John Carroll Lynch (born August 1, 1963) is an American actor, known for his role as Drew Carey's cross-dressing brother on The Drew Carey Show, and for his role as Norm, the unassuming husband of Margie Gunderson (Frances McDormand) in Fargo.
In the fall of 2003, he starred in the CBS show The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire, with Randy Quaid, Chris Penn, Mare Winningham, Elizabeth McGovern, and Ann Cusack. The show was cancelled after only a few episodes. He also had a recurring role in the HBO show Carnivàle, playing escaped convict Varlyn Stroud. Lynch appeared as a district attorney in the CBS series Close to Home and as NASA official Bob Gilruth in the HBO mini-series From the Earth to the Moon. Lynch appeared in the 2003 thriller Gothika and the 2007 biopic Zodiac.
Babes
Dr. Morris
2024
Outlaw Posse
Carson
2024
The Trial of the Chicago 7
David Dellinger
2020
Be Absolute for Death
2020
The Highwaymen
Lee Simmons
2019
Private Life
Charlie Grimes
2018
Anything
Early Landry
2018
The White Orchid
Sheriff Mann
2018
Jackie
Lyndon B. Johnson
2016
The Founder
Mac McDonald
2016
The Architect
Conway
2016
The Invitation
Pruitt
2016
Miracles from Heaven
Pastor Scott
2016
Ted 2
Tom Jessup
2015
Hot Pursuit
Captain Emmett
2015
Camp X-Ray
Col. Drummond
2014
The Pretty One
Frank
2014
Hoke
Bill Henderson
2014
Highland Park
Rory
2013
Lay the Favorite
Dave Greenberg
2012
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Bernie
2011
Paul
Moses Buggs
2011
Sympathy for Delicious
Evangelist Carroll
2010
Shutter Island
Deputy Warden McPherson
2010
Hesher
Larry
2010
Love Happens
Walter
2009
Gran Torino
Barber Martin
2008
The Prince of Motor City
Paul Riley
2008
Things We Lost in the Fire
Howard Glassman
2007
Zodiac
Arthur Leigh Allen
2007
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
Stewart
2006
Mozart and the Whale
Gregory
2005
Freak Weather
Ed
2005
Catch That Kid
Mr. Hartman
2004
Gothika
Sheriff Ryan
2003
Live from Baghdad
Josh Holliman
2002
Par 6
Dour O'Dowell
2002
Bug
Wallace Gregory
2002
The Good Girl
Jack Field, Your Store Manager
2002
Bubble Boy
Mr. Livingston
2001
Restaurant
John English
2000
Tuesdays with Morrie
Walter
1999
Anywhere but Here
Jack Irwin
1999
Late Last Night
Sgt. Van Wyck
1999
Pushing Tin
Doctor Freeze (uncredited)
1999
The Minus Man
Bartender (uncredited)
1999
The Naked Man
Driver
1998
Mercury Rising
Martin Lynch
1998
A Thousand Acres
Ken LaSalle
1997
Face/Off
Prison Guard Walton
1997
Volcano
Stan Olber
1997
Dead Men Can't Dance
Plonder
1997
The Fan
Shopkeeper
1996
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
1996
A Friend's Betrayal
Mr. Franks
1996
Voice from the Grave
Prosecutor O'Gane
1996
Fargo
Norm Gunderson
1996
Beautiful Girls
Frank Womack
1996
In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice
The Major
1995
Grumpy Old Men
Moving Man
1993
She Rides Shotgun
Ballard
Thomas Laffont · (10 episodes)
2025
Sorry, Baby
Pete
2025
Elsbeth
Judge Edwin Dousant · (2 episodes)
2024
White House Plumbers
John Mitchell · (2 episodes)
2023
Gaslit
L. Patrick Gray · (3 episodes)
2022
American Horror Stories
Larry Bitterman · (1 episode)
2021
Big Sky
Wolfgang 'Wolf' Legarski · (18 episodes)
2020
Big Sky
Rick Legarski · (16 episodes)
2020
Kiss Me Kosher!
Ron Shalev
2020
Perfect Harmony
Pastor Magnus · (3 episodes)
2019
Evil
Henry Stick · (3 episodes)
2019
The Good Cop
Sherman Smalls · (1 episode)
2018
One Dollar
Bud Carl · (10 episodes)
2018
Crawford
Owen · (12 episodes)
2018
Shangri-La Suite
Colonel Tom Parker
2016
Channel Zero
John Sleator · (6 episodes)
2016
Billions
Mr. Gilbert · (1 episode)
2016
Manhattan
Daniel Ellis · (2 episodes)
2014
Do No Harm
Will Hayes · (13 episodes)
2013
The Americans
Fred · (6 episodes)
2013
Veep
Lloyd Hennick · (3 episodes)
2012
Talking Dead
Self · (1 episode)
2011
American Horror Story
Twisty the Clown · (7 episodes)
2011
American Horror Story
John Wayne Gacy · (2 episodes)
2011
American Horror Story
Benjamin Richter · (9 episodes)
2011
Body of Proof
Det. Bud Morris · (29 episodes)
2011
The Walking Dead
Eastman · (1 episode)
2010
The Glades
(1 episode)
2010
The Glades
Mike Ogletree · (1 episode)
2010
Lie to Me
Mr. Reed · (1 episode)
2009
K-Ville
Captain James Embry · (11 episodes)
2007
Full of It
Mr. Leonard
2007
Big Love
Officer Chuck Tuttle · (2 episodes)
2006
Close to Home
(1 episode)
2005
Close to Home
Steve Sharpe · (22 episodes)
2005
American Dad!
Acl-Lou / Mr. Simms / Monkey (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire
(8 episodes)
2003
Carnivàle
Varlyn Stroud · (12 episodes)
2003
Confidence
Grant Ashby
2003
Monk
Kurt Pressman · (1 episode)
2002
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Buddy Arnold · (1 episode)
2000
Gone in Sixty Seconds
Impound Manager
2000
Waking the Dead
Father Mileski
2000
The Next Best Thing
Abbie's Lawyer
2000
The West Wing
Jack Reese · (1 episode)
1999
Family Law
(1 episode)
1999
L.A. Doctors
Gus (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1998
From the Earth to the Moon
Bob Gilruth · (2 episodes)
1998
The Visitor
Joe York · (1 episode)
1997
Life's Work
(2 episodes)
1996
Feeling Minnesota
Cop
1996
Fade to Black
Wayne
The Practice
Dr. Robert Larson · (1 episode)
1997
Murder One
Officer Carl Bickley · (1 episode)
1995
The Drew Carey Show
Steve Carey · (74 episodes)
1995
The Cure
Skipper #1
1995
Cattywampus
Barry
The Whisper Man
The Client
Frank · (1 episode)
1995
Star Trek: Voyager
Gerald Moss · (1 episode)
1995
Frasier
Franklin · (1 episode)
1993