John Carroll Lynch

John Carroll Lynch (born August 1, 1963) He attended Regis Jesuit High School in Denver. He studied theater at The Catholic University of America, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1986.

Career Lynch was a member of the Guthrie Theater company. He starred in several productions, toured with the company and worked there for over eight seasons.

Lynch made his feature film debut in Grumpy Old Men (1993). He gained notice in a supporting role as Norm Gunderson in the Coen brothers' film Fargo (1996). His other notable films are Face/Off (1997), Bubble Boy (2001), Gothika (2003), Things We Lost in the Fire (2007), Gran Torino (2008), Shutter Island (2010), Paul (2011) and Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011). He portrayed Arthur Leigh Allen in Zodiac (2007) and the first establisher of McDonald's, Mac McDonald, in The Founder (2016).

Lynch has also had an extensive career in television. He appeared in ABC sitcom The Drew Carey Show as the title character's cross-dressing brother, Steve Carey. He has also been a regular cast member on series such as Close to Home, Carnivàle, Body of Proof and seasons 4, 5, 7 and 9 of American Horror Story.

In 2018, Lynch was cast in the lead role of Bud Carl in the CBS All Access drama One Dollar. The series was cancelled after one season. In 2020, Lynch plays the lead role of Rick Legarski in the ABC crime drama series Big Sky, created by David E. Kelley. After his character was killed off, he resurfaced as Wolf Legarski, Rick's twin brother. He also co-starred in Aaron Sorkin's acclaimed film The Trial of the Chicago 7, as activist David Dellinger. In 2025, he co-starred in the 1st season of Ballard alongside Maggie Q.

In 2025, Lynch made his Broadway debut, playing Creon in Oedipus, directed by Robert Icke.

Personal life Lynch has been married to actress Brenda Wehle (also a former member of the Guthrie Theatre Company) since 1997.

Theatre credits Year Title Role Notes 2025 Oedipus Creon Broadway Debut

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 Grumpy Old Men Moving Man 1995 The Cure Skipper #1 Credited as John Lynch1996 Beautiful Girls Frank Womack Fargo Norm Gunderson Feeling Minnesota Cop 1997 Volcano Stan Olber Face/Off Prison Guard Walton A Thousand Acres Ken LeSalle 1998 Mercury Rising Martin Lynch The Naked Man Sticks' Driver Restaurant John English 1999 Anywhere but Here Jack Irwin The Minus Man Bartender Uncredited cameo Pushing Tin Doctor Freeze Freak Weather Ed 2000 Waking the Dead Father Mileski Gone in 60 Seconds Impound Manager Uncredited cameo 2001 Bubble Boy Mr. Livingston 2002 The Good Girl Jack Field Bug Wallace Gregory Three Days of Rain Dinner Guest 2003 Gothika Sheriff Ryan Confidence Leon Ashby 2004 Catch That Kid Al Hartmann 2005 Mozart and the Whale Gregory Trust the Man Doctor Scene deleted Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World Stewart 2007 Full of It Hank Leonard Zodiac Arthur Leigh Allen Things We Lost in the Fire Howard Glassman 2008 Gran Torino Barber Martin 2009 Love Happens Walter 2010 Sympathy for Delicious Evangelist Carroll Shutter Island Deputy Warden McPherson Hesher Larry 2011 Paul Moses Buggs Crazy, Stupid, Love Bernie Riley 2012 Lay the Favorite Dave Greenberg 2013 The Pretty One Frank 2014 Camp X-Ray Col. James Drummond 2015 Hot Pursuit Captain Emmett Ted 2 Tom Jessup The Invitation Pruitt 2016 Miracles from Heaven Pastor Scott Jackie Lyndon B. Johnson The Founder Mac McDonald Shangri-La Suite Colonel Tom Parker 2017 Lucky Directorial debut Anything Early Landry 2018 Private Life Charlie White Orchid Sheriff Mann 2019 The Highwaymen Lee Simmons2020 Kiss Me Before It Blows Up Ron Shalev The Trial of the Chicago 7 David Dellinger 2024 Outlaw Posse Carson Babes Dr. Morris 2025 Sorry, Baby Pete She Rides Shotgun Houser 2026 Family Movie Post-production TBA Triumph of the Will Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes1996 Frasier Actor playing Franklin Episode: "The Show Where Diane Comes Back" Murder One Officer Carl Bickley Episode: "Chapter Thirteen" The Client Frank Episode: "Damn Yankees" Voice from the Grave Prosecutor O'Gane Television film A Friend's Betrayal Mr. Franks 1996, 1997 Life's Work District Attorney Agee / Crazy Larry 2 episodes 1997–2004 The Drew Carey Show Steve Carey Main role (seasons 6–8), recurring role (seasons 3–5), guest (season 9), 72 episodes1997 The Practice Dr. Robert Larson Episode: "Search and Seizure" The Visitor Joe York Episode: "Going Home" 1998 From the Earth to the Moon Robert R. Gilruth 2 episodes1999 Star Trek: Voyager Gerald Moss Episode: "11:59" Late Last Night Sgt. Van Wyck Television film Tuesdays with Morrie Walter Moran2000 The Fugitive Raynor Episode: "Pilot" The West Wing Jack Episode: "Galileo" 2001 Gideon's Crossing Sonny Green Episode: "The Race" 2002 Live from Baghdad John Holliman Television film 2003 The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire Mayor Garrett Shaw 7 episodes2005 Carnivàle Varlyn Stroud 12 episodes American Dad! Mr. Simms Voice; episode: "Stannie Get Your Gun" 2005–2006 Close to Home Steve Sharpe Main role 2007–2008 K-Ville Captain James EmbryMain role 2007 Big Love Officer Chuck Tuttle 2 episodes2009 Lie to Me Mr. Reed Episode: "Truth or Consequences" Monk Kurt Pressman Episode: "Happy Birthday, Mr. Monk" CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Buddy Arnold Episode: "Bloodsport" 2010 How to Make It in America Larry Episode: "Keep on Truck'n" 2010–2012 The Glades Mike Ogletree 2 episodes 2011–2013 Body of Proof Bud Morris Main role 2013 Do No Harm Will Hayes 10 episodes 2013–2014 Comedy Bang! Bang! Ned Dooley 2 episodes2014 House of Lies Gil Selby2 episodes The Americans Fred 6 episodes Manhattan Daniel Ellis 2 episodes Us & Them Ed Episode: "Coeds & Carburetors" 2014–2015 American Horror Story: Freak Show Twisty the Clown 5 episodes 2015 The Walking Dead Eastman Episode: "Here's Not Here" 2015–2016 American Horror Story: Hotel John Wayne Gacy 2 episodes 2016 Billions Mr. Gilbert Episode: "The Punch" 2016–2017 Turn: Washington's Spies James Rivington 8 episodes2017 American Horror Story: Cult Twisty the Clown 2 episodes Channel Zero: The No-End House John Sleator 6 episodes2018 The Handmaid's Tale Dan Episode: "Unwomen" Crawford Owen 12 episodes One Dollar Bud Carl Main role The Good Cop Sherman Smalls Episode: "Who Is the Ugly German Lady?"2019 Veep Lloyd Hennick 3 episodes American Horror Story: 1984 Benjamin Richter / Mr. Jingles 9 episodes 2019–2020 Perfect Harmony Pastor Magnus 3 episodes 2020–2022 Big Sky Rick Legarski / Wolf Legarski 22 episodes 2021 American Horror Stories Larry Bitterman Episode: "Drive In" 2022 Gaslit L. Patrick Gray 4 episodes 2023 White House Plumbers John N. Mitchell 2 episodes 2024 Evil Henry Stick Episode: "Fear of the Future" 2025 Ballard Thomas Laffont 10 episodes 2025 Elsbeth Judge Edwin Dousant 2 episodes 2026 The Beauty Meyer Williams 3 episodesStar Wars: Maul - Shadow LordNico DeemisEpisode: "Chapter 1: The Dark Revenge" Filming

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref. 2016 Saturn Awards Best Guest Starring Role on Television The Walking Dead 2017 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actor The Invitation Camerimage Directors' Debuts Competition Lucky Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Filmmaker Haifa International Film Festival Carmel Award for Best Film Fedeora Award - Directors of Tomorrow Locarno Festival Golden Leopard Prize of the Ecumenical Jury Satellite Awards Special Achievement Award for Best First Feature Los Angeles Film Festival Special Mention for Acting Anything 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Trial of the Chicago 7