Jeffrey Donovan

Acting

Jeffrey Donovan

Born 1968-05-11 · Amesbury, Massachusetts, USA

Jeffrey Donovan, born on May 11, 1968, is an American actor and director known for his compelling performances across film, television, and stage. With his versatility, nuanced portrayals, and commanding screen presence, Donovan has established himself as a highly respected and sought-after talent in the entertainment industry. Born in Amesbury, Massachusetts, Jeffrey Donovan developed an early passion for acting and storytelling. He honed his craft at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he studied drama and performed in various theater productions. After graduation, he furthered his training at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Donovan began his acting career in the late 1990s, making appearances in television shows such as "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Law & Order." However, it was his breakthrough role as Michael Westen in the hit USA Network series "Burn Notice" (2007-2013) that brought him widespread recognition and a dedicated fan base. Donovan's portrayal of a former spy navigating the world of covert operations captivated audiences and showcased his talent for blending action, drama, and dry humor. In addition to his television success, Jeffrey Donovan has made notable contributions to film. He has appeared in a range of genres, from crime dramas to comedies. Some of his notable film credits include "Changeling" (2008), directed by Clint Eastwood, "Hitch" (2005), "J. Edgar" (2011), and "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" (2018). Donovan's ability to bring depth and complexity to his characters has earned him critical acclaim and made him a sought-after actor in the industry. Jeffrey Donovan has also ventured into directing, further showcasing his talents behind the camera. He made his directorial debut with the film "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" (2018), where he helmed the short film "La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus" (2012). Beyond his acting and directing pursuits, Jeffrey Donovan has been involved in philanthropy, supporting various charitable causes. He has participated in fundraising events and campaigns to raise awareness and funds for organizations dedicated to causes such as cancer research and supporting veterans.

Acting credits

Sicario: Day of the Soldado poster
6.9

Agent Matt Graver teams up with operative Alejandro Gillick to prevent Mexican drug cartels from smuggling terrorists across the United States border.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado

2018

Sicario poster
7.4

An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.

Sicario

2015

Wrath of Man poster
7.6

A cold and mysterious new security guard for a Los Angeles cash truck company surprises his co-workers when he unleashes precision skills during a heist. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman's ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score.

Wrath of Man

2021

Sleepers poster
7.6

Two gangsters seek revenge on the state jail worker who during their stay at a youth prison sexually abused them. A sensational court hearing takes place to charge him for the crimes.

Sleepers

1996

Honest Thief poster
6.5

A bank robber tries to turn himself in because he's falling in love and wants to live an honest life...but when he realizes the Feds are more corrupt than him, he must fight back to clear his name.

Honest Thief

2020

Hitch poster
6.6

Dating coach Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens mentors a bumbling client, Albert, who hopes to win the heart of the glamorous Allegra Cole. While Albert makes progress, Hitch faces his own romantic setbacks when proven techniques fail to work on Sara Melas, a tabloid reporter digging for dirt on Allegra Cole's love life. When Sara discovers Hitch's connection to Albert – now Allegra's boyfriend – it threatens to destroy both relationships.

Hitch

2005

Shot Caller poster
7.0

A newly-released prison gangster is forced by the leaders of his gang to orchestrate a major crime with a brutal rival gang on the streets of Southern California.

Shot Caller

2017

Changeling poster
7.6

Los Angeles, 1928. When single mother Christine Collins leaves for work, her son vanishes without a trace. Five months later, the police reunite mother and son. But when Christine suspects that the boy returned to her isn't her child, her quest for truth exposes a world of corruption.

Changeling

2008

Extinction poster
6.3

And suddenly, overnight, the world came to a halt. Two men, two survivors, one kid, and hatred that separates them. A place forgotten by everyone, including the creatures that inhabit the Earth... until now.

Extinction

2015

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile poster
7.0

A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy, from the perspective of his longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer, who refused to believe the truth about him for years.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

2019

Let Him Go poster
6.8

Following the loss of their son, a retired sheriff and his wife leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young grandson from the clutches of a dangerous family living off the grid in the Dakotas.

Let Him Go

2020

J. Edgar poster
6.2

As the face of law enforcement in the United States for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career, and his life.

J. Edgar

2011

Wardriver poster
7.3

He’s a Wardriver: a hacker who steals from banks, not people—until he’s noticed. Now the money turns violent, and the woman caught in it could save him or kill them both.

Wardriver

2026

Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 poster
4.3

A group of college students decide to take part in a witch hunt tour inspired by a horror movie. As the adventure goes awry, the students realise that an evil being has followed them home.

Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2

2000

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines poster
6.9

Witness the legendary origin of renowned Justice League member Wonder Woman as she fights for good with her sword and magic lasso. Equally strong in body, heart and will, she makes it her mission to help a troubled young girl enlisted by a deadly organization known as Villainy, Inc., whose criminal members have their sights set on invading Themyscira, Wonder Woman’s paradise home. The battle will be epic, because if there's one thing an Amazon knows, it’s war!

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines

2019

Vegas Vacation poster
6.0

The Griswold family hits the road again for a typically ill-fated vacation, this time to the glitzy mecca of slots and showgirls—Las Vegas.

Vegas Vacation

1997

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned poster
6.3

When Sheriff Roy Pulsipher finds himself in the afterlife, he joins a special police force and returns to Earth to save humanity from the undead.

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned

2022

Breaking poster
6.5

Desperate for money and running out of options, Marine veteran Brian Brown-Easley holds several people hostage inside a bank, setting the stage for a tense confrontation with police.

Breaking

2022

Bait poster
5.7

Landing in jail for a petty theft crime, Alvin finds himself sharing a cell with John Jaster, the incarcerated half of the pair of high-tech thieves responsible for the missing gold. His partner, Bristol, is still at large. Alvin wants only to get out of prison and start fresh with his girlfriend, Lisa, and when the Feds, led by U.S. Treasury investigator Clenteen, set him loose on a sketchy deal, he thinks his luck has changed. Alvin has his freedom and the Feds have found their bait.

Bait

2000

Surrounded poster
6.2

After her stagecoach is ambushed, a woman is tasked with holding a dangerous outlaw captive and must survive the day when the bandit’s gang tries to free him.

Surrounded

2023

Villains poster
6.2

When their car breaks down, a couple on the run headed southbound for a fresh start in the Sunshine State break into a nearby house looking for a new set of wheels. What they find instead is a dark secret, and a sweet-as-pie pair of homeowners who will do anything to keep it from getting out.

Villains

2019

LBJ poster
6.4

The story of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson from his young days in West Texas to the White House.

LBJ

2017

Lucy in the Sky poster
5.0

Astronaut Lucy Cola returns to Earth after a transcendent experience during a mission to space – and begins to lose touch with reality in a world that now seems too small.

Lucy in the Sky

2019

Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe poster
6.4

Before Sam Axe teamed up with Michael and Fiona, he was Commander Axe, U.S. Navy SEAL. The Fall of Sam Axe tells the story of how Sam went from respected Naval Commander to the man of mystery we've come to know on Burn Notice. On what will turn out to be Sam's last military mission, he is sent to the jungles of Colombia to investigate claims of a vicious terrorist organization known only as the "Espada Ardiente" (Flaming Sword). His mission: to determine whether U.S. military aid is necessary to deal with the threat. But when he arrives, things are more complicated than he'd imagined. He receives word that the rebels have targeted a small civilian clinic deep in the jungle. Sam must now save the clinic's doctors and patients from certain death. However, nothing is as it seems and the Espada Ardiente may not be the biggest threat Sam Axe faces.

Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe

2011

Behind the camera