David Strathairn
David Strathairn
David Russell Strathairnis an American actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for portraying journalist Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck. He is recognized for his role as CIA Deputy Director Noah Vosen in the 2007 film The Bourne Ultimatum, a role he reprised in 2012's The Bourne Legacy. He played a prominent role as Dr. Lee Rosen on the Syfy series Alphas from 2011 to 2012 and played Secretary of State William Henry...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth26 January 1949
CitySan Francisco, CA
CountryUnited States of America
When people and animals die, they stay with us in our minds.
In this film George presents issues that are important, essential and vital, whoever you are, about constitutional rights and the bedrock of a democracy. I am drawn to those kinds of stories because they inspire me - they are responsible to a populace and responsible to man.
But I find it's usually a collaboration. Very rarely does a lead exist without someone else holding on to the leash, so to speak.
In this television moment, which is where his public presence mushroomed out from radio, there were images that were iconic,
We were actually making news. He told each of us to cover a different subject and then find something that's germane and pitch it. It was improvisational acting and it was great.
I think the film is beautifully realised. His legacy as a journalist was recorded - as it were - well, and certainly the important issues of the '50s - or even today - are delivered and presented to the audience in a rather honest and objective way.
I think they were being kind saying that. Murrow read his stuff, so I had that ace in the hole. If I froze in front of the camera, I could always just look down. But George said, 'We want you looking at the camera a little bit more than reading, OK?' ... And it was scary.
There is always something ticking with Murrow. He was described as a prince of doom, a man carrying a crown of thorns. I tried to show what was going on in his head.
He has the biggest part in the movie. we wouldn't be here without him.
If anyone was talking about journalism in the '50s - it was Edward R.Murrow.
He used his power to get it made with absolutely no compromises or concessions. He had hurt his back just before we started, and he was in terrible pain through much of the filming. It was a heroic effort on his part.
He kept saying that he was a better actor than he was a director, and that he was the worst actor in the room. That's what makes you want to work for him. He's the most modest star I know.
I think he was honoring a lot of sentiment in the community and trying to do what was right. His choice not to have football for the remainder of that season, I think, was a very important one because he said it's important for the families to be together and grieve, and it might just be too raw a moment to have a football game out there too soon.
I think George just nailed the whole thing, the whole time period, the whole look and feel of what that newsroom was like. I did a lot of research for the role and believe me, it's all pretty genuine, down to the very last cigarette butt.