Trivia

Last name is pronounced struh-THAIRN.

Went to Williams College in Williamstown, MA. and Ringling Bros. Clown College, FL.

As of 2022, has appeared in 6 films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: L.A. Confidential (1997), Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005), Lincoln (2012), Darkest Hour (2017), Nomadland (2020), and Nightmare Alley (2021), with Nomadland being a winner in the category.

Won the Coppa Volpi Award for best actor with Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005), directed by George Clooney at the 2005 Venice FilmFestival. (September 2005)

Has twice played J. Robert Oppenheimer, in Day One (1989) and The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer (2009).

David's paternal grandfather, Thomas Scott Strathairn, was a Scottish immigrant, who was of Scottish and Irish ancestry. David's paternal grandmother, Jessie Lei Alana, who was from Hawaii, was of one half Native Hawaiian, one quarter Chinese, and one quarter Portuguese, descent. On his mother's side, David has English and Scottish ancestry, partly through Canada (his maternal grandmother was from Bruce, Ontario).

Attended Williams College with director John Sayles, who regularly casts Straithairn in his films.

Recently filmed an Edward R. Murrow-esque campaign ad for Kirsten Gillibrand's congressional campaign in New York's 20th District, his Congressional District.

Invited to join AMPAS in 2006.

Father of Tay Strathairn and Ebbe Strathairn (born 1987).

He has appeared in four films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980), Matewan (1987), A League of Their Own (1992) and L.A. Confidential (1997).

Has a brother, Tom, who is a teacher, and a sister named Anne.

Lives in Upstate New York where he shops at Adams Farms. (March 2002)

Has worked with Joseph Mazzello in two films: The River Wild (1994) and Simon Birch (1998).

He has worked with 5 directors who have won a Best Director Oscar: Mike Nichols, Sydney Pollack, Steven Spielberg, Chloé Zhao, and Guillermo del Toro.