Michael Biehn
Born: 1956-07-31 in Anniston, Alabama, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Michael Connell Biehn is an American actor whose work in 1980s and 1990s genre cinema helped define the modern action and science-fiction lead. He is most closely associated with James Cameron’s films, where he repeatedly embodied hardened, battle-tested characters grounded in realism rather than spectacle, most famously Kyle Reese in The Terminator (1984), Corporal Hicks in Aliens (1986), and Lieutenant Coffey in The Abyss (1989). Those performances became blueprints for the emotionally restrained, competent action hero and continue to influence how military and sci-fi protagonists are written and played. Beyond his Cameron collaborations, Biehn appeared in a run of cult and mainstream genre staples, including Navy SEALs (1990), Tombstone (1993), and The Rock (1996), often bringing a grounded intensity that contrasted with larger-than-life co-stars. His portrayal of Johnny Ringo in Tombstone is frequently cited as one of the era’s most memorable villains, defined by menace, precision, and restraint rather than excess. His cult status was later reinforced during the Tarantino–Rodriguez Grindhouse era with his appearance in Planet Terror (2007), part of the double-feature project released alongside Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof, linking Biehn’s legacy to modern exploitation-inspired genre cinema. That legacy carried into modern franchise television with his appearance as Lang in The Mandalorian (2020), reinforcing his enduring connection to science fiction and action storytelling across generations. Biehn’s work has earned long-standing respect among filmmakers, actors, and genre fans, with his performance in Aliens earning a Saturn Award nomination and his overall body of work achieving lasting cult recognition. While never positioned as a traditional blockbuster star, his influence spans decades of science fiction, action, westerns, and modern franchise storytelling.
Filmography
2026
- Onslaught as Baylor
2025
- Predator: Killer of Killers as Vandy (voice)
2024
- The Lockdown as Max Hightower
- Aliens Expanded as Self
- Rippy as Uncle Schmitty
2021
- Law & Order: Organized Crime as David Carver
- Terminator: Hunter Killer as Kyle Reese (voice) (archive footage)
2020
- Red Handed as Reynolds
- Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business as Self
- Killer Weekend as Dr. Carol
2019
- The Mandalorian as Lang
- #NoJoke as Self
2018
- Altered Perception ... (Executive Producer)
2017
- The Shadow Effect as Sheriff Hodge
- Fetish Factory ... (Executive Producer)
- She Rises as Daddy Longlegs
2016
- The Night Visitor 2: Heather's Story as Agent Walker
- Psychophonia ... (Executive Producer)
2015
- The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power as King Yannick
- The Night Visitor as Agent Walker
2014
- The Girl as Father
- Tapped Out as Reggie
- The Legend of DarkHorse County as Future Jon Ford
- Hidden in the Woods as Oscar Crocker
- Mindless ... (Executive Producer)
2013
- Treachery as Henry
2012
- The Divide as Mickey
- Metal Hurlant Chronicles as Shérif Biehn
- Sushi Girl as Mike
- Among Friends as Actor in hallucination scene
2011
- Take Me Home Tonight as Bill Franklin
- From Darkness as Agent Doug Albright
- Puncture as Red
- The Victim as Kyle
- Yellow Rock as Tom Hanner
- Jacob as Lawrence Kell
2010
- The Walking Dead as Ian
- Bereavement as Jonathan Miller
- The Blood Bond as John Tremayne
- Psych:9 as Det. Marling
2009
- Dark Blue as Lt. Jay Frye
- Streets of Blood as Agent Brown
- Saving Grace B. Jones as Landy Bretthorst
2008
- Stiletto as Lee
2007
- Planet Terror as Sheriff Hague
- Grindhouse as Sheriff Hague (segment "Planet Terror")
- They Wait as O'Connell
- Spin as Tony Russo
2006
- The Insatiable as Strickland
- The Legend of Butch & Sundance as Mike Cassidy
2005
- Criminal Minds as Detective Ron Fullwood
- Havoc as Stuart Lang
- Dragon Squad as Petros Angelo
2004
- Hawaii as Sean Harrison
2003
2002
- Clockstoppers as Henry Gates
- Adventure Inc. as Judson Cross
- The Alien Saga as Self
- The Making of 'Tombstone' as Self
- Borderline as Det. Macy Kobacek
2001
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Leland Dockerty
- Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 as David Alexander
- Alien Evolution as Self / 'Cpl. Dwayne Hicks'
- Other Voices: Creating 'The Terminator' as Self
2000
- The Art of War as Robert Bly
- Cherry Falls as Sherrif Brent Marken
- Chain of Command as Craig Thornton
1999
- Silver Wolf as Roy McLean
1998
- The Magnificent Seven as Chris Larabee
- Susan's Plan as Bill
- American Dragons as Detective Tony Luca
1997
- Asteroid as FEMA Director Jack Wallach
- Dead Men Can't Dance as Robert Hart
- Asteroid as Jack Wallach
- The Ride as Smokey Banks
1996
- The Rock as Commander Charles Anderson
- Mojave Moon as Boyd
- Conundrum as Det. Stash Horvak
1995
- Jade as Bob Hargrove
- Breach of Trust as Casey Woods
- Blood of the Hunter as Philip Thorton / Blake
- In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King as Jackie Ryan
1994
- Deep Red as Joe Keyes
1993
- Tombstone as Johnny Ringo
- Strapped as Matthew McRae
- Deadfall as Joe Donan
- Under Pressure: Making 'The Abyss' as Self
- T2: More Than Meets the Eye as Self
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- A Taste for Killing as Bo Landry
1990
- The Word
- Navy Seals as Lt. James Curran
1989
- The Abyss as Lieutenant Hiram Coffey
1988
- The Seventh Sign as Russell Quinn
- Martini Ranch: Reach ... (Thanks)
- In a Shallow Grave as Garnet Montrose
1987
- Rampage as Anthony Fraser
1986
- Aliens as Corporal Hicks
1985
- The Making of the Terminator as Self
- Deadly Intentions as Dr. Charles Raynor
- Die Nacht aus Blei as Eseleine
1984
- The Terminator as Kyle Reese
- The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian as Sébastien
1983
- The Lords of Discipline as John Alexander
- China Rose as Daniel Allen
1982
- American Playhouse as Garnet Montrose
1981
- Hill Street Blues
- The Fan as Douglas Breen
1980
- Hog Wild as Tim Warner
1979
- The Paradise Connection as Larry DeWitt
1978
- Grease as Mike (uncredited)
- The Runaways as Mark Johnson
- A Fire in the Sky as Tom Rearden
- Coach as Jack
- Zuma Beach as J.D.
- No Prince for My Cinderella as Mark Johnson
1977
- Logan's Run as Sandman
- James at 15 as Tony
1976
- Family as Jake
1972
- ABC Afterschool Special as Seth