David Rysdahl
Birth dateApril 2, 1987 (age 39)
Birth placeNew Ulm, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma materSt. Olaf College
Occupation
  • Actor
  • Screenwriter[1]
SpouseZazie Beetz (m. 2023)
Years active2015–present

David Rysdahl (born April 2, 1987) is an American actor and screenwriter.[1] He is best known for his lead role in the fifth season of the television series Fargo and for his starring roles in the fantasy drama film Nine Days (2020) and the thriller film No Exit (2022). He also appeared in Oppenheimer (2023).

Early life and career

Rysdahl was born to Gigi and Dr. Scott Rysdahl. He has two brothers and a sister.[2] He grew up in New Ulm, Minnesota, where he attended Cathedral High School.[3] After briefly working in public health in Guatemala, he became more interested in acting as a career. He was cast in a stage production of Hamlet at the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minnesota.[4][5]

After moving to New York, Rysdahl starred in short films. In 2018, he starred in Cathy Yan’s comedy-drama Dead Pigs. In 2020, he appeared in the fantasy drama film Nine Days,[5] and in 2022, he starred in the thriller No Exit.[4][6] His other credits include the Netflix docuseries The Family,[7] episode 4, season 6 of Netflix's Black Mirror, season 5 of the FX series Fargo[8] and the indie feature The Land of Owls.[9] He played American chemist Donald Hornig in Christopher Nolan's 2023 biopic Oppenheimer.[10][11]

Personal life

As of February 2022, Rysdahl lives in Harlem.[4]

Rysdahl met actress Zazie Beetz at an acting workshop, and they began dating around 2014.[12] They started a production company called Sleepy Poppy.[4][13] The couple married in 2023.[14]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2015That's Not UsSpencer[15]
2017The RevivalEli
2018Dead PigsSean Landry[16]
2020Nine DaysMike[5]
2021The Land of OwlsTheo[9]
2022No ExitLars[4][6]
2023OppenheimerDonald Hornig[11]
BoogerSnake
2024The Luckiest Man in AmericaTodd[17]
TBASoulm8tePost-production[18]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2016Next Big ThingTomTV movie
2017BullWes2 episodes[2][3]
2018GuapEricTV movie
2019The FamilyJeff Sharlet3 episodes[7]
2023Black MirrorNathanEpisode: "Mazey Day"
2023–2024FargoWayne LyonSeason 5 main role[19]
2025Alien: EarthArthur SylviaMain cast[20]

References

  1. ^ "David Rysdahl". MUBI. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
  2. ^ Schuldt, Clay (April 30, 2017). "New Ulm natives Rysdahl, Sperl succeeding in entertainment". The Journal (New Ulm)
  3. ^ Sweeney, Kevin (November 30, 2017). "Off the Record: New Ulm getting its chance in front of the camera in March". The Journal. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Sblendorio, Peter (February 22, 2022). "'No Exit' star David Rysdahl on his new suspense movie and how NYC launched his show biz career". Daily News
  5. ^ "Local actor returns with special screening". The Journal (New Ulm). August 16, 2021.
  6. ^ Castro, Marysol & Molina, Juan Carlos (22 February 2022). "'No Exit': Actor David Rysdahl talks transformation for new movie on Hulu". WPIX
  7. ^ Seale, Jack (August 15, 2019). "The Family: inside the sinister sect that has infected western democracy". The Guardian
  8. ^ Porter, Rick (October 13, 2022). "'Fargo' Season 5 Rounds Out Regular Cast Ahead of Production Start". Hollywood Reporter
  9. ^ Franz, Benjamin (December 10, 2021). "The Land of Owls". Film Threat
  10. ^ Grobar, Matt (March 4, 2022). "Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer Casts No Exit Star David Rysdahl (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived April 17, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  11. ^ Couch, Aaron (March 4, 2022). "'Oppenheimer' Casts 'No Exit' Star David Rysdahl (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter
  12. ^ Kemp-Habib, Alice (November 7, 2021). "Zazie Beetz: 'I remember thinking, am I not black enough?'". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  13. ^ Beetz, Zazie & Rysdahl, David (December 3, 2021). "Tiny Desk Playlist: Zazie Beetz and David Rysdahl's favorite Tiny Desk concerts". – via NPR
  14. ^ "Instagram"
  15. ^ Mintzer, Jordan (2015-07-07). "'That's Not Us': Frameline Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  16. ^ Kenny, Glenn (February 12, 2021). "Dead Pigs movie review & film summary (2021)". RogerEbert.com
  17. ^ Ford, Lily (May 9, 2024). "Paul Walter Hauser to Star in Game Show Drama Feature Press Your Luck". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  18. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 13, 2024). "David Rysdahl Joins Lilly Sullivan In 'SOULM8TE', Domestic Thriller Out Of 'M3GAN' Universe". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  19. ^ Otterson, Joe (13 October 2022). "'Fargo' Season 5 at FX Adds Four to Cast". Variety
  20. ^ Grobar, Matt (November 28, 2023). "Noah Hawley's 'Alien' Adds David Rysdahl". Deadline. Retrieved 2 March 2026.