
Jonathan Banks
Known for Acting · 165 credits
- Born
- 1947-01-31 (age 79)
- Place of birth
- Washington, D.C., USA
- Also known as
- Jonathan Ray Banks · 조나단 뱅스
Biography
Jonathan Banks (born January 31, 1947) is an American character actor in film and television.
Banks dropped out of Indiana University to join a touring company as a stage manager. He went to Australia with the company and stayed on working in theatre there. In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles and performed on stage before picking up bit parts on television. Probably his best-known movie roles are in two films starring Eddie Murphy: 48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop. In 48 Hrs. he plays a character who is a friend of the lead and is killed by the villain, beginning the lead characters' story. In Beverly Hills Cop, he plays a villain who kills the lead characters' friend and begins his story. Other movie roles include appearances in Armed and Dangerous, Freejack, Flipper, Airplane!, Gremlins, Murder Me, Murder You, and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.
His biggest break on television, came with the series Wiseguy, in which he played Frank McPike for four years, a role which led to an Emmy award nomination. Although his character was primarily the hero's mentor, stories occasionally featured McPike as hero. In 1981 he appeared as Dutch Schultz on the NBC series the Gangster Chronicles. He also starred on the short-lived science fiction TV series Otherworld, as Kommander Neveen Kroll and in the sitcom Fired Up.
Banks has also made guest appearances on TV shows including Alias, CSI, Day Break, Highlander: The Series, Matlock, SeaQuest DSV, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Women of the House and Walker Texas Ranger. Most recently, Banks appeared in the final Season Two episodes of Dexter, and in episodes of ER, Cold Case, and Shark, Modern Family. In the second season finale of Breaking Bad, Banks appeared as a mysterious character named Mike. Banks was made a series regular for the third season.
Known For
TV Shows (80)

Breaking Bad
2008
as Mike Ehrmantraut

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
as Bobby Jensen

Dexter
2006
as Max Adams

Modern Family
2009
as Donnie Pritchett

CSI: Miami
2002
as Oscar Duarte

Castle
2009
as Bruce Kirby

Two and a Half Men
2003
as Sid

Better Call Saul
2015
as Mike Ehrmantraut

INVINCIBLE
2021
as Brit (voice)

ER
1994
as Robert Truman

Without a Trace
2002
as Sal Marcello

Falcon Crest
1981
as Frank Kolinski

The Expanse
2015
as Executive Officer

Phineas and Ferb
2007
as Driving Instructor (voice)

MythBusters
2003
as Self

Diagnosis: Murder
1993
as Bruce Locatelli / Max Jupe

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
as Shel-la

Ghost Whisperer
2005
as Lyle Chase

Cold Case
2003
as John 'Shameless' Clark (2009)

Parks and Recreation
2009
as Steve Wyatt

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
2014
as Self

Little House on the Prairie
1974
as Jed

Hill Street Blues
1981

Gravity Falls
2012
as Filbrick Pines (voice)

Highlander: The Series
1992
as Mako

Strong Medicine
2000
as Frank Hardwhyck

Community
2009
as Professor Buzz Hickey

The Waltons
1972

Hunter
1984
as Det. Gary Krewson

Simon & Simon
1981

Matlock
1986
as Jack Starling

Due South
1994
as Garret

T. J. Hooker
1982
as Freddy Baker

Lie to Me
2009
as Agent Richard Squire

Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Shelby Valentine

seaQuest DSV
1993
as Maximillian Scully

Cagney & Lacey
1982

Tales from the Crypt
1989
as William

Shark
2006
as Jason Normandy

The District
2000
as Monya Pastov

Lou Grant
1977
as Cyrus

Designing Women
1986

Wiseguy
1987
as Frank McPike

Life
2007
as Nathan Gray

Matt Houston
1982

Joan of Arcadia
2003
as Sheriff Mike Rakowski

Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure
2017
as Quirin (voice)

Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
2023
as Silvermane (voice)

Hardcastle and McCormick
1983

Eli Stone
2008
as Agent Jonathan Maine

Crazy like a Fox
1984
as Vice Squad Captain Hawkins

The Beast in Me
2025
as Martin Jarvis

Dr. Ken
2015
as Dr. Erwin

Kite Man: Hell Yeah!
2024
as Noonan (voice)

E-Ring
2005

Day Break
2006
as Shadow Man / Conrad Detweiler

Alias
2001
as Frederick Brandon

Ringer
2011
as Remy Osterman

Constellation
2024
as Henry Caldera / Bud Caldera

Fired Up
1997
as Guy Mann
Movies (85)

Incredibles 2
2018
as Rick Dicker (voice)

Airplane!
1980
as Gunderson

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
2019
as Mike

Beverly Hills Cop
1984
as Zack

Gremlins
1984
as Deputy Brent

Horrible Bosses 2
2014
as Detective Hatcher

48 Hrs.
1982
as Algren

The Commuter
2018
as Walt

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
1995
as Scotty

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984
as Lizardo Hospital Guard

Identity Thief
2013
as Paul

Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
2001
as Milos Drubnik

Reign Over Me
2007
as Stelter

Catwoman: Hunted
2022
as Roman Sionis / Black Mask (voice)

Redbad
2018
as Pepijn

Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship
2015
as Composite Superman (voice)

Armed and Dangerous
1986
as Clyde Klepper

Mudbound
2017
as Pappy McAllan

Term Life
2016
as Harper

Freejack
1992
as Mark Michelette

Frances
1982
as Hitchhiker
Advanced Television Production - 5 Days, 2 Scripts, No Sleep
2014
as Self

Bullet
2014
as Carlito Kane

Coming Home
1978
as Marine At Party

Flipper
1996
as Dirk Moran

The Road to El Camino: Behind the Scenes of El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
2019
as Self

Blind Side
1993
as Aaron

Stir Crazy
1980
as Jack Graham

Cold Steel
1987
as Iceman

Dark Blue
2002
as James Barcomb

The Rose
1979
as Television Promoter

The Night They Took Miss Beautiful
1977
as Buck

The Cheap Detective
1978
as Cabbie

Who'll Stop the Rain
1978
as Marine

Pin
1988
as PIN (voice)

Boiling Point
1993
as Max Waxman

For Better or for Worse
1989
as Pitt

There Goes the Neighborhood
1992
as Handsome Harry

Ike
1979
as 1st Sergeant

Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal
1993
as Dr. William Shell

Dark Breed
1997
as Joseph Shay

The Macahans
1976
as Woodward

The Ordeal of Patty Hearst
1979
as Pato

Foolish
1999
as Numbers

Rage!
1980
as Resident #2

Gangster Wars
1981
as Dutch Schultz

Downward Angel
2001
as Herod

Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn
1977
as Michael

Outlaw Justice
1999
as Sheriff Conklin

Puff, Puff, Pass
2006
as Lance

Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair
1993
as Joe Scoman

Body Shot
1994
as Simon Devereaux / Blake Donner

Let the Devil Wear Black
1999
as Satch

Murder Me, Murder You
1983
as Janos Saracen

Murder 101: College Can be Murder
2007
as Det. Frank Chambers

Assassin
1986
as Earl Dickman

Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion
1994
as Shelby Valentine

A Thousand Men and a Baby
1997
as Father O'Riley

Trash
1999
as Judge Callum

Dollar for the Dead
1998
as Col. Skinner

Proximity
2001
as Price

Last Man Standing
1995
as Doc

She's Dressed to Kill
1979
as Rudy Striker

Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love
1987
as Luke Dickson

Don't Touch My Daughter
1991
as Charles Ryter

The Girl in the Empty Grave
1977
as Courtland Gates

Watercolor Postcards
2013
as Ledball

Nadia
1984
as Gheorge Comaneci

Who Is Julia?
1986
as Jack Bodine

The Fifth Missile
1986
as Ray Olson

Authors Anonymous
2014
as David Kelleher

Harvey
1996
as C.J. Lofgren

Circadian Rhythm
2005
as Trejo

Shadow of Obsession
1994
as Trevor Keegan

Downpayment on Murder
1987
as Det. McKenzie

Proud American
2008
as Mr. Moretti

R.S.V.P.
2002
as Walter Franklin

Wiseguy
1996
as Frank McPike

Desperate Voyage
1980
as Louis

The Invisible Woman
1983
as Darren

Wiseguy: Pilot
1987
as Frank McPike

The Wolf: True Alpha
2018
as The Fixer

Millennium Man
1999

Linda's Film on Menstruation
1974
as Johnny Stanton

I'm Brave!
2015
as Fire Engine
About Jonathan Banks
Jonathan Banks (born January 31, 1947) is an American character actor in film and television. Banks dropped out of Indiana University to join a touring company as a stage manager. He went to Australia with the company and stayed on working in theatre there. In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles and performed on stage before picking up bit parts on television. Probably his best-known movie roles are in two films starring Eddie Murphy: 48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop. In 48 Hrs. he plays a character who is a friend of the lead and is killed by the vill… With 165 credits spanning from 1972 to 2025, Jonathan Banks has appeared in 85 films and 80 TV shows.
Fans searching for Jonathan Banks movies, Jonathan Banks filmography, or the latest projects starring Jonathan Banks can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Jonathan Banks Movies
- Incredibles 2 (2018) — as Rick Dicker (voice)
- Airplane! (1980) — as Gunderson
- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) — as Mike
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984) — as Zack
- Gremlins (1984) — as Deputy Brent
Where to Watch Jonathan Banks Films
Most Jonathan Banks movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Jonathan Banks, check our movies catalogue and browse page.