Bruce Dern

Bruce Dern, a two-time Academy Award nominee, has built a distinguished career spanning decades, celebrated for his versatility across a wide range of heroic and villainous roles. His professional acting career began with his film debut in Elia Kazan’s ‘Wild River’ in 1960. Throughout the 1960s, Dern became a distinguished presence in television, notably featuring regularly in contemporary Western TV series and making multiple appearances on ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents.’ A favored collaborator of Alfred Hitchcock, Dern was cast in ‘Marnie’ (1964) and subsequently in Hitchcock’s final film, ‘Family Plot’ (1976). During this period, he also appeared in ‘Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte’ (1964) and collaborated with director Roger Corman on several films, including ‘Wild Angels’ (1966).

Dern gained significant recognition during the pivotal New Hollywood era, starring in seminal films such as ‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?’ (1969) and ‘Drive, He Said’ (1971). A unique career milestone was his role as Long Hair in ‘The Cowboys’ (1972), making him the only actor to ever kill legendary star John Wayne on screen. Further cementing his status, he co-starred in ‘Silent Running’ (1972) and ‘The King of Marvin Gardens’ (1972) alongside Jack Nicholson and Ellen Burstyn. His portrayal of Tom Buchanan in ‘The Great Gatsby’ (1974) earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

Bruce Dern continues his prolific career into the current decade. In 2021, he appeared in the Amazon series ‘Goliath.’ Most recently, he can be seen opposite Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, and his daughter Laura Dern in Apple+ TV’s acclaimed comedy series ‘Palm Royale,’ released in 2024.