David Strathairn is currently starring in the rural thriller Where The Crawdads Sing, which is inspired by a shocking true crime. The actor delivers a touching performance as Kya's lawyer who sympathizes with the young girl, treated as an outcast by the townspeople. On top of this film, Strathairn has been involved in plenty of other successful movies in the past, usually in outstanding supporting roles like Tom Milton.
To bring some of Strathairn's lesser-known roles to light, Ranker has compiled a list of the actor's best projects so far, ranked from worst to best. From Memphis Belle to Good Night, And Good Luck, even die-hard movie fans will find plenty of hidden gems on this list that deserve more attention.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
The River Wild (1994)
One of Strathairn's less well-known projects, The River Wild is a great thriller from the early '90s that tells the story of one family's chance encounter with a group of criminals whilst on vacation. The film stars Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon in two of their most engaging and vulnerable roles to date.
Strathairn portrays an architect and Gail's husband, Tom Hartman, and plays off dynamic chemistry with his on-screen co-star, Streep. Although this film might not be as popular as some of Strathairn's other projects, its unpredictable narrative, snappy storytelling, and emotional performances from the entire cast explaining why Ranker's users decided to rate the movie so favorably.
Memphis Belle (1990)
Memphis Belle is one of the strongest and most effective war films of the 1990s, following the crew of a World War I bomber plane that's forced to carry out a dangerous attack on a town full of allied forces. Like many of the most impactful war movies of that time, Memphis Belle delicately explores the consequences and reality of armed conflict.
Lead performances from Matthew Modine and Sean Astin keep the film alive, whilst astute direction from Michael Caton-Jones makes every moment feel important and blood-pumpingly tense. Strathairn has a smaller role as Col. Craig Harriman, but he makes the most of his screen time in this war film. The fact that fans decided to include Memphis Belle on this list proves that its message was a powerful and long-lasting one.
Good Night, And Good Luck (2005)
Not only is Good Night, and Good Luck one of George Clooney's best movies as an actor, but it's also one of the first demonstrations of his directorial prowess. The political drama displays the eternal conflict between American politics and the American new system, with the film's characters constantly battling to expose political corruption.
Good Night and Good Luck features what is undeniably one of Strathairn's most memorable roles to date, as he plays a newscaster named Edward Murrow, who fights to expose one politician's public lies and scandals. It's a powerful role and one that raises lots of topical issues surrounding the authenticity of the media. Yet, it undeservingly ranks lowers on Ranker since this black and white film has not earned much attention from the general audience.
The Firm (1993)
Sydney Pollack's The Firm stars Tom Cruise as a lawyer whose overwhelming ambition and thirst for power find him embroiled in a dangerous murder case that there's no coming back from. It's one of the best legal thrillers of its time, bolstered by one of Cruise's strongest and most relatable performances.
David Strathairn plays the brother of Cruise's protagonist, and he's more than familiar with the world of crime that his brother has found himself entangled in. It's the electric dynamic between the pair that made the film so popular with audiences, and evidently allows it to maintain its popularity today.
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Mark Water's The Spiderwick Chronicles was a huge hit with an entire generation of young audiences, so it's no surprise to see it appearing so high up this list. The film follows a group of children who move into a new home and discover that the area is a hive for mythical creatures - and not all friendly ones.
Since the movie was a defining part of so many childhoods, it's surprising that The Spiderwick Chronicles is still one of the rare family movies from the 2000s without a sequel. The film houses one of Strathairn's defining roles, and it would please a lot of fans to see him return one day.
We Are Marshall (2006)
David Strathairn plays University President Donald Dedmon in We Are Marshall, a riveting sports drama that displays the fallout of a deadly plane crash - one that killed several members of Marshall University's football team. The film follows the team as they're forced to mend themselves together after this traumatic tragedy.
Strathairn's character in We Are Marshall might only be a supporting one, but his role in the story is just as important as some of the main characters'. He represents the administrative fallout of this disaster, which caused long-standing effects on the university as an institution. This touching story about healing and Strathairn's inspiring portrayal has resonated with Ranker voters to upvote this movie.
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
The Jason Bourne franchise has provided some of the most popular spy movies of all time, and The Bourne Ultimatum is undeniably one of its strongest offerings. Continuing the story of Bourne that was established in The Bourne Identity, this film concludes the original trilogy in a thrilling and satisfying way.
Strathairn stars as Noah Vosen, the deputy director of the CIA in charge of the operation that Bourne used to work for. His character quickly became a fan-favorite villain, and his presence is one of the many reasons that fans rate The Bourne Ultimatum so much higher than the other installments and one of Strathairn's best movies on Ranker.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Not only is L.A. Confidential one of the best examples of modern film noir, but it's also one of the 90s' most stylish and flashy crime movies altogether. It features top-end performances from Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, and Kim Basinger - alongside a standout supporting turn from David Strathairn.
L.A. Confidential follows three detectives from the LAPD as they investigate a string of seemingly unconnected homicides that eventually lead to discoveries from within their own department. Strathairn portrays Pierce Morehouse Patchett, playing a minor antagonist role on the big screen with some savviness. The film is completely drowned in style and class, which gives it a distinct atmosphere that has clearly stuck with fans even today.
Sneakers (1992)
Robert Redford's character Martin finds himself in a sticky situation in Sneakers after the government takes notice of his security expertise and hires him to help steal a top-secret black box. The film follows Martin as he assembles his team and executes his expert plan, plotted to the finest detail.
In a similar vein to films like Ocean's Eleven, Sneakers does a great job of introducing a huge cast of characters and giving them each clear, distinct roles in order to separate them from each other. Its sweeping cast of interesting characters is one of Sneakers' strongest assets, with fans praising Strathairn's role in the bold ensemble even today - which is proven by just how high it can be found on this list.
A League Of Their Own (1992)
A League of Their Own sees Tom Hanks take up the role of a retired baseball star who's dragged back into the game when he's called upon to manage a professional women's team. The years clearly haven't been easy for Hanks' Jimmy since his retirement, and A League of Their Own explores how this experience helps him discover things about himself that he never would have expected.
But first and foremost, A League of Their Own is a movie about baseball - and one of the best there is. It follows the team as they climb through the ranks, suffering and struggling but learning from their mistakes and learning even more from each other along the way. Strathairn portrays another supporting role as the league's general manager, Ira Lowenstein, who opens up a chance to initiate a women's softball league. Unlike Hank's Jimmy Dugan, Ira is a much cooler character who pushes for the league's success and advises wherever possible. Like many sports movies, it aims to stir and inspire its audience - which Ranker's users clearly believe it was capable of.