Biography
With a countenance that can effortlessly suggest a beleaguered everyman or a no-nonsense tough, American character actor John Finn has sustained a prolonged and impressively varied career. A New York City native, Finn received one of his earliest assignments under the aegis of
Stuart Rosenberg, as Ginty in the ethnic drama (and cult hit)
The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984). The actor's resumé over the following ten years packed in a series of key Hollywood films of varying quality -- from the wonderful Ed Zwick drama
Glory (1989) and the fine Alan Pakula political thriller
The Pelican Brief (1993) to the
Bob Clark buddy comedy
Loose Cannons (1990). Finn also appeared in occasional telemovies, notably the 1991 Posing: Inspired by Three Real Stories, as Jimmy Lanahan, the husband of homemaker-turned-Playmate Meredith Lanahan (
Lynda Carter). After appearances on such hit series as
The X-Files,
Frasier, and
NYPD Blue, and parts in the major studio releases
Catch Me If You Can and
Analyze That (2002), Finn landed one of his first regular series roles, playing Lieutenant John Stillman on the popular detective program
Cold Case. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide