Timothy Olyphant | |
|---|---|
 Olyphant in 2025 | |
| Born | Timothy David Olyphant (1968-05-20)May 20, 1968 (age 57) |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Vanderbilt family |
Timothy David Olyphant (/ˈɒlɪfənt/OL-ih-fənt;[1] born May 20, 1968)[2] is an American actor. He made his acting debut in anoff-Broadway theater in 1995, inThe Monogamist, and won theTheatre World Award for his performance, and then originatedDavid Sedaris'The Santaland Diaries in 1996. He then branched out to film; in the early years of his career, he was often cast in supporting villainous roles, most notably inScream 2 (1997),Go (1999),Gone in 60 Seconds andThe Broken Hearts Club (2000),A Man Apart (2003), andThe Girl Next Door (2004).
He came to the attention of a wider audience with his portrayal of SheriffSeth Bullock inHBO's westernDeadwood (2004–2006), later reprising the role inDeadwood: The Movie (2019). He had starring roles in films such asCatch and Release (2006),Hitman (2007),A Perfect Getaway (2009), andThe Crazies (2010), and he played the main antagonist, Thomas Gabriel, inLive Free or Die Hard (2007). Olyphant was a recurring guest star in season two of theFX legal thrillerDamages (2009).
From 2010 to 2015, Olyphant starred as Deputy U.S. MarshalRaylan Givens in FX's modern-dayKentuckysouthern gothicJustified, a performance for which he was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2011. Since the end ofJustified, Olyphant has starred in films such asMother's Day (2016),Snowden (2016),Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), andAmsterdam (2022). He has also had notable guest appearances in numerous television sitcoms includingThe Office (2010),The Mindy Project (2013), andThe Grinder (2015–2016), for which he won aCritics' Choice Award. He also starred in theNetflix comedy seriesSanta Clarita Diet (2017–2019). In 2020, he played himself in a brief cameo, parodying hisJustified character, in theNBC award-winning showThe Good Place. In the same year, he guest starred in season 10 ofCurb Your Enthusiasm, as well as in thefourth season ofFargo and thesecond season ofThe Mandalorian in the episode "Chapter 9: The Marshal" asCobb Vanth, a role he later reprised inThe Book of Boba Fett. In 2025, he starred in a main role in theFX seriesAlien: Earth.
Olyphant was born inHonolulu,Hawaii, but moved toModesto, California at the age of two.[3] His parents are Katherine (née Gideon) and John Vernon Bevan Olyphant, who worked as vice president of production atGallo Winery.[4][5][6][7][8] He has an older brother, Andrew, and a younger brother, Matthew.[9] His parents divorced when he was a teenager; both remarried.[10][11][12] He is of English, German, Scottish, Dutch, and Irish ancestry.[citation needed]
Olyphant is a descendant of theVanderbilt family of New York. His paternal fourth great-grandfather was family patriarchCornelius Vanderbilt.[13] The surnameOlyphant is of Scottish origin.[3] Another paternal fourth great-grandfather, Dr. David Olyphant, was born in Scotland and served as director-general of the Southern hospitals during theAmerican Revolutionary War.[14] His third great-grandfather,David Olyphant, and great-great-grandfather,Robert Morrison Olyphant, were both prominent businessmen.[15][16][17]
Olyphant attended Modesto'sFred C. Beyer High School.[18] Growing up, he was "embarrassed" by the idea of acting, but enjoyed art and drawing.[19][20] He swam competitively throughout his childhood and was a finalist at the 1986Nationals, in the200m Individual Medley.[21][22] He was then recruited to theUniversity of Southern California byUSC Trojans swimming coachPeter Daland.[23][24] When Olyphant first visited the campus as part of a recruitment trip, he hoped to study architecture but was told it would be unmanageable with his training schedule.[19][25][26]
Instead, he opted to earn aBachelor of Fine Arts.[3] However, Olyphant left university one elective shy of a degree; he returned to finish the degree 30 years later, taking an online course during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[27] In 1990, he planned to finish his degree and apply for amaster's degree in fine arts and half-heartedly considered a career incommercial art.[20][28] While working as a swimming coach atIrvine Novaquatics,[29][30] Olyphant decided to move to New York to explore other options.[25] He initially performedstand-up comedy: "I'd dabbled [before] and then there was a six-month period where I did it with a certain commitment. Then I'd occasionally go back."[20][28][31][32] Ultimately, he decided to become an actor. In his final year of college, he had taken an acting class as an elective atUC Irvine and found it "really enjoyable".[3][33] He completed a two-year acting program at New York'sWilliam Esper Studio and began auditioning for roles.[34][35][36]
Olyphant's first paid acting job was in a 1995WB television pilot based on77 Sunset Strip.Phyllis Huffman cast him in the role but he did not have an opportunity to meet the show's producer,Clint Eastwood, who quit days before filming began.[37][38] Later that year, he made his professionalOff Broadway debut in thePlaywrights Horizons' production ofThe Monogamist[39][40] and received theTheatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance.[41] He starred in the world premiere ofThe SantaLand Diaries (1996) at theAtlantic Theater Company, a one-man play based onDavid Sedaris' essay about working as aMacy's department store Christmas elf.[42] Ben Brantley ofThe New York Times felt the "charming" Olyphant did "a wonderful job" when imitating other characters but had "a harder time finding a convincing style for the running narrative".[43] Howard Kissell ofThe New York Daily News remarked that he delivered "all the drollery with a perfect deadpan and a twinkle"[44] while David Patrick Stearns ofUSA Today described him as "an excellent young actor who successfully projects the world-weariness of a young 20-something who slowly evolves into somebody who just might believe in Christmas."[45]
Olyphant made his feature film debut inThe First Wives Club (1996) as an eager young director who attempts to cast Elise Elliot (Goldie Hawn) – who thinks she will be playing the leading lady – in the role of the elderly mother.[46] Airing on the same day of that film's release, he made his television debut in the pilot of theCBS spy seriesMr. & Mrs. Smith.[47][48] In 1997, Olyphant made a guest appearance as Officer Brett Farraday in three episodes of theABC police dramaHigh Incident[49] and returned to New York's Playwrights Horizons to play a supporting role inPlunge.[50] He also had minor roles in the romantic comedyA Life Less Ordinary[51] and the CBS television filmEllen Foster.[52] Olyphant's most high-profile role of 1997 was as a film student later revealed as one of the killers in the successful horror filmScream 2, bringing "a degree of wild-eyed flair to the role," according toHitFix's Chris Eggertsen.[53][54] He later described the role as "a gift. I had virtually nothing on my resume at that point. I'm sure some of it was made up."[54]
Olyphant returned to television in 1998 for a guest starring role in an episode of theHBO sitcomSex and the City, playing a love interest forCarrie Bradshaw.Sarah Jessica Parker later said the episode, "Valley of the Twenty Something Guys", was her favorite of the series.[55] Also that year, he had supporting roles in the HBO war filmWhen Trumpets Fade[56] and the independent ensemble drama1999.[57][58] Two little-seen films were released in 1999: the dramaAdvice from a Caterpillar, in which Olyphant played the bisexual love interest ofCynthia Nixon's character,[59][60] and the offbeat ensemble comedyNo Vacancy, in which he starred withChristina Ricci.[61] Olyphant received positive notices for portraying a drug dealer in the cult comedyGo (1999).[8][35][62] Janet Maslin ofThe New York Times noted that the role was "played with offbeat flair"[63][64] while Todd McCarthy ofVariety described it as a "deftly etched" performance.[65] He was set to star in the fantasy filmPractical Magic, but he was replaced byAidan Quinn.[66][67]
After Olyphant's performance inGo, the film's producerMickey Liddell offered him his choice of parts in his next projectThe Broken Hearts Club (2000), a romantic comedy about a group of gay friends living in West Hollywood.[68][69][70]The Village Voice's Dennis Lim commented that his leading performance was better than the film deserved: "Olyphant is charismatic enough for his worst lines not to stick."[71] However, Mick LaSalle of theSan Francisco Chronicle felt he played the part "like a straight actor gaying it up".[72] Olyphant played a detective in the successful action filmGone in 60 Seconds (2000) and joked in an interview about the challenges of playing "second fiddle to a car";[46][73] his performance reminded theWashington Post's Stephen Hunter of a youngBill Paxton.[74]
Olyphant was offered a starring role for a character calledDominic Toretto in another car film calledRedline – that would later be retitledThe Fast and the Furious. According to Sony producerNeal H. Moritz, "The studio said, 'If you can get Timothy Olyphant to play that role we will greenlight the movie.'" Olyphant declined the role, which went toVin Diesel. The film went on to be a massive success withnine sequels to date.[75] Olyphant later discussed passing on a lot of roles earlier in his career. In 2011, when asked byThe Hollywood Reporter what was the most absurd project he had ever been pitched, he replied, "I've passed on absurd projects and they have become enormous, enormous hits spawning numerous sequels, and I'm not in them."[76] In 2018, he reflected on passing on the role of Toretto inThe Fast and the Furious, thinking it would be "stupid" and would bomb at the box office.[77]
Olyphant also had supporting roles in the musical comedyRock Star,[38] the crime dramaAuggie Rose,[78][79] and the romantic comedyHead Over Heels (all 2001). He starred in the short filmDoppelganger (2001)[80] and appeared in an episode of theSci-Fi Channel horror seriesNight Visions (2002).[81]
The independent dramaCoastlines made its debut at the 2002SXSW Festival, but failed to find a distributor until 2006.[82][83] Olyphant starred oppositeJosh Brolin as an ex-con who returns to his Florida hometown to collect a $200,000 debt. Kevin Crust of theLos Angeles Times wrote that he "possesses the kind of thousand-yard stare that suggests something deeper going on,"[84] while Owen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly remarked that "Olyphant, in the sort of role thatPaul Newman used to swagger through, has a star's easy command."[85] However, Todd McCarthy ofVariety felt his performance "sort of floats along".[86]
Olyphant's most high-profile role of 2003 was in the Vin Diesel-starring action filmA Man Apart. Desson Howe of theWashington Post remarked that Olyphant "gets a kudo or two for [having] the good sense to realize he's playing one of the movie's many one-dimensional characters, so he might as well have insane fun".[87] Similarly, Mick LaSalle of theSan Francisco Chronicle noted that "the most lively character in "A Man Apart" turns out [to be] a middling drug dealer played to the hilt by Timothy Olyphant."[88] He appeared in thefilm adaptation ofStephen King's horror novelDreamcatcher as one of four friends attacked by parasitic aliens.[89][90][91] The film was poorly reviewed, with David Rooney ofVariety remarking: "OnlyLee and Olyphant come close to hitting the right note of tongue-in-cheek humor that might have made all this palatable. Unfortunately, they're the first to go."[92] Also in 2003, he appeared in the independent ensemble dramaThe Safety of Objects.[68][93][94]
Olyphant received widespread praise for his 2004 performance as a porn film producer in the comedyThe Girl Next Door.[95][96][97] He was initially reluctant to audition for the part, feeling it was too similar to some of his previous roles but, "as my manager dutifully reminded me, not many people saw those movies."[73] Mick LaSalle of theSan Francisco Chronicle described the character of Kelly as "a leering, magnetic, frightening, glad-handing, easily-amused, hyper-sensitive, utterly deceitful, maddeningly likable wild man. When Olyphant is on screen, there's the feeling that things might go anywhere."[98] A.O. Scott ofThe New York Times remarked that the part was played with "a throwaway inventiveness"[99] while Kenneth Turan of theLos Angeles Times felt it was played "with wonderful comic zest".[100] David Edelstein ofSlate enjoyed his "spaced-out volatility. Olyphant's Kelly is a brilliant synthesis of poses."[101] Joe Leydon ofVariety said he "strikes an impressively deft balance of hearty amiability and understated menace in his scene-stealing turn".[102]
In a 2015 interview, Olyphant reflected on the early stages of his film career, and not getting the leading roles that would have possibly led to major fame: "I got great opportunities right off the bat. And at the same time I either passed or failed to get things that would have made things ridiculously quick. I passed on enormous opportunities only to end up playing the supporting role in the next film. And then I'd think to myself, "What the fuck am I doing? Why did I do that?" But sometimes I feel like I got away with some things, because I've been able to work for a long time and I haven't had to deal with any kind of fame issues."[103]
Olyphant came to the attention of a wider audience when he was cast as SheriffSeth Bullock in HBO's acclaimed westernDeadwood, which aired for three seasons from 2004 to 2006.[73] While he had previously been typecast "as a talkative,Jack Nicholson–styled, funny bad boy," in the words ofVulture'sMatt Zoller Seitz,[104][105]Deadwood gave him the opportunity to play a righteous, brooding lawman.[106][107][108][109] The show's creator,David Milch, said of the casting choice: "Bullock's uprightness is an alternative to going medieval on people. You can see that same fire and that possibility in Tim, even at his most genial ... I'm not sure which poet talked about 'thoughts too deep for words,' but he brings that idea alive ... Tim is a guy that doesn't let himself be known easily."[62][110][111]
While Bullock was initially introduced asDeadwood's protagonist, Emily VanDerWerff ofThe A.V. Club noted that the character ofAl Swearengen came to "dominate the show ... This is not to slight Timothy Olyphant. He's a fine actor, and his portrayal of Bullock is frequently very, very good. Bullock is still unquestionably one of the most important characters on the show but the character of a Wild West lawman, no matter how revisionist it was in its portrayal of that lawman as someone who seemed barely in control at all times, just ended up not having as much to do in a blatantly revisionist Western about how chaos gives way to civilization."[112] Matt Feeney ofSlate described Bullock as "laconic, feral, hot-tempered and a little vain", and said the character was "not so much played as embodied by Olyphant".[113] Alan Sepinwall ofHitFix found his performance "fierce and commanding"[114] while Jeremy Egner ofThe New York Times said that he showed "a capacity for explosive, nuanced performance barely suggested by earlier roles".[62] The cast were nominated for the 2006Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.[51]
Years later, Olyphant remarked thatDeadwood "almost has done more for me since we wrapped than while it was on. I continue to draw from it, to steal from it. I'm much better at my job now because of the things I learned while doing it. David Milch is one of the greatest writers, storytellers, directors, creative forces I've ever been around."[115] He has been somewhat critical of his own performance: "Frankly, the show is much better than my performance ...Ian was like a little kid, playing with the props and playing with the language and he never lost the sense of fun of it all. I wasn't operating at that same level."[116][117]
Also in 2006, he made a guest appearance in an episode of theNBC comedyMy Name Is Earl.[118] In 2007, Olyphant starred in the romantic comedyCatch and Release. He knew co-starJennifer Garner from their days as struggling actors in New York, and was excited for the opportunity to play a romantic lead.[7][51][119] Lael Loewenstein ofVariety felt "Olyphant clearly has a bright future"[120] while Desson Thomson of theWashington Post described him as "the strongest performer here" but that he was "entirely misplaced, an estimable actor caught in a thankless, frilly role".[121] Scott Tobias ofThe A.V. Club remarked: "Olyphant's trademark volatility makes him a livelier romantic lead than the usual stuffed shirt."[122] Similarly, Stephanie Zacharek ofSalon found him "effective here precisely because he seems a little sharp and dangerous. He's not your typical cuddly romantic lead."[123]
Olyphant's first post-Deadwood roles were the action moviesLive Free or Die Hard andHitman (both 2007). (Coastlines was first screened during the Sundance Film Festival in 2002[124] whileCatch and Release was filmed in 2005.[125]) He had bought a house in the weeks beforeDeadwood's cancellation[126][127] and he later admitted his job choices during this period were for "purely financial reasons".[19] InLive Free or Die Hard, he played a villainous cybersecurity expert.[51][108][128] Both he andBruce Willis have said his role was underwritten in the script, and he enjoyed working with Willis to develop the character.[129][130][131] Peter Travers ofRolling Stone declared him "a master at smiling menace",[132] while Mick LaSalle ofThe San Francisco Chronicle found him "perfectly ice cold".[133] However,Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times remarked: "Mr. Olyphant has many charms, but annihilating menace is not one of them."[134] He next starred inHitman, a video game adaptation, as the assassinAgent 47.[7][135][136] He was hired to replace Vin Diesel six weeks before filming began[137][138] and reluctantly agreed to shave his head.[130][139] The film was commercially successful, grossing over $100 million,[140] but received negative reviews. Todd McCarthy ofVariety described Olyphant as "an actor capable of portraying subtle ambiguities and thought, which suggests he ought to branch out to play something other than baddies".[141] Nick Schager ofSlant Magazine was disappointed to see the actor "reduced to glowering and posing with pistols"[142] while Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times felt he was "strangely, at times ridiculously, miscast".[143] In 2008, he had a supporting role as alieutenant colonel in theIraq War dramaStop-Loss,[51][144] played a pompous newscaster in the little-seen comedyMeet Bill,[145] voiced the character Cowboy in the video gameTurok[146] and made a guest appearance on the first season of the ABC sitcomSamantha Who? withChristina Applegate.[147][148]
Olyphant had a new outlook when choosing his 2009 projects, influenced by his experience withHitman: "It motivated me to take a little more responsibility with what I was doing ... I was very fond of the director and a lot of the people that worked on the film but there was definitely a part of me that was like, "What am I doing here?'"[62][149][150] He starred as a morphine addict in the little-seen independent heist comedyHigh Life,[151][152][153] with Derek Elley ofVariety praising his "terrific" performance.[154][155] He had a starring role in the thrillerA Perfect Getaway as a possible serial killer of fellow holidaymakers in Hawaii. Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times enjoyed "the regrettably underemployed" actor's performance,[156] Ty Burr of theBoston Globe found him "delightfully confident"[157] while Lisa Schwarzbaum ofEntertainment Weekly noted he "has a heckuva good time telegraphing macho mania".[158] He was nominated for theToronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor.[159] He returned to the stage for one night to appear inStanding on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, benefiting theHuman Rights Campaign.[160][161] Also in 2009, he appeared in 11 episodes of theFX legal thrillerDamages, as a morally ambiguous love interest forRose Byrne's character.[162][163] Byrne later said he was her favoriteDamages guest star,[164][165] while FX presidentJohn Landgraf sent him the pilot script for another FX project,Lawman (later renamedJustified).[111][115] In 2010, he starred as the town sheriff in the horror filmThe Crazies.[149][166] Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian was impressed by the "saturnine screen presence of Timothy Olyphant – that formidable actor who deserves a lead role to match his potential."[167]The Hollywood Reporter's Michael Rechtshaffen found him "convincing"[168] while Claudia Puig ofUSA Today enjoyed the "smart, stoic and sympathetic" performance.[169] He also appeared in the independent comedyElektra Luxx (2010).[170][171]
Olyphant starred in FX's modern-day western series,Justified, as Deputy U.S. MarshalRaylan Givens, who is reassigned to his native Eastern Kentucky following a "Justified," but questionable, quick-draw shooting of a criminal in Miami. There, he encounters many outlaw figures from his childhood, including his father and Boyd Crowder, with whom he dug coal as a teenager.[172] Olyphant was initially drawn to "the ease and the charm and the sort of old-fashionedness" of the character[150] but has said he does not consider him a "good guy".[62][172][173][174] The character of Raylan Givens was created by novelistElmore Leonard, appearing in his short story "Fire in the Hole" (2001) and the novelsPronto (1993) andRiding the Rap (1995). Leonard was an executive producer ofJustified and befriended Olyphant;[175][176][177] his final novel,Raylan (2012), was inspired by the television show.[178]
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Raylan Givens has been described by many television critics as the "defining role" of Olyphant's career.[62][179][180] Brian Lowry ofVariety said it was "an unabashed star turn": "There are surely worse ways to be pigeonholed than playing tough, laconic lawmen, and Timothy Olyphant is carving himself a formidable niche in those confines ... It's an enormously appealing performance."[181] Tim Goodman of theSan Francisco Chronicle praised "an incredibly riveting performance": "Olyphant's steely gaze, Zen interior and matinee looks called to mind a younger Clint Eastwood."[182] Daniel Fienberg ofHitFix described him as "a tremendously compelling actor. It's not that he thrives only on minimalism, but he gets a lot out of a little. His performance is about potential energy, or potential violence. And Olyphant does "intense and coiled" to perfection."[183] Matthew Gilbert ofThe Boston Globe said: "It's hard to imagine any other actor in the part, as Olyphant milks Raylan's smooth, laconic cowboy style for as much wry humor as he can. He is riveting without a lot of noise — both his body language and his conversation are pared down, and yet his presence is always resonant."[184] Although Olyphant was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2011,[185] he and the show were often perceived to have been "snubbed" by Emmy voters.[186][187][188][189] Matt Zoller Seitz ofVulture suggested this was because it was "the kind of performance that almost nobody recognizes as 'acting.' It's an old-fashioned movie hero performance in which much of the emotional action is internal and articulated with great subtlety."[190] Similarly, Robert Bianco ofUSA Today commented that his "masterfully complete immersion in the role seems to have masked the talent expended playing it".[191]
Olyphant also served as a co-executive producer onJustified, working withGraham Yost and the writing team on some of the show's storylines and coming to the set on his days off to work with guest stars.[62][150][192][111] He has described producing as "the greatest thing about this job".[173] Yost has said of his producer credit: "Often on shows that really doesn't mean much. On this show it actually doesn't reflect the depth of his involvement, which would be an even bigger credit. Tim is the biggest reminder for everyone that we're in the Elmore Leonard world. And that it needs to be funny and dark and twisted, and it needs to speak with all of those voices at the same time."[62]Justified was awarded aPeabody Award in 2011.[193]
Olyphant made occasional guest appearances on comedy television shows duringJustified's six-season run. He played a paper salesman in two episodes of the NBC comedyThe Office (2010), afterMindy Kaling, a writer, producer and actress on the show, pushed for him to make a guest appearance.[194][195][196] In 2012, he played a character billed as White Sushi Chef in an episode of the FX sitcomThe League (2012)[197] and voiced a character in an episode of the FX animated seriesArcher.[198][199] In 2013, he appeared as a love interest on theFox comedyThe Mindy Project. The guest appearance came about after he told Kaling that he wanted to appear on the show[200][201] and he later said he would have been happy to play his middle-aged skateboarder character for "years".[31][202][203]
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Olyphant also worked on numerous films in between seasons ofJustified. He voiced the Spirit of the West in the animated filmRango (2011).[204][205] The character was a parody ofClint Eastwood'sMan with No Name[206] and Olyphant was cast after directorGore Verbinski overheard him speaking on television: "I just sort of doubled back and looked through the door and was like, "That's our guy" ... Timothy has such a great quality to his voice."[207][208][209] Olyphant appeared as a mentor toAlex Pettyfer's character in the science-fiction thrillerI Am Number Four (2011).[204] Justin Chang ofVariety said he "brings some of his usual edge"[210] but Betsy Sharkey of theLos Angeles Times felt he was "an untapped resource".[211] Also in 2011, he voiced a character called Sergeant First Class "Grinch" in the video game,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. In 2013, he appeared asJeff Garlin's father in the independent comedyDealin' with Idiots[212][213] and took part in a one-offLACMA Live Read of the black comedyRaising Arizona (1987); he playedNicolas Cage's character whileAmy Poehler playedHolly Hunter's character.[214][215] In 2014, Olyphant starred withTina Fey in the ensemble comedy-dramaThis Is Where I Leave You. Their characters were teenage sweethearts until an accident left him with a mild brain injury. The film received mixed reviews,[216] with David Edelstein ofVulture commenting: "Over the course of his career, Olyphant has given life to head-slappingly bad material, and he does it again by simply underplaying."[217]
Olyphant had a recurring guest role as a fictionalized version of himself in the Fox comedyThe Grinder (2015–2016). His performance received positive critical notices,[218][219][220][221] withUSA Today's Robert Bianco declaring it an "Emmy-deserving performance".[222] The role won him theCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series.[223]
In early 2016, Olyphant starred in the world premiere ofKenneth Lonergan's comedyHold On to Me Darling at the off-BroadwayAtlantic Theater Company. His character, Strings McCrane, is a self-absorbed country singer and actor who returns home toTennessee following his mother's death.[224][225] Ben Brantley of theNew York Times found him "entertainingly irritating" in a performance that "avoids the obvious route of histrionic posing"; "The startling, bona fide sorrow that Mr. Olyphant brings to [the final scene] truly illuminates everything that has come before."[226] Frank Rizzo ofVariety felt his performance was "a stunner, striking just the right notes of guilelessness, obliviousness and narcissism to make Strings one of the most appealing messes in a long time".[227] David Rooney ofThe Hollywood Reporter felt the role "seems tailor-made for his laid-back swagger and sly humor ... Olyphant's natural charm ensures that Strings' unapologetic self-absorption remains more human than monstrous."[228] He also played Henry, ex-husband of Sandy (Jennifer Aniston), in the universally-panned ensembleromantic comedyMother's Day (2016);[229] he appeared inOliver Stone'sSnowden (2016) as aCIA agent who befriendswhistleblowerEdward Snowden just prior to Snowden's fleeing to Russia, after publicly leaking classified US government information.[230]
In February 2017, Olyphant began starring in theNetflix horror-comedySanta Clarita Diet, and also served as an executive producer for the series, which co-starredDrew Barrymore. Netflix renewed the series for a second season in March 2017[231][232] and for a third, ultimately final season in May 2018.[233]Dark Was the Night, an independent drama in which he starred withMarisa Tomei, was filmed in 2015 and premiered at the 2018Galway Film Fleadh.[234]
In early 2016, HBO announced that David Milch was developing a two-hour film continuation ofDeadwood.[235] The follow-up to the television series began production in October 2018.[236]Deadwood: The Movie premiered on HBO on May 31, 2019.[237]
In 2017, it was reported that Olyphant would play anFBI agent in the filmDriven,[238] though he ultimately did not appear in the film. In 2018, Olyphant was cast as a voice actor for thestop-motion animated filmMissing Link, which was released in April 2019.[239] He was also part of the large ensemble cast for theQuentin Tarantino semi-historical filmOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, which was released in July 2019. Olyphant portrayed TV western starJames Stacy in the film.[240]
In 2020, Olyphant joined theStar Wars franchise when he appeared asCobb Vanth in the second season of theDisney+space WesternThe Mandalorian.[241] In 2022, he reprised the role in the first season ofThe Mandalorian spinoff seriesThe Book of Boba Fett.[242]
Olyphant returned to the role of Raylan Givens in the 2023 miniseriesJustified: City Primeval.[243] Following the positive reception ofCity Primeval, Olyphant and executive producers Dave Andron and Michael Dinner have publicly expressed strong interest in producing another season adapting the works of Elmore Leonard. Olyphant has stated he is ready to reprise the role of Raylan Givens again, though FX has not officially announced a renewal.[244]
On November 28,Deadline Hollywood revealed Olyphant has been cast as Kirsh inNoah Hawley's upcomingAlien: Earth.[245]In late 2023, Olyphant was cast in a main role for Noah Hawley'sAlien series, set to premiere onFX in 2025. He will portray Kirsh, a synth who acts as a mentor and trainer for the series' protagonist, a soldier named Wendy played by Sydney Chandler.[246]
In 2024, Olyphant provided the voice for the character of the Terminator in the animated Netflix seriesTerminator: The Anime Series.[247]
Olyphant has been married to his college sweetheart Alexis Knief since 1991.[3][35] They live inWestwood, Los Angeles, and have three children.[7][176][248] His daughter Vivian plays his character's daughter onJustified: City Primeval.[249]
From 2006 to late 2008, Olyphant was the sports reporter forJoe Escalante's morning radio show on Los Angeles'Indie 103.1; film directorDavid Lynch served as the show's weatherman.[250][251][252] Olyphant phoned the station every weekday, delivering his reports in an unconventional style.[26][51][253] Following the station's demise, he joked: "If you know of anyone looking for sports reports from an actor who is often just going off of what he recalls happened yesterday, or reading it directly from the newspaper, then I'm your guy."[254]
He is also a tennis player,[255][256] and has participated in many pro-celebrity tournaments.[257][258][259] He is a fan of theLos Angeles Clippers[254] and theLos Angeles Dodgers, and he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Dodgers game in 2013.[260]
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Scooby | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1996–1997 | High Incident | Brett Farraday | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Sex and the City | Sam | Episode: "Valley of the Twenty-Something Guys" |
| 2002 | Night Visions | Eli | Episode: "Harmony" |
| 2004–2006 | Deadwood | SheriffSeth Bullock | 36 episodes |
| 2006 | My Name Is Earl | Billy Reed | Episode: "Dad's Car" |
| 2008 | Samantha Who? | Winston Funk | Episode: "The Boss" |
| 2009–2010 | Damages | Wes Krulik[262] | 11 episodes |
| 2010–2015 | Justified | Raylan Givens[263] | 78 episodes; also executive producer |
| 2010 | The Office | Danny Cordray[264] | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | The League | Wesley | Episode: "The Freeze Out" |
| 2013 | Archer | Lucas Troy | Voice, episode: "The Wind Cries Mary" |
| The Mindy Project | Graham Logan | Episode: "Sk8er Man" | |
| 2015–2016 | The Grinder | Himself / Rake Grinder | 4 episodes |
| 2017–2019 | Santa Clarita Diet | Joel Hammond | 30 episodes; also executive producer |
| 2020 | The Good Place | Himself | Episode: "You've Changed, Man" |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | Mickey | Episode: "You're Not Going to Get Me to Say Anything Bad About Mickey" | |
| Fargo | Dick "Deafy" Wickware | 7 episodes | |
| The Mandalorian | Cobb Vanth[265] | Episode: "Chapter 9: The Marshal" | |
| 2021 | American Dad! | Nowell | Voice, episode: "Klaus and Rogu in Thank God for Loose Rocks: An American Dad! Adventure" |
| Rick and Morty | U.S. Marine | Voice, episode: "Rick & Morty's Thanksploitation Spectacular" | |
| The Simpsons | Sheriff Flanders | Voice, episode: "A Serious Flanders" | |
| 2022 | The Book of Boba Fett | Cobb Vanth | 2 episodes |
| The Great North | Wade | Voice, episode: "Beef's in Toyland Adventure" | |
| Bubble Guppies | Spotty Cackles | Voice, episode: "The Big Rig Bandit!" | |
| 2023 | Daisy Jones & the Six | Rod Reyes | 10 episodes |
| Full Circle | Derek Browne | 6 episodes | |
| Justified: City Primeval | Raylan Givens | 8 episodes; also executive producer[243] | |
| 2024 | Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Goldfin | Voice, 4 episodes |
| Terminator Zero | Terminator | Voice, 3 episodes[266][267] | |
| 2025 | Gremlins | Johnny Appleseed | Voice, episode: "Never Try the Cider"[268] |
| Number 1 Happy Family USA | Dan Daniels | Voice, 5 episodes[269] | |
| Stick | Clark Ross | 5 episodes[270] | |
| Alien: Earth | Kirsh | 7 episodes[271] | |
| TBA | Lucky † | John | Upcoming miniseries[272] |
| The Five-Star Weekend † | Jack | Upcoming miniseries[273] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Turok | Cowboy | Voice andmotion capture |
| 2011 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | Sergeant First Class "Grinch"[274] |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Monogamist | Tim Hapgood | Playwrights Horizons |
| 1996 | The Santaland Diaries | Crumpet the Elf /David Sedaris | Atlantic Theater Company |
| 1997 | Plunge | Jim | Playwrights Horizons |
| 2016 | Hold On to Me Darling | Strings McCrane | Atlantic Theater Company |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Hollywood & Crime: Season 6 -Billionaire Boys Club | Co-host | Wondery |
Release Date January 15th, 2002
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