Highest rated as cast or director
Michael Biehn's 5 titles from the 1980s have a median Balasaur Score of 72, led by Aliens (85) and The Terminator (83), against 59 for those from the 2020s.
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.
Acted in 104
2020s
- 2026
- 2025
- 2024
Rippy
Uncle Schmitty
- 2021
- 2020
Red Handed
Reynolds
2010s
- 2019
- 2017
She Rises
Daddy Longlegs
- 2016
The Night Visitor 2: Heather's Story
Agent Walker
- 2015
The Night Visitor
Agent Walker
- 2014
Hidden in the Woods
Oscar Crocker
The Legend of DarkHorse County
Future Jon Ford
- 2013
- 2012
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
Shérif Biehn · 1 episode
Among Friends
Actor in hallucination scene
- 2011
Yellow Rock
Tom Hanner
Jacob
Lawrence Kell
The Victim
Kyle
- 2010
2000s
- 2009
Saving Grace B. Jones
Landy Bretthorst
- 2008
- 2007
Grindhouse
Sheriff Hague (segment "Planet Terror")
Spin
Tony Russo
- 2006
The Legend of Butch & Sundance
Mike Cassidy
- 2005
Dragon Squad
Petros Angelo
- 2004
Hawaii
Sean Harrison · 8 episodes
- 2002
Borderline
Det. Macy Kobacek
Adventure Inc.
Judson Cross · 22 episodes
- 2001
- 2000
Cherry Falls
Sherrif Brent Marken
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
- 1997
Asteroid
FEMA Director Jack Wallach
- 1996
Mojave Moon
Boyd
Conundrum
Det. Stash Horvak
- 1995
Blood of the Hunter
Philip Thorton / Blake
In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King
Jackie Ryan
Breach of Trust
Casey Woods
- 1994
Deep Red
Joe Keyes
- 1993
Strapped
Matthew McRae
- 1992
A Taste for Killing
Bo Landry
- 1991
- 1990
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
In a Shallow Grave
Garnet Montrose
- 1987
Rampage
Anthony Fraser
- 1986
- 1985
Deadly Intentions
Dr. Charles Raynor
Die Nacht aus Blei
Eseleine
- 1984
The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian
Sébastien
- 1983
The Lords of Discipline
John Alexander
- 1982
- 1981
- 1980
Hog Wild
Tim Warner
1970s
- 1979
The Paradise Connection
Larry DeWitt
- 1978
A Fire in the Sky
Tom Rearden
Zuma Beach
J.D.
No Prince for My Cinderella
Mark Johnson
The Runaways
Mark Johnson · 17 episodes
- 1977
James at 15
Tony
- 1976
- 1972
Produced 9
2020s
- 2020
2010s
- 2018
- 2017
She Rises
Executive Producer
Fetish Factory
Executive Producer
- 2016
Psychophonia
Executive Producer
- 2015
The Night Visitor
Executive Producer
- 2014
Hidden in the Woods
Producer
Mindless
Executive Producer
Directed 2
2010s
- 2011
The Victim
Director
- 2010
Wrote 2
2010s
- 2011
The Victim
Screenplay
- 2010
Appearances13
2020s
- 2024
Aliens Expanded
Self
- 2020
Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business
Self
2010s
- 2019
2000s
- 2003
Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens'
Self
Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³'
Self
- 2002
The Alien Saga
Self
The Making of 'Tombstone'
Self
- 2001
Alien Evolution
Self / 'Cpl. Dwayne Hicks'
Other Voices: Creating 'The Terminator'
Self
1990s
- 1993
Under Pressure: Making 'The Abyss'
Self
T2: More Than Meets the Eye
Self
- 1992
The Making of 'Alien³'
Self
1980s
- 1985
The Making of the Terminator
Self
Thanked in the credits1
1980s
- 1988
Martini Ranch: Reach
Thanks