Kevin Spacey on screen and stage

Kevin Spacey on screen and stage

Spacey in November 2009

Kevin Spacey is an American actor who began his acting career on stage. His film career started in the late 1980s after small parts in Heartburn (1986) and Working Girl (1988). In the 90s, he had supporting roles in the films Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) and Iron Will (1994) before being cast in the role of Roger "Verbal" Kint in the 1995 The Usual Suspects which earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. That same year he played serial killer and villain in Se7en opposite Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. He went on to star in L.A. Confidential (1997), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), The Negotiator (1998), and American Beauty (1999). The latter earned him his second Academy Award, but this time for Best Actor.

In the 2000s, he appeared in the films Pay It Forward with Helen Hunt (2000), Superman Returns as Lex Luthor (2006), (/wiki/21(2008film)) with Jim Sturgess (2008), the latter which he also produced. In 2011, he co-starred with Paul Bettany and Jeremy Irons in the drama film Margin Call. That same year, he played antagonist Dave Harken in the comedy Horrible Bosses with Jason Bateman, a role he reprised in the 2014 sequel Horrible Bosses 2. He played Doc in the 2017 film Baby Driver with Ansel Elgort and Ron Levin in the 2018 film Billionaire Boys Club. From 2013-17, he starred as Frank Underwood in House of Cards.

Film

Kevin Spacey on screen and stage

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Director(s)</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1986</td><td>Heartburn</td><td>Subway Thief</td><td>Mike Nichols</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1988</td><td>Working Girl</td><td>Bob Speck</td></tr><tr><td>Rocket Gibraltar</td><td>Dwayne Hanson</td><td>Daniel Petrie</td></tr><tr><td>1989</td><td>See No Evil, Hear No Evil</td><td>Kirgo</td><td>Arthur Hiller</td></tr><tr><td>Dad</td><td>Mario</td><td>Gary David Goldberg</td></tr><tr><td>1990</td><td>A Show of Force</td><td>Frank Curtin</td><td>Bruno Barreto</td></tr><tr><td>Henry & June</td><td>Richard Osborn</td><td>Philip Kaufman</td></tr><tr><td>1992</td><td>Glengarry Glen Ross</td><td>John Williamson</td><td>James Foley</td></tr><tr><td>Consenting Adults</td><td>Eddy Otis</td><td>Alan J. Pakula</td></tr><tr><td>1994</td><td>Iron Will</td><td>Harry Kingsley</td><td>Charles Haid</td></tr><tr><td>The Ref</td><td>Lloyd Chasseur</td><td>Ted Demme</td></tr><tr><td>Swimming with Sharks</td><td>Buddy Ackerman</td><td>George Huang</td><td>Also co-producer</td></tr><tr><td>1995</td><td>The Usual Suspects</td><td>Roger "Verbal" Kint</td><td>Bryan Singer</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Outbreak</td><td>Casey Schuler</td><td>Wolfgang Petersen</td></tr><tr><td>Se7en</td><td>John Doe</td><td>David Fincher</td></tr><tr><td>1996</td><td>A Time to Kill</td><td>Rufus Buckley</td><td>Joel Schumacher</td></tr><tr><td>Looking for Richard</td><td>Buckingham</td><td>Al Pacino</td><td>Documentary film</td></tr><tr><td>Albino Alligator</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Himself</td><td>Directorial debut</td></tr><tr><td>1997</td><td>L.A. Confidential</td><td>Jack Vincennes</td><td>Curtis Hanson</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</td><td>Jim Williams</td><td>Clint Eastwood</td></tr><tr><td>1998</td><td>The Negotiator</td><td>Chris Sabian</td><td>F. Gary Gray</td></tr><tr><td>Hurlyburly</td><td>Mickey</td><td>Anthony Drazan</td></tr><tr><td>A Bug's Life</td><td>Hopper (voice)</td><td>John Lasseter</td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>American Beauty</td><td>Lester Burnham</td><td>Sam Mendes</td></tr><tr><td>The Big Kahuna</td><td>Larry Mann</td><td>John Swanbeck</td><td>Also producer</td></tr><tr><td>2000</td><td>Ordinary Decent Criminal</td><td>Michael Lynch</td><td>Thaddeus O'Sullivan</td></tr><tr><td>Pay It Forward</td><td>Eugene Simonet</td><td>Mimi Leder</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2001</td><td>K-PAX</td><td>Prot / Robert Porter</td><td>Iain Softley</td></tr><tr><td>The Shipping News</td><td>Quoyle</td><td>Lasse Hallström</td></tr><tr><td>2002</td><td>Austin Powers in Goldmember</td><td>Himself / Famous Dr. Evil; ('Austinpussy')</td><td>Jay Roach</td><td>Cameo</td></tr><tr><td>2003</td><td>The Life of David Gale</td><td>David Gale</td><td>Alan Parker</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The United States of Leland</td><td>Albert T. Fitzgerald</td><td>Matthew Ryan Hoge</td><td>Also producer</td></tr><tr><td>2004</td><td>Beyond the Sea</td><td>Bobby Darin</td><td>Himself</td><td>Also director, producer and writer</td></tr><tr><td>2005</td><td>Edison</td><td>Levon Wallace</td><td>David J. Burke</td><td>Direct-to-video</td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>The Good Student</td><td>—N/a</td><td>David Ostry</td><td>Also executive producer</td></tr><tr><td>The Sasquatch Gang</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Tim Skousen</td><td>Also producer</td></tr><tr><td>Mini's First Time</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Nick Guthe</td></tr><tr><td>Superman Returns</td><td>Lex Luthor</td><td>Bryan Singer</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>Fred Claus</td><td>Clyde Northcut</td><td>David Dobkin</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>21</td><td>Mickey Rosa</td><td>Robert Luketic</td><td>Also producer</td></tr><tr><td>Columbus Day</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Charles Burheister</td></tr><tr><td>Telstar: The Joe Meek Story</td><td>Major Wilfred Banks</td><td>Nick Moran</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Moon</td><td>GERTY (voice)</td><td>Duncan Jones</td></tr><tr><td>Fanboys</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Kyle Newman</td><td>Also producer</td></tr><tr><td>Shrink</td><td>Henry Carter</td><td>Jonas Pate</td></tr><tr><td>The Men Who Stare at Goats</td><td>Larry Hooper</td><td>Grant Heslov</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>Father of Invention</td><td>Robert Axle</td><td>Trent Cooper</td><td>Also producer</td></tr><tr><td>Casino Jack</td><td>Jack Abramoff</td><td>George Hickenlooper</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Social Network</td><td>—N/a</td><td>David Fincher</td><td>Executive producer</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Margin Call</td><td>Sam Rogers</td><td>J.C. Chandor</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Horrible Bosses</td><td>Dave Harken</td><td>Seth Gordon</td></tr><tr><td>Inseparable</td><td>Chuck</td><td>Dayyan Eng</td><td>Executive producer</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Envelope</td><td>Evgeniy Petrov</td><td>Aleksey Nuzhny</td><td>Short film</td></tr><tr><td>Safe</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Boaz Yakin</td><td>Executive producer</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>Captain Phillips</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Paul Greengrass</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Horrible Bosses 2</td><td>Dave Harken</td><td>Sean Anders</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Elvis & Nixon</td><td>Richard Nixon</td><td>Liza Johnson</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nine Lives</td><td>Tom Brand / Mr. Fuzzypants</td><td>Barry Sonnenfeld</td><td>Also voice role</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Rebel in the Rye</td><td>Whit Burnett</td><td>Danny Strong</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Baby Driver</td><td>Doc</td><td>Edgar Wright</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Billionaire Boys Club</td><td>Ron Levin</td><td>James Cox</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Once Upon a Time in Croatia</td><td>The Host</td><td>Jakov Sedlar</td><td>Docu-drama</td></tr><tr><td>The Man Who Drew God</td><td>Police Detective</td><td>Franco Nero</td><td>Spacey is dubbed in Italian by Roberto Pedicini</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Control</td><td>The Voice</td><td>Gene Fallaize</td><td>Voice role</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Peter Five Eight</td><td>Peter</td><td>Michael Zaiko Hall</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Contract</td><td>The Devil</td><td>Massimo Paolucci</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>1780</td><td>Thomas</td><td>Dustin Fairbanks</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Torrente for President</td><td>Leader of Illuminati</td><td>Santiago Segura</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Holiguards Saga — The Portal of Force</td><td>TBA</td><td>Himself</td><td>Also director</td></tr><tr><td>TBA</td><td>The Awakening</td><td>TBA</td><td>Matt Routledge</td><td>Post-production</td></tr></tbody></table>

Television

Kevin Spacey on screen and stage

Spacey in 2011

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1987</td><td>The Equalizer</td><td>Detective Sgt. Cole</td><td>Episode: "Solo"</td></tr><tr><td>Long Day's Journey into Night</td><td>James "Jamie" Tyrone Jr</td><td>Television film</td></tr><tr><td>Crime Story</td><td>Senator Rourke</td><td>Episode: "The Senator, the Movie Star, and the Mob"</td></tr><tr><td>1988</td><td>The Murder of Mary Phagan</td><td>Wes Brent</td><td>Miniseries</td></tr><tr><td>Wiseguy</td><td>Mel Profitt</td><td>7 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>Unsub</td><td>Benton</td><td>Episode: "Clean Slate"</td></tr><tr><td>1990</td><td>When You Remember Me</td><td>Wade</td><td>Television film</td></tr><tr><td>Fall from Grace</td><td>Jim Bakker</td></tr><tr><td>1991</td><td>Darrow</td><td>Clarence Darrow</td></tr><tr><td>1992</td><td>L.A. Law</td><td>Giles Keenan</td><td>Episode: "Guess Who's Coming To Murder"</td></tr><tr><td>1993</td><td>TriBeCa</td><td>Chris Boden</td><td>Episode: "Heros Exoletus"</td></tr><tr><td>1994</td><td>Doomsday Gun</td><td>Jim Price</td><td>Television film</td></tr><tr><td>1997, 2006</td><td>Saturday Night Live</td><td>Himself (host)</td><td>2 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2003</td><td>Freedom: A History of Us</td><td>Various</td><td>6 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>Bernard and Doris</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Television film; executive producer</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>Recount</td><td>Ron Klain</td><td>Television film</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>Gorilla School</td><td>Narrator (voice)</td><td>12 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Johnny Carson: King of Late Night</td><td>American Masters documentary special, PBS</td></tr><tr><td>2013–2017</td><td>House of Cards</td><td>Francis "Frank" Underwood</td><td>65 episodes; also executive producer</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>2014 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony</td><td>Himself (host)</td><td>Television special</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>The Colbert Report</td><td>Frank Underwood</td><td>Episode: "1,394"</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Betrayed</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Miniseries; executive producer</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>71st Tony Awards</td><td>Himself (host)</td><td>Television special</td></tr><tr><td>Manhunt: Unabomber</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Miniseries; executive producer</td></tr><tr><td>2025–2026</td><td>Minimarket</td><td>Mentor Kevin</td><td>10 episodes</td></tr></tbody></table>

Video games

Kevin Spacey on screen and stage

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2006	Superman Returns	Lex Luthor (voice)
2014	Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare	Jonathan Irons (voice)	Also motion capture

Theatre

Kevin Spacey on screen and stage

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Venues</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1981</td><td>Henry IV, Part 1</td><td>Messenger</td><td>Delacorte Theater, Off-Broadway</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1982</td><td>Ghosts</td><td>Oswald Alving</td><td>Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1983</td><td>The Misanthrope</td><td>Philinte</td><td>Seattle Repertory Theater</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1983</td><td>The Mousetrap</td><td>Sergeant Trotter</td><td>Barter Theatre, Abingdon/Fairfax, VA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1984</td><td>Hurlyburly</td><td>Artie (replacement)</td><td>Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1985</td><td>The Seagull</td><td>Konstantin</td><td>The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1986</td><td>Long Day's Journey into Night</td><td>James Tyrone Jr.</td><td>Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1988</td><td>Right Behind the Flag</td><td>Bernie</td><td>Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1991</td><td>Lost in Yonkers</td><td>Louie</td><td>Richard Rogers Theatre, Broadway</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1993</td><td>Playland</td><td>Gideon Le Roux</td><td>New York City Center, Off-Broadway</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>The Iceman Cometh</td><td>Theodore "Hickey" Hickman</td><td>Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2005</td><td>Richard II</td><td>Richard II</td><td>Old Vic Theatre, London</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>National Anthems</td><td>Ben</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Philadelphia Story</td><td>Dexter</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>A Moon for the Misbegotten</td><td>Jim Tyrone</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>Speed-the-Plow</td><td>Charlie Fox</td><td>Old Vic Theatre, London</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Inherit the Wind</td><td>Henry Drummond</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Richard III</td><td>Richard III</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hong Kong Arts Festival</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Centro Niemeyer, Avilés</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Istanbul Municipal Theatre</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Curran Theatre, San Francisco</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Singapore Repertory Theatre</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Darrow</td><td>Clarence Darrow</td><td>Old Vic Theatre, London</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>