas Biff Baxter1986FilmSomething Wildas Charles Driggs1986FilmHeartburnas Richard1985FilmMarie: A True Storyas Eddie Sisk1985FilmThe Purple Rose of Cairoas Tom Baxter / Gil Shepherd1984TVMTV Video Music Awardsas Self - Presenter1983FilmTerms of Endearmentas Flap Horton1983FilmAn Invasion of Privacyas Francis Ryan1982FilmFifth of Julyas Jed Jenkins1981FilmRagtimeas P.C. O'Donnell1980TVA Rumor of Waras Chaplain1979TVCBS News Sunday Morningas Self1975TVSaturday Night Liveas Self - Host1968TVHawaii Five-Oas Neal Forrester1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Lyman Fellers—FilmBroadway: The Next Generationas Self—FilmGerald R. Ford: A Test of Characteras Narrator—FilmBlind Logic: The Ralph R. Teetor Storyas Ralph Teetor (voice)—FilmReykjavikas Ronald Reagan