John Diehl
ActingAbout John Diehl
John Diehl (born May 1, 1950) is an American character actor with over 150 credits to his name in film and television. He is best known for his roles as Charles Kawalsky in the 1994 film Stargate, Det. Larry Zito on the 1980s cop show Miami Vice, Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy on The Shield, and as "the Cruiser" in Stripes. His other notable roles include Pvt. Bucklin, the spokesman of the 2nd Maine mutineers in Gettysburg, Cooper in Jurassic Park III (2001), as G. Gordon Liddy in the Oliver Stone movie Nixon, the Klansman informant ("Mickey Mouse") in A Time to Kill, and as Keith, a credit card company supervisor in Mo Money. He also appeared as the spirit of Harley Earl in a series of commercials for Buick. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1968. For a time, he flirted with a professional boxing career, leaving Miami Vice to pursue it.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of John Diehl reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of John Diehl's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 38% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), John Diehl remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Ambush Murders, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best John Diehl Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from John Diehl's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of John Diehl.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Train Dreams | Billy | Hit | Similar → |
| 2025 | John Candy: I Like Me | Self - Actor, Stripes (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2022 | Armageddon Time | Fred Trump | Average | Similar → |
| 2020 | La Sirena | Nino | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | Out of the Wild | Henry McBride | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Forever | Neil | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | A Long Way Off | - | Average | Similar → |
| 2013 | Singularity Principle | Jack Brenner | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe | Rear Admiral Lawrence | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | Natural Selection | Abe | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | Road to Nowhere | Bobby Billings | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | The Lucky Ones | Tom Klinger | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | The House Is Burning | Mr. Garson | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise | Jerry Snyder | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Down in the Valley | Steve | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | Land of Plenty | Paul | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Bookies | Vincent | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Tully | Mal "Mac" MacAvoy | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Jurassic Park III | Cooper | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Pearl Harbor | Senior Doctor | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Fail Safe | Col. Cascio | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Anywhere but Here | Jimmy | Average | Similar → |
| 1999 | Purgatory | Badger | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Hi-Lo Country | Les Birk | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Monument Ave. | Digger | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Rat Pack | Joe DiMaggio | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Fire Down Below | Frank Elkins | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Casualties | Polito | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Foxfire | Mr. Buttinger | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | A Time to Kill | Tim Nunley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Nixon | Gordon Liddy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Three Wishes | Leland's Dad | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | Buffalo Girls | Gen. Custer (1995) | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Stargate | Lieutenant Kawalsky | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | The Client | Jack Nance | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Almost Dead | Eddie Herbek | Average | Similar → |
| 1993 | Gettysburg | Pvt. Bucklin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Falling Down | Dad (Back Yard Party) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Mikey | Neil Trenton | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Motorama | Phil | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Kickboxer 2: The Road Back | Jack | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Walker | Stebbins | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | White of the Eye | Mr Dupree | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper | Det. Larry Zito | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Angel | The Killer | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | National Lampoon's Vacation | Assistant Mechanic | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | The Ambush Murders | Ferguson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Stripes | Cruiser | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Escape from New York | Punk | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Falling in Love Again | Beaver (1940's) | Average | Similar → |
John Diehl - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of John Diehl?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring John Diehl is "The Ambush Murders" with a rating of 9.0/10.
How many movies has John Diehl acted in?
John Diehl has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by John Diehl?
Other notable films include "John Candy: I Like Me", "Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper", and "A Time to Kill".