John Carroll Lynch

John Carroll Lynch

John Carroll Lynch (born August 1, 1963) is an American actor, known for his role as Drew Carey's cross-dressing brother on The Drew Carey Show, and for his role as Norm, the unassuming husband of Margie Gunderson (Frances McDormand) in Fargo. In the fall of 2003, he starred in the CBS show The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire, with Randy Quaid, Chris Penn, Mare Winningham, Elizabeth McGovern, and Ann Cusack. The show was cancelled after only a few episodes. He also had a recurring role in the HBO show Carnivàle, playing escaped convict Varlyn Stroud. Lynch appeared as a district attorney in the CBS series Close to Home and as NASA official Bob Gilruth in the HBO mini-series From the Earth to the Moon. Lynch appeared in the 2003 thriller Gothika and the 2007 biopic Zodiac.

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Known For

Filmography

2025

Sorry, Baby
Sorry, Baby
as Pete
Movie - Released: 6/27/2025

2024

Outlaw Posse
Outlaw Posse
as Carson
Movie - Released: 3/1/2024
Babes
Babes
as Dr. Morris
Movie - Released: 5/17/2024

2023

White House Plumbers
White House Plumbers
as John Mitchell
TV - Released: 5/1/2023

2022

Gaslit
Gaslit
as L. Patrick Gray
TV - Released: 4/24/2022

2021

American Horror Stories
American Horror Stories
as Larry Bitterman
TV - Released: 7/15/2021

2020

The Trial of the Chicago 7
The Trial of the Chicago 7
as David Dellinger
Movie - Released: 9/25/2020
Be Absolute for Death
Be Absolute for Death
Movie - Released: 4/21/2020
Kiss Me Kosher!
Kiss Me Kosher!
as Ron Shalev
Movie - Released: 9/10/2020
Big Sky
Big Sky
as Wolfgang 'Wolf' Legarski
TV - Released: 11/17/2020
Big Sky
Big Sky
as Rick Legarski
TV - Released: 11/17/2020

2019

The Highwaymen
The Highwaymen
as Lee Simmons
Movie - Released: 3/15/2019
Perfect Harmony
Perfect Harmony
as Pastor Magnus
TV - Released: 9/26/2019
Evil
Evil
as Henry Stick
TV - Released: 9/26/2019

2018

Anything
Anything
as Early Landry
Movie - Released: 5/11/2018
The White Orchid
The White Orchid
as Sheriff Mann
Movie - Released: 2/1/2018
Private Life
Private Life
as Charlie Grimes
Movie - Released: 10/5/2018
One Dollar
One Dollar
as Bud Carl
TV - Released: 8/30/2018
The Good Cop
The Good Cop
as Sherman Smalls
TV - Released: 9/21/2018
Crawford
Crawford
as Owen
TV - Released: 2/2/2018

2016

The Invitation
The Invitation
as Pruitt
Movie - Released: 4/8/2016
The Founder
The Founder
as Mac McDonald
Movie - Released: 11/24/2016
Miracles from Heaven
Miracles from Heaven
as Pastor Scott
Movie - Released: 3/17/2016
The Architect
The Architect
as Conway
Movie - Released: 5/20/2016
Jackie
Jackie
as Lyndon B. Johnson
Movie - Released: 12/2/2016
Shangri-La Suite
Shangri-La Suite
as Colonel Tom Parker
Movie - Released: 10/28/2016
Channel Zero
Channel Zero
as John Sleator
TV - Released: 10/11/2016
Billions
Billions
as Mr. Gilbert
TV - Released: 1/17/2016

2015

Hot Pursuit
Hot Pursuit
as Captain Emmett
Movie - Released: 5/8/2015
Ted 2
Ted 2
as Tom Jessup
Movie - Released: 6/25/2015

2014

The Pretty One
The Pretty One
as Frank
Movie - Released: 2/7/2014
Camp X-Ray
Camp X-Ray
as Col. Drummond
Movie - Released: 10/17/2014
Movie
Hoke
as Bill Henderson
Movie - Released: 1/1/2014
Manhattan
Manhattan
as Daniel Ellis
TV - Released: 7/27/2014

2013

Highland Park
Highland Park
as Rory
Movie - Released: 6/8/2013
Do No Harm
Do No Harm
as Will Hayes
TV - Released: 1/31/2013
The Americans
The Americans
as Fred
TV - Released: 1/30/2013

2012

Lay the Favorite
Lay the Favorite
as Dave Greenberg
Movie - Released: 6/22/2012
Veep
Veep
as Lloyd Hennick
TV - Released: 4/22/2012

2011

Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
as Bernie
Movie - Released: 7/29/2011
Paul
Paul
as Moses Buggs
Movie - Released: 2/14/2011
Body of Proof
Body of Proof
as Det. Bud Morris
TV - Released: 3/29/2011
Talking Dead
Talking Dead
as Self
TV - Released: 10/16/2011
American Horror Story
American Horror Story
as Twisty the Clown
TV - Released: 10/5/2011
American Horror Story
American Horror Story
as John Wayne Gacy
TV - Released: 10/5/2011
American Horror Story
American Horror Story
as Benjamin Richter
TV - Released: 10/5/2011

2010

Shutter Island
Shutter Island
as Deputy Warden McPherson
Movie - Released: 2/14/2010
Hesher
Hesher
as Larry
Movie - Released: 1/22/2010
Sympathy for Delicious
Sympathy for Delicious
as Evangelist Carroll
Movie - Released: 4/9/2010
The Glades
The Glades
TV - Released: 7/11/2010
The Glades
The Glades
as Mike Ogletree
TV - Released: 7/11/2010
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead
as Eastman
TV - Released: 10/31/2010

2009

Love Happens
Love Happens
as Walter
Movie - Released: 9/18/2009
Lie to Me
Lie to Me
as Mr. Reed
TV - Released: 1/21/2009

2008

Gran Torino
Gran Torino
as Barber Martin
Movie - Released: 12/12/2008
Movie
The Prince of Motor City
as Paul Riley
Movie - Released: 7/9/2008

2007

Zodiac
Zodiac
as Arthur Leigh Allen
Movie - Released: 3/2/2007
Things We Lost in the Fire
Things We Lost in the Fire
as Howard Glassman
Movie - Released: 9/26/2007
Full of It
Full of It
as Mr. Leonard
Movie - Released: 3/1/2007
K-Ville
K-Ville
as Captain James Embry
TV - Released: 9/17/2007

2006

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
as Stewart
Movie - Released: 1/20/2006
Big Love
Big Love
TV - Released: 3/12/2006

2005

Mozart and the Whale
Mozart and the Whale
as Gregory
Movie - Released: 9/10/2005
American Dad!
American Dad!
as Acl-Lou / Mr. Simms / Monkey (voice)
TV - Released: 2/6/2005
Close to Home
Close to Home
TV - Released: 9/20/2005
Close to Home
Close to Home
as Steve Sharpe
TV - Released: 9/20/2005

2004

Catch That Kid
Catch That Kid
as Mr. Hartman
Movie - Released: 2/6/2004

2003

Gothika
Gothika
as Sheriff Ryan
Movie - Released: 11/21/2003
Confidence
Confidence
as Grant Ashby
Movie - Released: 4/25/2003
Carnivàle
Carnivàle
as Varlyn Stroud
TV - Released: 9/14/2003

2002

Bug
Bug
as Wallace Gregory
Movie - Released: 2/28/2002
The Good Girl
The Good Girl
as Jack Field, Your Store Manager
Movie - Released: 1/12/2002
Par 6
Par 6
as Dour O'Dowell
Movie - Released: 4/16/2002
Live from Baghdad
Live from Baghdad
as Josh Holliman
Movie - Released: 12/7/2002
Monk
Monk
as Kurt Pressman
TV - Released: 7/12/2002

2001

Bubble Boy
Bubble Boy
as Mr. Livingston
Movie - Released: 8/24/2001

2000

Restaurant
Restaurant
as John English
Movie - Released: 1/28/2000
The Next Best Thing
The Next Best Thing
as Abbie's Lawyer
Movie - Released: 3/3/2000
Waking the Dead
Waking the Dead
as Father Mileski
Movie - Released: 3/24/2000
Gone in Sixty Seconds
Gone in Sixty Seconds
as Impound Manager
Movie - Released: 6/9/2000
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
as Buddy Arnold
TV - Released: 10/6/2000

1999

Late Last Night
Late Last Night
as Sgt. Van Wyck
Movie - Released: 6/20/1999
The Minus Man
The Minus Man
as Bartender (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 2/25/1999
Anywhere but Here
Anywhere but Here
as Jack Irwin
Movie - Released: 11/12/1999
Tuesdays with Morrie
Tuesdays with Morrie
as Walter
Movie - Released: 12/5/1999
Freak Weather
Freak Weather
as Ed
Movie - Released: 2/2/1999
Pushing Tin
Pushing Tin
as Doctor Freeze
Movie - Released: 4/23/1999
Family Law
Family Law
TV - Released: 9/20/1999
The West Wing
The West Wing
as Jack Reese
TV - Released: 9/22/1999

1998

The Naked Man
The Naked Man
as Driver
Movie - Released: 8/2/1998
Mercury Rising
Mercury Rising
as Martin Lynch
Movie - Released: 4/3/1998
From the Earth to the Moon
From the Earth to the Moon
as Bob Gilruth
TV - Released: 4/5/1998
L.A. Doctors
L.A. Doctors
as Gus (uncredited)
TV - Released: 9/21/1998

1997

Face/Off
Face/Off
as Prison Guard Walton
Movie - Released: 6/27/1997
Volcano
Volcano
as Stan Olber
Movie - Released: 4/25/1997
A Thousand Acres
A Thousand Acres
as Ken LaSalle
Movie - Released: 9/19/1997
Dead Men Can't Dance
Dead Men Can't Dance
as Plonder
Movie - Released: 4/17/1997
The Practice
The Practice
as Dr. Robert Larson
TV - Released: 3/4/1997
The Visitor
The Visitor
as Joe York
TV - Released: 9/19/1997

1996

Fargo
Fargo
as Norm Gunderson
Movie - Released: 3/8/1996
A Friend's Betrayal
A Friend's Betrayal
as Mr. Franks
Movie - Released: 5/19/1996
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
Movie - Released: 6/20/1996
Voice from the Grave
Voice from the Grave
as Prosecutor O'Gane
Movie - Released: 3/20/1996
Beautiful Girls
Beautiful Girls
as Frank Womack
Movie - Released: 2/9/1996
The Fan
The Fan
as Shopkeeper
Movie - Released: 8/15/1996
Feeling Minnesota
Feeling Minnesota
as Cop
Movie - Released: 9/13/1996
Life's Work
Life's Work
TV - Released: 9/17/1996

1995

In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice
In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice
as The Major
Movie - Released: 10/1/1995
The Cure
The Cure
as Skipper #1
Movie - Released: 4/21/1995
The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show
as Steve Carey
TV - Released: 9/13/1995
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
as Gerald Moss
TV - Released: 1/16/1995
The Client
The Client
as Frank
TV - Released: 9/17/1995
Murder One
Murder One
as Officer Carl Bickley
TV - Released: 9/20/1995

1993

Grumpy Old Men
Grumpy Old Men
as Moving Man
Movie - Released: 12/25/1993
Frasier
Frasier
as Franklin
TV - Released: 9/16/1993

Unknown

Movie
Movie
Fade to Black
as Wayne
Movie
Movie
Cattywampus
as Barry
Movie
Movie
TV
Ballard
as Thomas Laffont
TV