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John Diehl

John Diehl

Actor · Born May 1, 1950 (76) · Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 1, 1950 (76)
From
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
97 on MovieCove · 127 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 155 days to Oct 26Up 11% in 30 days

What are John Diehl's films like?

Across their 46 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure 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
25%
Bonds
21%
Survival
18%
Morality
15%
Power
12%
Society
8%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 45 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 11 · Serious 16 · Dark 18

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 26 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 8

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 20 · Intense 17

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

A split, not a type: Steady 22 · Shifting 18 · 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 29 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 26 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 15 · Engaged 25 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 12 · Affecting 19 · Heavy 14

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 22 · Open-ended 13 · Ambiguous 10

Roles they play

20 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 8 of 20 analyzed roles.

Shadow
8 of 20
Mentor
5 of 20
Threshold guardian
2 of 20
Herald
2 of 20
Trickster
1 of 20
Ally
1 of 20
Hero
1 of 20
Show the 20 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Melancholic
18
Dread
13
Contemplative
13
Absurd
11
Other
39

How their films linger

Thought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous15

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 John Diehl's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 64 of their 97 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (33).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Diehl'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

127 credits, 97 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Train Dreams(2025)

    as Billy

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Armageddon Time(2022)

    as Fred Trump

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Dark Winds(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as B.J. Vines

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • La Sirena (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Nino

  • Serpent in the Bottle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Marvin Decker

  • Castle Rock(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as John

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Out of the Wild(2019)

    as Henry McBride

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Snowfall(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Colonel Robert McDonald

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The North Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Master Anderson

  • Forever(2015)

    as Neil

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • A Long Way Off(2014)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Almost Human(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Edward Kennex

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Singularity Principle(2013)

    as Jack Brenner

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Apartment 1303 3D(2012)

    as Detective

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Obama Effect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Steve Warren

  • Scandal(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray Dwyer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe(2011)

    as Rear Admiral Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Natural Selection(2011)

    as Abe

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Road to Nowhere(2010)

    as Bobby Billings

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Dunbar

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Drifter: Henry Lee Lucas(2009)

    as Sheriff Larabie

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Follow the Prophet(2009)

    as Ted

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Everett

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Lucky Ones(2008)

    as Tom Klinger

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Women's Murder Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Far Side of Jericho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Cash Thornton

  • The House Is Burning(2006)

    as Mr. Garson

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Friday Night Lights(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Richard Sherman

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Jericho(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Governor Trader

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise(2006)

    as Jerry Snyder

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Hidden Places (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Frank Wyatt

  • Down in the Valley(2005)

    as Steve

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Point Pleasant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 7 episodes · as David Burke

  • Land of Plenty(2004)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • I Pass for Human (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Ex-husband

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Isaac Keller

  • Dragnet: Sticks and Stones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Dr. Rupert Miles

  • Bookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Vincent

  • Tully (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mal "Mac" MacAvoy

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Doyle

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Shield(2002)

    Show 8 episodes · as Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Guardian(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Fortunato

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Falling Like This (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Co-Producer · as Eddie Gallagher

  • Jurassic Park III(2001)

    as Cooper

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Pearl Harbor(2001)

    as Senior Doctor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Zeros(2001)

    as Burl

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Lost Souls(2000)

    as Henry Birdson

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Lawson

  • Fail Safe(2000)

    as Col. Cascio

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Anywhere But Here(1999)

    as Jimmy

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Claypool

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Get Real (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Harris Forman

  • Purgatory(1999)

    as Badger

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Hi-Lo Country(1998)

    as Les Birk

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Monument Ave.(1998)

    as Digger

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Rat Pack(1998)

    as Joe DiMaggio

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Amanda & the Alien(1995)

    as Colonel Rosencrans

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Most Wanted(1997)

    as Police Captain

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The End of Violence(1997)

    as Lowell

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Fire Down Below(1997)

    as Frank Elkins

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Con Air(1997)

    as Poe's Lawyer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Casualties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Polito

  • Female Perversions(1996)

    as Jake Rock

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Profiler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Toby 'The Wick' Wood

  • The Pretender(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Delmont

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Foxfire(1996)

    as Mr. Buttinger

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Time to Kill(1996)

    as Tim Nunley

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Managua (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert foss

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • The Destiny of Marty Fine(1996)

    as Deke

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Grave(1996)

    as J.C. Cole

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day(1996)

    as Pinchot

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Ruby Jean and Joe(1996)

    as Harris Johnson

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Nixon(1995)

    as Gordon Liddy

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Three Wishes(1995)

    as Leland's Dad

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Mind Ripper(1995)

    as Alex

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Raglan

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Buffalo Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as General Custer

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Stargate(1994)

    as Lieutenant Kawalsky

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnson's Son

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The New Age(1994)

    as Lyle

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Client(1994)

    as Jack Nance

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Almost Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Eddie Herbek

  • Gettysburg(1993)

    as Pvt. Bucklin

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Paint Job (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Father

  • Remote(1993)

    as Delbert McCoy

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • NYPD Blue(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe brady

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Wilson Pinker Rawls

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The John Larroquette Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 5 episodes · as Chris

  • Falling Down(1993)

    as Dad (Back Yard Party)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Mikey(1992)

    as Neil Trenton

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Mo' Money(1992)

    as Keith Heading

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Motorama(1991)

    as Phil

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • A Climate for Killing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Wayne Paris

  • Whore(1991)

    as Derelict

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Eddie Dodd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kickboxer 2: The Road Back(1991)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Side of the Moon(1990)

    as Philip Jennings

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Cool Blue(1989)

    as Clayton

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Madhouse(1990)

    as Fred

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Monsters(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Miles Magnus

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Glitz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Teddy Magyk

  • In the Heat of the Night(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as John sevrance

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Walker(1987)

    as Stebbins

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Beauty and the Beast(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Vernon Toulane

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • White of the Eye(1987)

    as Mr Dupree

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Hanoi Hilton(1987)

    as Murphy

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Kevin Delahanty · as Tim

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 51 episodes · as Larry Zito

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Det. Larry Zito

  • Angel(1984)

    as The Killer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • D.C. Cab(1983)

    as Head Kidnapper

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • National Lampoon's Vacation(1983)

    as Assistant Mechanic

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Joysticks(1983)

    as Arnie

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Hysterical(1982)

    as Taxi Driver

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Cassie & Co. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Gelson

  • The Ambush Murders(1982)

    as Ferguson

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Leon's Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Leon Bernstein

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Gus Wallach

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Stripes(1981)

    as Cruiser

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Escape from New York(1981)

    as Punk

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Falling in Love Again(1980)

    as Beaver (1940's)

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • A Cry for Love(1980)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 125 titles from 1980 to 2025; peak year 1995.

Biggest box office

Jurassic Park III (2001)

$369M worldwide

Highest rated

Train Dreams (2025)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Miami Vice (1984)

Film career

19802025

Peak 1995 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting125 of 125: 124 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thProducing1 of 125: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s25 · acting1990s51 · acting2000s29 · 29 acting · 1 crew2010s15 · acting2020s5 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 49 roles
8186960106

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.

How do John Diehl's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 69; across their 45 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Midcredits score across 97 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up31
  • 50th to 74th25
  • 25th to 49th26
  • Below 25th15

Shape of the crowd

41 of their 97 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Universally Panned3
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser41
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed31

Most divisive · actor

Follow the Prophet (2009)

94th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Snowfall (2017)

Midcredits 98th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 44 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 40. 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 John Diehl's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles34–70 · median 54 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles21–65 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles27–79 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles28–43 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles15–72 · median 48 · moderatenear the median of all 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 John Diehl work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Diehl's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Wim Wenders shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers