The amount of films that Stephen Lang has been in is staggering. Since the early-1980s, the classically trained actor with his beaming smile has been entertaining audiences and creating memories. How many memories? So many that it can be difficult to sort them out. Going through Lang’s characters is like paging through the work of a dozen actors. From blockbuster science fiction to gritty westerns, the genres stretch across the spectrum. It is this wide range and impressive depth that gives Lang the unforgettable charm that shines through each time he’s on-screen.
Lang’s array of characters has been one of his strongest points. Since his debut in Death of Salesman, this New York City native has proven that he can find the soul of a character. Digging into the role and figuring out how it works is what drives Lang. In his own words, “Your primary tools, as an actor, are observation and imagination.” For the roles he has taken on, that statement couldn’t be truer. To tally up his work and rank it is a tall task, but one worth doing. From top to bottom, these are the best Stephen Lang movies and TV shows, ranked.
7 Last Exit to Brooklyn
One of Lang's earliest works is also one of his most prolific. Last Exit to Brooklyn, a drama released in 1989, was decades ahead of its time. Called an "instant classic" by The Guardian, the paper had high praise for Jennifer Jason Leigh's part of Tralala.
With a classic backdrop of violence and corruption ahead on 1950s Brooklyn, this story sees Lang as Harry Black, a man coming to grips with his sexuality. Dark and often bleak, this tale of a sex worker searching for love was moving to many. Based on the controversial book of the same name, the depiction of doom feels real. Lang's portrayal of Black is typically praised.
6 Hostiles
One of Lang's strongest roles is that of a military man. In the 2017 film Hostiles, Lang played Col. Abraham Biggs. In it, he sends Christian Bale to command an escort crew for a Cheyenne Chief and his family through dangerous land. This gripping story is a tense adventure that makes an afternoon at the movies memorable. Hearkening back to the days of early matinées and double features, this old-time story grabs audiences and humanizes a difficult piece of history.
5 Gettysburg
The 1993 epic Gettysburg has long been held in high regard among historians as being fairly accurate. This film, a war drama set during the infamous battle of the Civil War, sees Martin Sheen as Confederate General Robert E. Lee, sending his troops north to Pennsylvania to face Union forces. The gritty depiction of war's depths makes this early title from Lang another memorable entry.
Starring in the film also gave Lang a healthy appreciation for the supernatural. In an interview with Den of Geek, he explained, "Particularly in Gettysburg, I’ve been there every season of the year, at various hours, anytime from dawn to late at night. You very much do get a sense of spirit there, a restive spirit, of things that happened that continue to reverberate there. Those experiences, that I’ve had repeatedly there, have given me a healthy respect for another dimension."
4 Conan the Barbarian
Yes, yes. People usually think of Arnold Schwarzenegger when they read Conan the Barbarian. This isn't Schwarzenegger and this isn't that Conan. Lang's role in Conan the Barbarian was from the 2011 run (nearly 30 years after Schwarzenegger.) In this Jason Momoa-led cast, Lang plays Khalar Zym, Conan's mortal enemy. Zym yearns to gain the legendary Mask of Achero, resurrect his wife, and unleash terror. He's the bad guy.
In speaking with MTV News, Lang confirmed the part in 2010 and confided that, "I have no idea how I'm going to do it. First I'm going to find out how I'm going to sound. I'm going to get back on a Mongolian pony and ride like the wind. I'm going to flash my scimitar. I'm going to cut the nuts off Conan and his father." As blunt as that might sound, once again — he's the bad guy.
3 Don't Breathe
Don't breathe? But how will you live? That's the point. Lang's 2016 horror role (and its 2021 sequel) are both examples of his chilling deliveries. In Don't Breathe, Lang plays a blind wealthy man named Norman Nordstrom, who, upon having his house broken into by three would-be robbers, delivers a terrifying night of justice. It's a role that sends shivers down spines as Lang delivers an anti-hero performance that would make Walter White proud. Recently, Lang confirmed a return for Nordstrom to the franchise that made him famous,
2 Tombstone
In the 1993 western throwback, Tombstone, Lang played Joseph "Ike" Clanton, a member of The Cowboys gang, famous for their clashes with lawmen Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and others. Sam Elliot, Kurt Russell, and Val Kilmer co-starred with Lang in this well-received drama. While far from the main character, Lang's role provided a level of comic relief and was generally praised. The film itself became Disney's runaway hit as this early L.A. Times article raved about it and covered the film's unexpected rise at the box office.
1 Avatar
It all led to this. Lang's most well-known role is as Colonel Miles Quaritch, an RDA Security Operations commander, who serves as Pandora's chief of security in the 2150s in Avatar. Lang's character has transcended decades as he reprises his role from the 2009 original with this year's Avartar 2: The Way of Water. Fans are eager to see his return and he's right there with them. In an interview with Bleeding Cool, Lang said of the returning role, “Early on, I knew there were plans to bring (Quaritch) back. Jim told me (about a return) a long time ago and he reiterated it in January 2010, saying, 'You’re coming back.'”