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Dean Norris

Highest Rated: 94% The Last Seduction (1994)

Lowest Rated: 0% 3 Strikes (2000)

Birthday: Apr 8, 1963

Birthplace: South Bend, Indiana, USA

One of the busiest character actors of the late 20th and early 21st century, Dean Norris worked steadily in features and on television, essaying an astonishing number of policemen, detectives, military men and the occasional criminal, all without name recognition or acclaim until his much-lauded turn as a DEA agent on "Breaking Bad" (AMC, 2008-2013). His flinty exterior made him an ideal screen match for such Hollywood tough guys as Mel Gibson and Arnold Schwarzenegger, though he could be found more often on small screen dramas ranging from "NYPD Blue" (ABC, 1993-2005) and "The X-Files" (Fox, 1993-2002; 2016- ) to "24" (Fox, 2001-2010) and "The West Wing" (NBC, 1996-2006). In 2008, he was cast as Hank Schrader, the blustery brother-in-law to Bryan Cranston's teacher/meth kingpin on "Breaking Bad," which became a major critical hit for five years. In addition to increasing his profile, the series also allowed Norris to show a greater range of emotions than in previous projects, which in turn, made him a much-desired character player in higher profile feature projects. Norris' tenacity and professionalism gave living proof that acting careers could still blossom after decades in the business. Born Dean Joseph Norris in South Bend, IN on April 8, 1963, he was one of five children and the only son of Jack Norris, a furniture store owner who moonlighted as a singer in a band, and his wife, Rosie. After graduating from Clay High School, Norris was accepted at Harvard, which made him the first member of his family to attend college. He accepted a job with an investment banking firm while still a student at Harvard. The company's frequent business trips to New York City also allowed him to audition for roles in theater, as well as a chance to train with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, which accepted him after graduation from Harvard in 1985. Upon completion of his studies in London, Norris began appearing in supporting roles on television. His burly frame and intense presence made him ideal for hardnosed authority figures like policemen and military officers, which comprised the majority of his early projects, including his feature film debut in "Lethal Weapon 2" (1989). More action-oriented films soon followed, including "Total Recall" (1990) and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991), though on occasion, he worked outside of the genre, most notably in a recurring turn as a priest on "NYPD Blue." In 1995, he made an appearance on "The X-Files," which marked his first collaboration with "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan. Norris worked steadily throughout the 1990s and 2000s, moving from independent and low-budget projects like "Without Limits" (1998), which cast him as Olympian-turned-coach Bill Dellinger, who was instrumental in training distance running legend Steve Prefontaine, to major films and television series like "Gattaca" (1997), "Starship Troopers" (1997) and "24." His first stint as a series regular came in 2003 with the Sci Fi Channel series "Tremors," a spin-off of the popular science fiction comedy-thriller franchise. Television soon became his primary showcase, including appearances on "The West Wing," "Nip/Tuck" (FX, 2003-09) and "Bones" (Fox, 2005-17). However, his profile increased considerably after he was cast as Hank Schrader, DEA agent and brother-in-law to terminally ill teacher-turned-meth dealer Walter White (Bryan Cranston) on "Breaking Bad." Initially portrayed as a blowhard, Hank developed into a more sympathetic character over the course of the series' five seasons, especially after being shot and paralyzed after unknowingly taking a drug cartel bullet for Walter. Audiences soon came to see him as a fiercely loyal family man who hid his own fear of coming across as weak, most notably in a lengthy second season story arc when he suffered traumatic stress after a nearly fatal explosion while on border patrol. For his work on "Breaking Bad," Norris received a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Saturn Awards, as well as a Writers Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama. The critical acclaim that surrounded "Breaking Bad" led to additional work for Norris outside of the series, including recurring roles on "Medium" (NBC/CBS, 2005-2011) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000-15), as well as guest appearances on "True Blood" (HBO, 2008-14), among countless other series. In 2012, he returned to features opposite Mel Gibson in "Get the Gringo" (2012) before adding a slew of supporting roles in features to his already busy slate, including "The Frozen Ground" (2013) with Nicolas Cage and John Cusack. After the conclusion of "Breaking Bad," Norris co-starred in the Stephen King drama "Under the Dome" (CBS 2013-15) and the nail salon-set comedy-drama "Claws" (TNT 2017- ), and began a recurring role as a military intelligence officer in "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS 2007- ). During the same period, he also appeared in films including Ridley Scott's "The Counselor" (2013), crime comedy "Small Time" (2014), Jason Reitman's comedy-drama "Men, Women and Children" (2014), and Atom Egoyan's "Remember" (2015). Norris also appeared in the broad comedy "Fist Fight" (2017), Colin Trevorrow's critical misfire "The Book of Henry" (2017), espionage drama "Beirut" (2018) and the Bruce Willis remake of "Death Wish" (2018).

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Highest rated movies

94% 76% The Last Seduction
Watchlist
82% 78% Lethal Weapon 2
Watchlist
81% 57% Beirut Watchlist
80% 68% Get the Gringo
Watchlist
79% 91% Without Limits
Watchlist
78% 72% Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Watchlist
72% 70% Starship Troopers
Watchlist
68% 79% Remember
Watchlist
61% 50% The Frozen Ground Watchlist
56% 41% Small Time
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Carry On Unknown (Character) - 2024
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Six Triple Eight Unknown (Character) - 2024
18% 38% Fool's Paradise Unknown (Character) $855.1K 2023
78% 72% Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Roy Nicholls (Character) $68.7M 2019
13% 44% The Hustle Howard Bacon (Character) $35.4M 2019
81% 57% Beirut Donald Gaines (Character) $5.0M 2018
17% 70% Death Wish Detective Kevin Raines (Character) $34.0M 2018
21% 63% The Book of Henry Glenn Sickleman (Character) $4.2M 2017
25% 40% Fist Fight Principal Tyler (Character) $32.2M 2017
68% 79% Remember John Kurlander (Character) $1.2M 2015
39% 41% Secret in Their Eyes Bumpy Willis (Character) $20.2M 2015
33% 44% Men, Women & Children Kent Mooney (Character) $668.0K 2014
56% 41% Small Time Ash Martini (Character) - 2014
61% 50% The Frozen Ground Sgt. Lyle Haugsven (Character) - 2013
80% 68% Get the Gringo Bill (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 28% Linewatch Warren (Character) - 2008
0% 67% 3 Strikes Officer Roberts (Character) $9.8M 2000
40% 24% Lansky Naval Captain (Character) - 1999
79% 91% Without Limits Bill Dellinger (Character) $777.4K 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet On the Line Manny Denikolas (Character) - 1998
72% 70% Starship Troopers Commanding Officer (Character) $54.7M 1997
No Score Yet 17% It Came From Outer Space II Dave Grant (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Death Benefit Rod Montgomery (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Forgotten Sins Detective Carl Messenger (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 33% Number One Fan Graham Chandler (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice Levasseur (Character) - 1995
94% 76% The Last Seduction Shep (Character) $1.8M 1994
No Score Yet 21% Jailbait Hershiser (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet It's Nothing Personal Unknown (Character) - 1993
36% 31% The Lawnmower Man The Director (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Till Death Us Do Part Matt Hobert (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Murderous Vision Lt. Martin (Character) - 1991
82% 78% Lethal Weapon 2 Tim Cavanaugh (Character) $144.9M 1989

TV

Credit
97% 83% Ghosts Sam's Dad (Guest Star) 2024
No Score Yet No Score Yet In the Kitchen With Harry Hamlin Guest 2024
No Score Yet 82% Law & Order: Organized Crime Randall Stabler (Guest Star) 2024
31% 66% United States of Al Art (Character) 2021-2022
90% 73% Claws Uncle Daddy (Character) 2017-2019 2021-2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Talk Guest 2013-2014 2021
93% 81% Superstore Howard (Guest Star) 2020
No Score Yet No Score Yet Conan Guest 2012 2014-2015 2018
81% 84% The Big Bang Theory Colonel Richard Williams (Guest Star) 2016-2017
93% 72% Scandal Fenton Glackland (Guest Star) 2017
No Score Yet 18% The Late Late Show With James Corden Guest 2017
35% 74% Girlboss Jay (Character) 2017
No Score Yet 96% Sofia the First Mazzimo (Guest Voice) 2015-2016
68% 45% Under the Dome James "Big Jim" Rennie (Character) 2013-2015
58% 73% Sons of Liberty Benjamin Franklin (Character) 2015
No Score Yet 90% American Dad! Head of Security (Guest Voice) 2014
96% 97% Breaking Bad Hank Schrader (Character) 2008-2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet Larry King Now Guest 2013
100% 78% Late Show With David Letterman Guest 2013
No Score Yet 42% Jimmy Kimmel Live! Guest 2013
21% 42% Whitney Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
76% 61% Body of Proof Unknown (Guest Star) 2012
No Score Yet 90% The Mentalist Unknown (Guest Star) 2011
82% 87% Castle Unknown (Guest Star) 2011
No Score Yet 82% CSI: New York Unknown (Guest Star) 2011
No Score Yet 81% CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Bob Durham, Juror (Guest Star) 2004 2011
74% 67% The Defenders Donnie Barrett (Guest Star) 2011
No Score Yet 80% Medium Unknown (Guest Star) 2010
38% No Score Yet Dark Blue Unknown (Guest Star) 2010
No Score Yet 86% Lie to Me Dawkins (Guest Star) 2010
No Score Yet 83% Criminal Minds Unknown (Guest Star) 2010
24% No Score Yet The Cleaner Unknown (Guest Star) 2009
86% 90% Lost Howard Gray (Guest Star) 2009
85% 86% Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Unknown (Guest Star) 2008
90% 83% Bones Don Timmons (Guest Star) 2008
76% 67% Saving Grace Unknown (Guest Star) 2008
85% 77% The Unit Unknown (Guest Star) 2007
84% 72% Grey's Anatomy Unknown (Guest Star) 2007
63% No Score Yet Justice Unknown (Guest Star) 2006
74% 82% Nip/Tuck Mark Noble (Guest Star) 2006
No Score Yet 95% Cold Case Unknown (Guest Star) 2006
81% 95% The West Wing Steve Hodder (Guest Star) 2005-2006
No Score Yet 75% Without a Trace Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
86% 90% Boston Legal Byron Kaneb (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet 84% NCIS Gunnery Sgt. Vestman (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet L.A. Dragnet Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
No Score Yet 83% Tremors: The Series Unknown (Character) 2003
87% 87% 24 General Bowden (Guest Star) 2003
64% No Score Yet Philly Unknown (Guest Star) 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet JAG Unknown (Guest Star) 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet The District Unknown (Guest Star) 2001
81% 96% Six Feet Under Detective Shea (Guest Star) 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Pensacola: Wings of Gold Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nash Bridges Unknown (Guest Star) 1997 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Practice Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet 86% Millennium Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Walker, Texas Ranger Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet 85% ER Clark (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet V.I.P. Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
91% 67% Murder One Unknown (Guest Star) 1995-1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Marshal Unknown (Guest Star) 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fallen Angels Allen (Character) 1995
74% 86% The X-Files Marshal Tapia (Guest Star) 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Texas Justice Unknown (Character) 1995
No Score Yet 96% Married ... With Children Rodent (Guest Star) 1994
83% 95% NYPD Blue Father Jerry Downey (Guest Star) 1993-1994
No Score Yet 86% Beauty and the Beast Biggs (Guest Star) 1989
57% No Score Yet The Whole Truth Unknown (Guest Star)