Born in Winnetka, IL; educated at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and the Actors Studio. His grandfather was George Dern, former Governor of Utah & FDR's first Secretary of War, and his uncle was poet Archibald Macleish. Character player since the 1960s who has often been typecast in psychotic roles. Dern has occasionally proved himself an engaging lead, particularly in Douglas Trumbull's poignant science-fiction fable, SILENT RUNNING (1971). One of the select few to kill actor John Wayne on screen (THE COWBOYS, 1972), he even received some death threats because of it. Other notable credits include HUSH... HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE (1964), THE WILD ANGELS (1966), THE WAR WAGON and WATERHOLE #3 (both 1967), WILL PENNY, HANG 'EM HIGH, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF!, and THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY? (all 1969), BLOODY MAMA (1970), THE COWBOYS and THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS (both 1972), THE LAUGHING POLICEMAN (1973), THE GREAT GATSBY (1974), SMILE and POSSE (both 1975), FAMILY PLOT (1976), BLACK SUNDAY (1977), THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON (1982), THE 'BURBS (1989), MULHOLLAND FALLS (1996 - uncredited), THE HAUNTING (1999), ALL THE PRETTY HOUSES (2000), MADISON (2001), MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA, MASKED & ANONYMOUS and MONSTER (all 2003), THE HARD EASY and DOWN IN THE VALLEY (both 2005), WALKER PAYNE, BELIEVE IN ME and THE ASTRONAUT FARMER (all 2006), THE CAKE EATERS and "Big Love" (TV series) (both 2007), and CHATHAM and SWAMP DEVIL (both 2008). Formerly married (1960 - 1969) to actress Diane Ladd and father of actress Laura Dern (b. 1966).  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1978: COMING HOME 1 nomination