Michael Biehn
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.
The Terminator
(Kyle Reese)
Aliens
(Corporal Hicks)
Planet Terror
(Sheriff Hague)
The Abyss
(Lieutenant Hiram Coffey)
Terminator: Hunter Killer
(Kyle Reese (voice) (archive footage))
The Seventh Sign
(Russell Quinn)
Mojave Moon
(Boyd)
K2
(Taylor Brooks)
Tombstone
(Johnny Ringo)
The Insatiable
(Strickland)
Strapped
(Matthew McRae)
Cherry Falls
(Sherrif Brent Marken)
The Rock
(Commander Charles Anderson)
Deadfall
(Joe Donan)
Asteroid
(FEMA Director Jack Wallach)
Sushi Girl
(Mike)
Clockstoppers
(Henry Gates)
Stiletto
(Lee)
The Victim
(Kyle)
Timebomb
(Eddy Kay / Oliver Dykstra)
The Divide
(Mickey)
They Wait
(O'Connell)
The Lords of Discipline
(John Alexander)
Dragon Squad
(Petros Angelo)
Take Me Home Tonight
(Bill Franklin)
Saving Grace B. Jones
(Landy Bretthorst)
Streets of Blood
(Agent Brown)
Borderline
(Det. Macy Kobacek)
Zuma Beach
(J.D.)
Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens'
(Self)
Puncture
(Red)
Psych:9
(Det. Marling)
Susan's Plan
(Bill)
The Dark Forest
(Peter)
Dead Men Can't Dance
(Robert Hart)
The Blood Bond
(John Tremayne)
Bereavement
(Jonathan Miller)
The Fan
(Douglas Breen)
Spin
(Tony Russo)
Chain of Command
(Craig Thornton)
Silver Wolf
(Roy McLean)
Deep Red
(Joe Keyes)
American Dragons
(Detective Tony Luca)
No Prince for My Cinderella
(Mark Johnson)
Rampage
(Anthony Fraser)
Among Friends
(Actor in hallucination scene)
Yellow Rock
(Tom Hanner)
The Ride
(Smokey Banks)
Treachery
(Henry)
Hog Wild
(Tim Warner)
From Darkness
(Agent Doug Albright)
Jacob
(Lawrence Kell)
In a Shallow Grave
(Garnet Montrose)
Alien Evolution
(Self / 'Cpl. Dwayne Hicks')
Die Nacht aus Blei
(Eseleine)
Tapped Out
(Reggie)
Hidden in the Woods
(Oscar Crocker)
Megiddo: The Omega Code 2
(David Alexander)
Coach
(Jack)
Conundrum
(Det. Stash Horvak)
Grindhouse
(Sheriff Hague (segment "Planet Terror"))
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power
(King Yannick)
Breach of Trust
(Casey Woods)
James at 15
(Tony)
Rippy
(Uncle Schmitty)
Jade
(Bob Hargrove)
China Rose
(Daniel Allen)
A Fire in the Sky
(Tom Rearden)
The Shadow Effect
(Sheriff Hodge)
The Girl
(Father)
The Art of War
(Robert Bly)
Aliens Expanded
(Self)
Deadly Intentions
(Dr. Charles Raynor)
The Alien Saga
(Self)
The Night Visitor
(Agent Walker)
Navy Seals
(Lt. James Curran)
The Lockdown
(Max Hightower)
Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business
(Self)
In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King
(Jackie Ryan)
Havoc
(Stuart Lang)
The Legend of Butch & Sundance
(Mike Cassidy)
The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian
(Sébastien)
The Legend of DarkHorse County
(Future Jon Ford)
She Rises
(Daddy Longlegs)
Blood of the Hunter
(Philip Thorton / Blake)
A Taste for Killing
(Bo Landry)
Grease
(Mike (uncredited))
The Making of the Terminator
(Self)
The Paradise Connection
(Larry DeWitt)
#NoJoke
(Self)
Red Handed
(Reynolds)
Killer Weekend
(Dr. Carol)
Under Pressure: Making 'The Abyss'
(Self)
The Night Visitor 2: Heather's Story
(Agent Walker)
Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³'
(Self)
T2: More Than Meets the Eye
(Self)
Other Voices: Creating 'The Terminator'
(Self)
Onslaught
Predator: Killer of Killers
(Vandy (voice))
The Making of 'Tombstone'
(Self)
Hawaii
(Sean Harrison)
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Hill Street Blues
Criminal Minds
(Detective Ron Fullwood)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
(Leland Dockerty)
Asteroid
(Jack Wallach)
The Magnificent Seven
(Chris Larabee)
Dark Blue
(Lt. Jay Frye)
Adventure Inc.
(Judson Cross)
The Runaways
(Mark Johnson)
ABC Afterschool Special
(Seth)
Logan's Run
(Sandman)
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
(Shérif Biehn)
Family
(Jake)
The Walking Dead
(Ian)
Law & Order: Organized Crime
(David Carver)
The Mandalorian
(Lang)
