Authority control databases
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
John Finn | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Joseph Finn September 30, 1952 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1979-present |
John Joseph Finn (born September 30, 1952) is an American character actor known as one of the leads of the television programs Cold Case and EZ Streets. Finn has also had supporting roles in the films The Hunted (2003), Analyze That (2002), Catch Me If You Can (2002), True Crime (1999), Turbulence (1997), Blown Away (1994), The Pelican Brief (1993), and Glory (1989).
TV series that Finn has had recurring roles on include Dawson's Creek, The Practice, The X-Files, Strange World, NYPD Blue (he also appeared two other times on Blue as different characters), Chicago Hope, and eight episodes of Brooklyn South.
Born to an Irish-American family in The Bronx, New York, he graduated from Eldred Central School in Eldred, New York, in the year 1970. He later joined the Navy for a few years, after which he entered the acting business.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Pope of Greenwich Village | Ginty | film debut |
| 1984 | Death Mask | 1970, Reporter | |
| 1988 | Shakedown | The Bartender | |
| 1989 | Glory | Sergeant Major Mulcahy | |
| 1990 | Loose Cannons | Cop | credited as John J. Finn |
| 1990 | A Shock to the System | Motorman | |
| 1990 | Desperate Hours | Lexington | |
| 1991 | Cover Up | Jeff Cooper | |
| 1993 | Nowhere to Run | Cop In Chase | |
| 1993 | Cliffhanger | FBI Agent Michaels | |
| 1993 | Carlito's Way | Detective Duncan | |
| 1993 | Geronimo: An American Legend | Captain Hentig | |
| 1993 | The Pelican Brief | Matthew Barr | |
| 1994 | Being Human | Detective Cobb | |
| 1994 | Blown Away | Captain Roarke | |
| 1996 | City Hall | Commissioner Coonan | |
| 1996 | Hoist Away | — | Short film; Director/Writer |
| 1997 | Turbulence | FBI Agent Frank Sinclair | |
| 1997 | Trojan War | Ben Kimble | |
| 1999 | True Crime | Reedy | |
| 2002 | Analyze That | Richard Chapin | |
| 2002 | Catch Me If You Can | FBI Assistant Director Marsh | |
| 2003 | The Hunted | FBI Special Agent Ted Chenoweth | |
| 2003 | The Human Stain | Louie Borero | |
| 2006 | Property | The Storyteller | Short film |
| 2013 | The Lifeguard | Jason "Big Jason" | |
| 2014 | The Gift | Sean Og | |
| 2017 | Gifted | Aubrey Highsmith | |
| 2018 | Bent | Driscoll | |
| 2019 | Finding Steve McQueen | W. Mark Felt | |
| 2019 | Ad Astra | Stroud | |
| 2019 | Saved Rounds | — | Short film; Director/Producer pre-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | B.J. and the Bear | Forman | television debut Episode: "The Eyes of Texas" |
| 1980 | Rage! | Man #C | Television Movie |
| 1981 | The Incredible Hulk | Mechanic | Episode: "Fast Lane" |
| 1982 | Fame | Driver Cop | Episode: "Tomorrow's Farewell" |
| 1982 | The Fall Guy | Bleeker | Episode: "A Piece of Cake" |
| Pete | Episode: "No Way Out" | ||
| 1987 | Spenser: For Hire | Monroe | Episode: "My Enemy, My Friend" |
| Ken Green | Episode: "I Confess" | ||
| 1987 | Leg Work | Clauson | Episode: "The Art of Murder" |
| 1988 | Alone in the Neon Jungle | Alan Benson | Television Movie |
| 1988 | Miami Vice | Charles Hatch | Episode: "Hell Hath No Fury" |
| 1988 | Tattinger's | Mcintosh's Torpedo | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Unknown | Episode: "The Master's Mirror" |
| 1990 | ABC Afterschool Specials | Unknown | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| 1990 | Law & Order | Freddo Parisi | Episode: "Poison Ivy" |
| 1991 | Posing: Inspired by Three Real Stories | Jimmy Lanahan | Television Movie |
| 1992 | Quantum Leap | Admiral Spencer | Episode: "Running for Honor - June 11, 1964" |
| 1992 | Matlock | Sheriff Dewey | Episode: "The Outcast" |
| 1992 | Quicksand: No Escape | Detective Harris | credited as John Joseph Harris |
| 1992 | Street Justice | Unknown | Episode: "Eye Witness" |
| 1992 | Cheers | Mitch Ganzell | Episode: "Take Me Out of the Ball Game" |
| 1992 | Steel Justice | Lieutenant Bill Somes | Television Movie |
| 1992 | Lady Against the Odds | Lieutenant Donnelly | Television Movie |
| 1992 | Mario and the Mob | Unknown | Television Movie |
| 1992 | Citizen Cohn | Senator Charles Potter | Television Movie |
| 1992 | Flying Blind | Mr. Rickman | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1993 | Frasier | Tim | Episode: "Miracle on Third or Fourth Street"
credited as John J. Finn |
| 1994 | SeaQuest 2032 | Colonel Schrader | Episode: "Nothing But the Truth" |
| 1994-1995 | Chicago Hope | Dr. Trevor Filburn | 3 episodes; recurring role |
| 1995 | Truman | Bob Hannegan | Television Movie |
| 1995 | The Client | Waite Calhoun | Episode: "A Perfect World" |
| 1995 | Murderous Intent | Unknown | Television Movie |
| 1995 | Runaway One | Colonel Van Damme | Television Movie |
| 1995 | NYPD Blue | Jimmy "Socks" Matlow | Episode: "Dirty Socks" |
| 1996 | JAG | Major Klein | Episode: "Boot" |
| 1996 | Gone in the Night | Gerry Harbin | Television Movie |
| 1996 | Nash Bridges | FBI Special Agent Elliot Rose | Episode: "Aloha Bash" |
| 1996 | Crazy Horse | General George Crook | Television Movie |
| 1996-1997 | EZ Streets | Captain Geary | 11 episodes; recurring role |
| 1997 | Promised Land | Frank Boller | Episode: "The Getaway" |
| 1997 | Millennium | William Garry | Episode: "Covenant" |
| 1997 | Invasion | Airbase Colonel Brown (uncredited) | Miniseries |
| 1997 | Players | Lieutenant Mike Harper | Episode: "Rashocon" |
| 1997 | NYPD Blue | Lieutenant John Shanon | 2 episodes |
| 1997-1999 | The X-Files | Michael Kritschgau | 5 episodes; recurring role |
| 1998 | Brooklyn South | Officer Ray MacElwaine | 8 episodes; recurring role |
| 1999 | Strange World | FBI Special Agent Richard H. Hoffman | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Atomic Train | Wally Phister | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Seasons of Love | Gorm Schrader | 2 episodes |
| 1999-2003 | Dawson's Creek | Sheriff John Witter | 4 episodes; recurring role |
| 2000 | The Practice | Detective Henry Dokes | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Deadlocked | Jack Fisque | Television Movie |
| 2000 | Rocket's Red Glare | Wyatt Claybourne | Television Movie |
| 2001 | Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family | Nathan Martson | Episode: "The River" |
| 2001 | NYPD Blue | Jimmy McElroy | Episode: "Nariz a Nariz" |
| 2001 | Philly | Frank Maguire | Episode: "Light My Fire" |
| 2002 | Shadow Realm | Malone | Television Movie |
| 2002 | Thieves | George Lieser | Episode: "Home Is Where the Heist Is" |
| 2002 | Night Visions | Malone | Episode: "Patters/Voices" (segment: Voices) |
| 2002 | Without a Trace | Abner Harrington | Episode: "In Extremis" |
| 2003-2010 | Cold Case | John Stillman | series regular; 156 episodes/Director; 2 episodes Episode: "Wednesday's Women" (2008) Episode: "The Runaway Bunny" (2010) |
| 2011-2017 | NCIS | General (former Marine Commandant) Charles T. Ellison | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Blue Bloods | David Cummings | Episode: "Leap of Faith" |
| 2012 | Suits | Lawrence Kemp | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Homeland | Rex Henning | Episode: "The Clearing" |
| 2013 | Golden Boy | Ed McKenzie | Episode: "McKenzie on Fire" |
| 2014 | Believe | Mr. Tate | Episode: "Sinking" |
| 2014 | Madam Secretary | Allen Bollings | Episode: "Blame Canada" |
| 2014 | An Bronntanas | Sean Og | Miniseries, 5 episodes |
| 2014 | Wall Street | Ritter | Television Movie |
| 2015 | The Blacklist | Judge Richard Denner | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Elementary | Neil Dannon | Episode: "Down Where the Dead Delight" |
| 2016 | The Good Wife | Oren Cleary | Episode: "Targets" |
| 2017 | Doubt | Don Wilson | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2018-2020 | The Walking Dead | Earl Sutton[1][2][3] | 11 episodes |
| 2018 | The Enemy Within | Richard Bregman | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2019 | The Loudest Voice | Jack Welch | Miniseries, 1 episode |
| 2019 | The Crown | Arthur "Bull" Hancock | Episode: "Coup" |
John Finn w/NYFireDept in Blue Bloods. Season 13, episode 19. May 5, 2023.
