With Armageddon Time rolling out into theaters this winter, Jeremy Strong's star continues to rise. After years of building up his resume with strong turns in small and ing parts, the Succession actor finds himself in Oscar contention with his latest role as a Jewish father in James Gray's personal film.
Opposite the likes of Ryan Gosling, Jessica Chastain, and Robert Downey Jr. to name a few, Strong has proven his worth as an actor who strengthens every project he's in. Here are his best roles, according to reviews on IMDb.
10 The Judge (2014) - 7.4
A legal drama set in small-town Indiana, The Judge begins when a troubled big-city lawyer returns home to attend his mom's funeral. That said, his troubles don't stop at home, having to deal with his messy family dynamics and an ailing father, who happens to be the local judge.
Strong plays the lawyer's mentally challenged younger brother Dale, who uses a Super 8 camera to record everything he sees. In a demanding role, Strong's striking performance meshes with the rest of the ensemble cast that includes Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton, and the legendary screen actor Robert Duvall.
9 Zero Dark Thirty (2012) - 7.4
A thriller based on true events, Zero Dark Thirty examines the decade-long manhunt for Osama bin Laden through the eyes of Maya Harris, a fictional CIA analyst. Through betrayals, attacks, and dead ends, Maya pushes to find a lead believed to be lost.
In an ensemble that includes Chris Pratt, Kyle Chandler, and Joel Edgerton in one of his best movies, Strong plays Thomas, a CIA analyst going over intelligence reports Maya meets shortly after arriving at a black site. The film was nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
8 Molly’s Game (2017) - 7.4
Adapted from the memoir of the same name, Molly's Game follows a former world-class skier who builds her own poker ring. When the games begin getting too big for Molly to control, she finds former players, the FBI, and the mafia bearing down on her.
Strong appears early in Molly's story as Dean Keith, a real estate developer who's the one that initially brings Molly into the world of underground poker and ultimately fires her when she gains too much influence. Strong's turn as the ostentatious money man effectively carries the story along next to performances from Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, and Michael Cera in one of his best movies.
7 Selma (2014) - 7.5
A historical drama depicting events from the 1965 Civil Rights Movement, Selma follows the march in the titular city led by Martin Luther King Jr. After multiple attempts to a march that lead to verbal abuse, injuries, and death, the group prevailed in securing federal approval for one and successfully pressured Congress to eliminate voting restrictions.
In a small but vital role, Strong plays James Reeb, a Unitarian Universalist pastor who shows up to the second march attempt and ultimately gets killed by a mob shortly before the approved march. The Academy Award-nominated film also features early career performances from Tessa Thompson, Stephan James, and LaKeith Stanfield.
6 The Trial Of The Chicago 7 (2020) - 7.7
The Trial Of The Chicago 7 focuses on a group of anti-Vietnam War activists who, while they hold different motivations for protesting the Democratic National Convention, find themselves in the courtroom having to be on the defense against charges of crossing state lines to incite a riot.
Playing one of the titular seven, Strong appears as Jerry Rubin, the eclectic leader and a founding member of the Yippies. Nominated for six Academy Awards, Strong holds his own with the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Eddie Redmayne.
5 The Gentlemen (2019) - 7.8
The Gentlemen begins when a once violent wholesale cannabis dealer looks to sell off his operation and retire peacefully with his wife. However, this sets off a series of blackmail attempts and schemes to undermine his operation, putting him on the defense while looking for an out.
Strong stars as a prospective billionaire buyer Matthew Berger, who's looking to get the best deal he can for the marijuana empire. Opposite Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant, and Henry Golding in one of his best roles, Strong shines as a cold, calculated businessman.
4 The Big Short (2015) - 7.8
Set before and through the 2008 financial crisis, The Big Short tracks the groups of hedge fund managers, financial executives, and investors who see the writing on the wall and try and financially gain from the impending market crash no one else acknowledges.
Opposite Steve Carell's Mark Baum, Strong plays Vinny Daniel a confrontational member of Baum's team who eventually persuades Baum to cash out. Other prominent of the ensemble cast include Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, and Ryan Gosling in one of his best movies.
3 Masters Of Sex (2016) - 7.9
Taking place over the course of the 1950s and 1960s, Showtime's Masters Of Sex loosely follows the work of the Masters and Johnson research team, one that pioneered research in treating sexual disorders and studied the nature of sexual responses in human beings.
Strong enters the show in its final season as psychologist Dr. Art Dreesen, a new collaborator whose open relationship with his co-worker and wife Nancy complicates the work environment for Masters and Johnson. Aside from stars Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, other prominent actors that appeared on the show over its four seasons include Beau Bridges, Allison Janney, and Sarah Silverman.
2 The Good Wife (2011-2013) - 8.4
The Good Wife, considered one of TV's best legal dramas, picks up on the life of Alicia Florrick, a former lawyer who returns to the profession as a junior litigator after her State Attorney husband Peter Florrick goes to jail for a corruption and sex scandal.
In a recurring part, Strong plays pollster Matt Becker, who helps out Peter's campaign in The Good Wife's second season due to his distaste for Peter's opponent. Blending right into the tone of the show, Strong's performance sizes up well alongside other recurring stars like Michael J. Fox, Nathan Lane, and Margo Martindale.
1 Succession (2018-) - 8.8
Against the backdrop of the corporate workplace, Succession centers on the Roy family, the owners, and heirs to legacy media conglomerate Waystar Royco. The series begins after the patriarch of the family's health is called into question, refueling rivalries into who should lead the company following his departure.
Strong stars as Kendall Roy, the second-eldest son who struggles to earn his father's approval while battling with substance abuse issues and trying to manage business deals on his own. For his complex portrayal of a broken man attempting to piece himself back together, Strong won an Emmy Award in 2020 and a Golden Globe in 2022.
