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Reed Birney

Reed Birney

Actor · Born September 11, 1954 (72) · Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Independent Spirit Award winner

Reed Birney (born September 11, 1954) is an American actor. Birney is known for his performances on stage and screen often acting on and off Broadway. Birney gained acclaim in 2016 for his role in The Humans winning the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He was also nominated previously in the same category for his performance in Casa Valentina in 2014. He starred in the films Mass (2021), and The Menu (2022). He is also known for his recurring roles in Gossip Girl (2007–2009), House of Cards (2013–2017), The Blacklist (2014–2015), and Home Before Dark (2021–2022). He has also acted in The Americans, The Handmaid's Tale, and Succession.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 11, 1954 (72)
From
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
52 on MovieCove · 94 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 32% in 30 days

What are Reed Birney's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
34%
Bonds
22%
Morality
19%
Power
9%
Survival
8%
Society
4%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 4 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 9 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 6 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 6
Herald
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Bittersweet
6
Melancholic
5
Contemplative
5
Hopeful
4
Other
12

How their films linger

Hopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet8
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Reed Birney's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 41 of their 52 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Reed Birney's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

94 credits, 52 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight(2026)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Blue Film(2025)

    Executive Producer · as Hank Grant

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • If You See Something(2024)

    as Ward

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Standby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Jerry

  • Live Long (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Dad

  • Play Date (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Producer

  • Apostasy Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Stephen

  • Death Wish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as The Ass

  • Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2(2024)

    as Henry Bennett

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Asynchronous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Neil

  • Dark Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Jack

  • Couple A Cards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Bernard

  • Silo(2023)

    Show 10 episodes · as Henry

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Baby Ruby(2022)

    as Dr. Rosenbaum

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Poker Face(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben / Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Stomach People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Dad

  • The Menu(2022)

    as Richard

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Luq

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Mass(2021)

    as Richard

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Someone Will Assist You Shortly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Dennis Shields

  • Strawberry Mansion(2021)

    as Peter Bloom

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • All the Little Things We Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Senator Gerald Hess

  • The Forty-Year-Old Version(2020)

    as J. Whitman

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Home Before Dark(2020)

    Show 18 episodes · as Sylvester Lisko

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Hunt(2020)

    as Pop

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Lost Girls(2020)

    as Peter Hackett

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Evil(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Thunderland

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • On Our Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Gerry

  • w4m (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Peter

  • The Lost Weekend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Henry

  • The Last (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Harry

  • Titans(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as The Messenger / Dr. Adamson

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Margaret and Gary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Mike Pennetti (voice)

  • A Million Little Things(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Eugene Bloon

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Succession(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave Boyer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The King's Judgement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Vincent

  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks(2017)

    as Dr. George Gey

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Shy Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Carl

  • Bull(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Humphrey

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Half the Perfect World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Peter

  • Mired (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Father

  • Dinner with Jeffrey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Jeffrey

  • Occupy, Texas(2016)

    as Uncle Nolan

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Chicago Med(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Greg Davis

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Mad Women(2015)

    as Richard

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Jackrabbit(2015)

    as Paul Bateson

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • American Odyssey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · as Senator Darnell

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Roland Hobbs

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • In Your Eyes(2014)

    as Dr. Maynard

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Adult World(2013)

    as Todd

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 9 episodes · as Tom Connolly

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Molly's Theory of Relativity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Asher

  • House of Cards(2013)

    Show 17 episodes · as Donald Blythe

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Americans(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Patrick McCleesh

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Girl Most Likely(2012)

    as Dr. Chalmers

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Girls(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • American Horror Story(2011)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dexter Harding

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Twelve Thirty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Martin

  • Morning Glory(2010)

    as Governor Willis

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Burden Maxwell

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • My Generation(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · as Michael Foster

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Lee Tripke

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Kings(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · as Minister Forsythe

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Changeling(2008)

    as Mayor Cryer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Gossip Girl(2007)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mr. Prescott

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Ten(2007)

    as Jim Stansel

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Wainy Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Rose

  • Kidnapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Mancini

  • Uptown Girls(2003)

    as Executive

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as ADA Stillman · as Fred Martz

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Walzer

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Waters

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Trey Billings Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Mr. Hiney

  • A Perfect Murder(1998)

    as Merchant Prince #1

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • From the Earth to the Moon(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as John Houbolt

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • You Are Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Jack's Boss

  • Karen Black Like Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as King Dong (voice)

  • Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Actor

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Archdioces Attorney · as Everett Brown · as Malcolm Barclay

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Beverly Hills Buntz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Wininger's Campaign Director Larry Fielding

  • Means and Ends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Ryan

  • Kane & Abel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Matthew Lester

  • Chain Letters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Greg

  • Crimewave(1985)

    as Vic Ajax

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Four Friends(1981)

    as Louie

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Greatest Man in the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Smidgeon

  • Too Far to Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Young Driver

  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Steven

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Not a Pretty Picture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Fred

  • As a Person (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Robert

  • Limbo, U.S.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as John Russell

  • Outrage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Jake Gadling

  • The Steel Harp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 94 titles, 90 of them dated from 1976 to 2026; peak year 2021.

Biggest box office

The Menu (2022)

$80M worldwide

Highest rated

Mass (2021)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

The Menu (2022)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward win
19762026

Peak 2021 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1981Screen debut· Four Friends
  • 1985First top-billed film· Crimewave
  • 1985Breakout· Crimewave
  • 2021Independent Spirit Award win· Mass
  • 2023Career best· Silo

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting93 of 94: 92 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score76thProducing2 of 94: 1 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s3 · acting1980s8 · acting1990s8 · acting2000s10 · acting2010s35 · acting2020s26 · 25 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 6% of 17 roles
8111

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Won an Independent Spirit Award in 2022.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Reed Birney's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 25; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 52 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up29
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 52 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Occupy, Texas (2016)

94th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

House of Cards (2013)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Reed Birney's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles17–61 · median 28 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles8–58 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles44–82 · median 76 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles18–56 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles27–70 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Reed Birney work with?

People who share at least 2 of Reed Birney's MovieCove titles; Ryan Jackson-Healy shares the most, 2.