Jeremy Strong’s Career: From ‘Humboldt County’ to ‘The Apprentice’

Jeremy Strong is widely regarded as one of the most dedicated and intense actors of his generation, known for his deep immersion into the characters he portrays. He built a solid career with a foundation in theater before transitioning to film, steadily gaining recognition for his commitment and transformative abilities. His international fame skyrocketed with his starring role in a critically acclaimed television series, which earned him numerous awards and established him as a formidable leading man.

Throughout his career in film, Strong has frequently appeared in prestigious ensemble casts, working with some of the most respected directors in the industry. He consistently delivers memorable performances in supporting roles, often playing complex and morally ambiguous characters. His work is characterized by a profound intensity that allows him to make a significant impact in every scene, a quality he brings to his recent portrayal of the controversial lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn.

‘Humboldt County’ (2008)

This independent dramedy follows a brilliant but burned-out medical student named Peter who, after a one-night stand, finds himself stranded in a remote and eccentric community of marijuana farmers in Northern California. Cut off from his overbearing academic father, he begins to re-evaluate his life and priorities while living among the town’s quirky residents.

Jeremy Strong stars in the lead role of Peter, the disillusioned UCLA student at the center of the story. His character’s journey is one of self-discovery, as the structured and predictable life he knew is replaced by the free-spirited and unconventional culture of Humboldt County. The film rests on his performance as a man finding himself in an unexpected place.

‘The Happening’ (2008)

This thriller depicts a mysterious and terrifying environmental crisis where an airborne neurotoxin causes people to suddenly and inexplicably take their own lives. The story follows a high school science teacher, his wife, and a friend’s daughter as they attempt to flee Philadelphia and escape the invisible threat that is spreading across the northeastern United States.

Strong appears in a small but memorable role as Private Auster. He is one of the first soldiers the main characters encounter who has a theory about the cause of the phenomenon. His brief scene helps to build the film’s atmosphere of paranoia and uncertainty as the characters struggle to understand the nature of the attack.

‘The Messenger’ (2009)

The film is a powerful drama about two U.S. Army officers who are assigned to the Casualty Notification team. Their difficult and emotionally draining duty is to personally inform the next of kin of soldiers who have been killed in action. The story focuses on the bond that forms between the two men as they navigate the profound grief and anger they face every day.

Strong plays a return soldier who is briefly seen encountering one of the main characters in a store. His appearance is a quiet moment that adds to the film’s realistic portrayal of the lives of soldiers returning from deployment. The role is a small part of the film’s broader examination of the costs of war.

‘The Romantics’ (2010)

This romantic comedy-drama centers on a group of seven close college friends who reunite for the wedding of two of their own, Lila and Tom. The celebration is complicated by the long-simmering love triangle between the bride, the groom, and the maid of honor, Laura. Tensions rise and old feelings resurface on the eve of the wedding.

Jeremy Strong is part of the ensemble cast, playing Pete, one of the college friends who have gathered for the wedding weekend. His character is a member of the groomsmen, known as “The Romantics,” who participates in the drunken late-night revelry that leads to many of the film’s dramatic and comedic confrontations.

‘Lincoln’ (2012)

This historical drama focuses on the final four months of Abraham Lincoln’s life and his tumultuous effort to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which would formally abolish slavery. The film provides an intimate look at the president’s political genius and his struggle to unite a fractured country during the Civil War.

Strong portrays John George Nicolay, who was President Lincoln’s private secretary and a trusted confidant. His character is a constant presence in the White House, working closely with the president on his speeches and correspondence. He is depicted as a loyal and dedicated member of Lincoln’s inner circle during a critical moment in history.

‘Robot & Frank’ (2012)

Set in the near future, this dramedy follows an aging ex-jewel thief named Frank whose health is beginning to decline. His concerned son buys him a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to be a caretaker. Initially resistant, Frank soon discovers that he can train his new robot companion to be his partner in a new series of heists.

Strong plays Jake, a member of the library staff that Frank frequently visits. His character is involved in the library’s modernization, which Frank dislikes. Jake is a minor character who represents the changing world that the film’s elderly protagonist is struggling to adapt to.

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (2012)

The film is a gripping procedural thriller that chronicles the decade-long international manhunt for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the September 11th attacks. The story is told primarily through the eyes of Maya, a determined and obsessive CIA intelligence analyst whose work is instrumental in eventually locating him.

Jeremy Strong plays Thomas, a CIA analyst who works alongside Maya and other members of the agency. He is part of the team at the U.S. embassy in Pakistan that is deeply involved in the intelligence gathering and analysis that drives the search. His character is one of the many dedicated individuals working behind the scenes on the historic mission.

‘Parkland’ (2013)

This historical drama recounts the chaotic events that occurred in Dallas, Texas, on the day of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The film follows a diverse group of ordinary individuals who were suddenly thrust into extraordinary circumstances, including the doctors and nurses at Parkland Hospital, FBI agents, and Abraham Zapruder, who filmed the event.

Strong portrays Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated President Kennedy. The film depicts him in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, showing his capture at the Texas Theatre and his brief time in police custody. The performance focuses on Oswald’s defiant and inscrutable behavior before his own murder two days later.

‘The Judge’ (2014)

The film centers on a successful but arrogant big-city defense attorney, Hank Palmer, who returns to his small Indiana hometown for his mother’s funeral. His visit is extended when his estranged father, the town’s respected judge, is accused of a fatal hit-and-run. Hank must defend his father in court, forcing them to confront their long-strained relationship.

Strong plays Dale Palmer, the main character’s younger brother who is on the autism spectrum. He carries a home movie camera with him at all times, and his old family footage often serves as a window into the family’s fractured past. His character provides a unique and often innocent perspective on the unfolding family drama.

‘Selma’ (2014)

This historical drama chronicles the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The film depicts the tumultuous three-month period of protest and the violent opposition they faced, which ultimately led to President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Strong portrays James Reeb, a white Unitarian Universalist minister and activist from Boston who traveled to Selma to join the movement. The film shows his participation in the protests and the brutal attack that led to his death. His murder brought national attention to the violence in Selma and became a galvanizing moment for the cause.

‘The Big Short’ (2015)

This biographical comedy-drama tells the story of several key players who predicted and profited from the financial crisis of 2007–2008. The film follows a few separate groups of investors and analysts who discovered that the U.S. housing market was a ticking time bomb built on a foundation of fraudulent subprime mortgages.

Jeremy Strong plays Vinny Daniel, one of the members of the investment team at Brownfield Capital, which is led by Steve Carell’s character, Mark Baum. Vinny is one of the loud and cynical analysts who travel the country to investigate the housing bubble. He is part of the core group that uncovers the massive scale of the fraud.

‘Detroit’ (2017)

The film is a tense historical drama that depicts the 1967 Detroit riots, focusing specifically on the Algiers Motel incident. The story recounts a brutal episode of police brutality where three young African American men were killed and others were terrorized by members of the Detroit Police Department and the Michigan National Guard.

Strong portrays Attorney Lang, a lawyer who is part of the legal proceedings that followed the incident. He represents the law enforcement officers who are put on trial for their actions at the motel. His character is a part of the film’s examination of the justice system’s failure to hold the officers accountable.

‘Molly’s Game’ (2017)

This biographical drama tells the true story of Molly Bloom, a former Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade. After being arrested by the FBI, she writes a book and works with a lawyer to navigate the legal consequences of her underground empire, which involved Hollywood celebrities, athletes, and the Russian mob.

Strong plays Dean Keith, the real estate mogul who introduces Molly to the world of underground poker. He is the one who initially hires her to be his assistant and help run his game. His character is a key figure in Molly’s origin story, as his erratic behavior eventually prompts her to start her own, more successful operation.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

This critically acclaimed satirical black comedy-drama series follows the dysfunctional Roy family, owners of the global media and entertainment conglomerate Waystar RoyCo. The story is set in motion when the family’s aging patriarch, Logan Roy, begins to experience health problems, sparking a vicious battle among his children for control of the company.

Jeremy Strong gives an award-winning performance as Kendall Roy, the second-oldest son and the heir apparent who is desperate to prove his worth to his ruthless father. Kendall’s tragic and complex arc is central to the entire series, as he vacillates between loyalty and rebellion in his tortured quest for power and validation.

‘The Gentlemen’ (2019)

This action-comedy film follows an American expatriate who has built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he is looking to cash out of the business, it triggers a series of plots, schemes, and double-crosses from a variety of colorful criminals who want to steal his domain from him.

Strong plays Matthew Berger, a wealthy American billionaire who is a potential buyer for the marijuana business. He meets with the main character to discuss a deal but is also secretly conspiring with another rival to try and devalue the operation so he can buy it for a much lower price.

‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ (2020)

This historical legal drama is based on the true story of a group of anti-Vietnam War protestors who were charged with conspiracy and inciting a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The film focuses on their chaotic and highly politicized trial, which became a flashpoint in the American counterculture movement.

Strong portrays Jerry Rubin, a co-founder of the Youth International Party, known as the Yippies. Alongside Abbie Hoffman, Rubin was one of the most prominent and theatrical defendants in the trial. Strong’s performance captured Rubin’s passionate activism and his defiant attitude toward the court proceedings.

‘Armageddon Time’ (2022)

This coming-of-age drama is a deeply personal story based on the director’s own childhood in Queens, New York, in the 1980s. The film follows a young Jewish-American boy’s friendship with a rebellious African-American classmate and explores themes of family, ambition, and the pursuit of the American Dream against a backdrop of societal change.

Jeremy Strong plays Irving Graff, the family’s stern but loving patriarch, who is a plumber with a short temper. His character is a complex figure who pushes his son to succeed while also harboring his own prejudices. The performance is a nuanced portrayal of a father trying to provide for his family in a changing world.

‘The Apprentice’ (2024)

This biographical drama focuses on the early career of Donald Trump during the 1970s and 1980s in New York City. The film explores his formative years as he works to build his real estate empire. A central part of the story is his crucial and complex relationship with his mentor, the controversial lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn.

Strong portrays Roy Cohn, the brilliant, ruthless, and deeply connected lawyer who takes a young Donald Trump under his wing. He teaches Trump his aggressive tactics for dealing with the media, the legal system, and his political adversaries. Strong’s performance captures the intense and manipulative mentor who was instrumental in shaping his protégé’s rise to power.

Which Jeremy Strong performance do you find the most compelling? Share your thoughts in the comments.