Updated Feb 20, 2026
Details
Known For
Actor
Occupations
Voice actor, Stage actor, Film actor, Actor
Birthday
(Sunday)
Birthplace
Belleville, Illinois, USA
Nationality
Citizenship
United States
Languages
English
Spouse
Maggie Gyllenhaal (2009)
Children
2 children: Gloria Sarsgaard, Ramona Sarsgaard
Education
Bard College, Fairfield College Preparatory School, Washington University in St. Louis
Zodiac Sign
♓ Pisces
Chinese Zodiac
猪 Pig
Name Origin
English < Middle English < Latin < Ancient Greek (Πέτρος)
Popularity
Tier A -- 153,819 Wikipedia views/month
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Screen debut
First screen credit at age 26
Year context
Born in 1971 -- Nixon ends gold standard (Bretton Woods collapses); Richard Nixon was US president
Year 1971 →
Career
Career spanning 28 years (1998-2026)
DROPTHE GOOD_
14
Notable
out of 100
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Human Impact
0
Innovation
0
Giving
0
Sustainability
70
Cultural Uplift
66
Public Vote
★
★
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★
★
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Filmography (32)
AWARDS (1)
B
Volpi Cup for Best Actor
2023
WON
Biography
John Peter Sarsgaard (born March 7, 1971) is an American actor. His first feature role was in Dead Man Walking in 1995. He then appeared in the 1998 independent films Another Day in Paradise and Desert Blue. That same year, Sarsgaard received a substantial role in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), playing Raoul, the ill-fated son of Athos. Sarsgaard later achieved critical recognition when he was cast in Boys Don't Cry (1999) as John Lotter. He landed his first leading role in the 2001 film The Center of the World. The following year, he played supporting roles in Empire, The Salton Sea, and K-19: The Widowmaker.
For his portrayal of Charles Lane in Shattered Glass, Sarsgaard won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for the 2004 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Sarsgaard has appeared in an eclectic range of films, including the 2004 comedy-drama Garden State, the biographical film Kinsey (2004), the drama The Dying Gaul (2005), and big-budget films such as Flightplan (2005), Jarhead (2005), The Skeleton Key (2005), Orphan (2009), An Education (2009), Knight and Day (2010), Green Lantern (2011), Lovelace (2013), Kelly Reichardt's Night Moves (2013), Blue Jasmine (2013), Black Mass (2015), and The Magnificent Seven (2016). Sarsgaard also appeared in the American TV series The Killing (2013) as a man on death row perhaps wrongfully convicted for the brutal murder of his wife—a performance which he says included "some of the best acting I have ever done in my life." In 2021, he had a recurring role on the Hulu miniseries Dopesick.
Sarsgaard has appeared in Off-Broadway productions including Kingdom of Earth, Laura Dennis, Burn This, and Uncle Vanya. In September 2008, he made his Broadway debut as Boris Alexeyevich Trigorin in The Seagull. He is married to actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Connections (4)
Related People
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Peter Sarsgaard?
Peter Sarsgaard is 54 years old, born on .
Where was Peter Sarsgaard born?
Peter Sarsgaard was born in Belleville, Illinois, USA.
What movies or shows has Peter Sarsgaard been in?
Peter Sarsgaard has 32 credits in our database. Notable titles include The Bride! (2026), Pet Shop Days (2025), Presumed Innocent (2024), The Batman (2022), Dopesick (2021).
What is Peter Sarsgaard known for?
Peter Sarsgaard is primarily known as an actor. John Peter Sarsgaard (born March 7, 1971) is an American actor. His first feature role was in Dead Man Walking in 1995. He then appeared…
Where can I find more information about Peter Sarsgaard?
You can find more about Peter Sarsgaard on IMDB, TMDB, Wikidata. Their full profile and filmography is available on this page.
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