ACTOR · BORN 1957
Ted Levine
- Born
- 29 May 1957, Parma, Ohio, USA
- Known for
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Flubber (1997), Bleed for This (2016), Wild Wild West (1999)
24 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Ted Levine (born 29 May 1957) is an actor best known for The Silence of the Lambs, Flubber and Bleed for This.
24 Interesting Facts About Ted Levine
Interesting Facts (6)
- #001
Starred in a movie called Ellen Foster (1997). He also costarred with Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). The one scene that they had together was when Buffalo Bill had night vision goggles and was hunting her in his own house, was spoofed in Mr. Monk and the Blackout (2004)(#3.3).
- #002
The voice of Chris Griffin in Family Guy (1999) is based on him.
- #003
Has worked with both Clarice Starlings. He appeared in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) with Jodie Foster and, ten years later, he appeared in Evolution (2001) with Julianne Moore, who played Clarice Starling earlier that year in Hannibal (2001).
- #004
Ted and his Silence of the Lambs co-star, Scott Glenn, have both portrayed America's first man in space, Alan Shepard; Levine in the Tom Hanks-produced HBO mini series "From the Earth to the Moon," and Glenn in the 1984 Philip Kaufman film "The Right Stuff.".
Ted Levine: a sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · Kristin Dos Santos from Los Angeles, California, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 - #005
Has worked with two Jack Crawfords. Prior to appearing in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) with Scott Glenn, he appeared in the television series Crime Story (1986), produced by Michael Mann and starring Dennis Farina, who played Jack Crawford in Manhunter (1986). Also featured in this series was Stephen Lang, who played Freddy Lounds in Manhunter (1986).
- #006
After appearing in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), he appeared in Heat (1995), which was directed by Manhunter (1986) director Michael Mann and featured Manhunter villain Tom Noonan.
Production Story (1)
- #007
The voice of Chris Griffin in Family Guy (1999) is based on him.
Behind the Scenes (1)
- #008
While filming The Silence of the Lambs (1991), he and Brooke Smith, who played his hostage, became close friends due to having so many scenes together without any other cast members. Consequently, costar Jodie Foster began referring to Smith as "Patricia Hearst", a reference to the heiress who was abducted by a domestic terrorist organization in 1974 and eventually turned to the side of her captors.
Characters & Cast (2)
- #009
After his terrifying turn as "Buffalo Bill" in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), he's had some trouble getting parts other than sadistic psychopaths. He generally tries to choose parts more along the lines of ordinary family men and unfriendly co-workers to get away from the creepy shadow of "Buffalo Bill".
- #010
Ted and his Silence of the Lambs co-star, Scott Glenn, have both portrayed America's first man in space, Alan Shepard; Levine in the Tom Hanks-produced HBO mini series "From the Earth to the Moon," and Glenn in the 1984 Philip Kaufman film "The Right Stuff.".
Easter Eggs & References (1)
- #011
While filming The Silence of the Lambs (1991), he and Brooke Smith, who played his hostage, became close friends due to having so many scenes together without any other cast members. Consequently, costar Jodie Foster began referring to Smith as "Patricia Hearst", a reference to the heiress who was abducted by a domestic terrorist organization in 1974 and eventually turned to the side of her captors.
Career & Awards (8)
- #012
After appearing in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), he appeared in Heat (1995), which was directed by Manhunter (1986) director Michael Mann and featured Manhunter villain Tom Noonan.
- #013
Appeared in two films with Will Smith: Wild Wild West (1999) and Ali (2001).
- #014
Over the years, he has co-starred with four actors from TV's Prison Break (2005) - with William Fichtner in Heat (1995), Dominic Purcell in Moby Dick (1998), Wade Williams in Ali (2001) and Paul Adelstein in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005).
- #015
After his terrifying turn as "Buffalo Bill" in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), he's had some trouble getting parts other than sadistic psychopaths. He generally tries to choose parts more along the lines of ordinary family men and unfriendly co-workers to get away from the creepy shadow of "Buffalo Bill".
- #016
He was nominated for a 1996 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for "Buried Child" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.
- #017
Has been friends with Sam Shepard and William Petersen since their early theater collaborations in the late 1970s.
- #018
He was nominated for a 1996 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for "Buried Child" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.
- #019
Starred with Debra Monk in Ellen Foster (1997). He later starred as Captain Leland Stottlemeyer in Monk (2002).
Life & Family (5)
- #020
Has been friends with Sam Shepard and William Petersen since their early theater collaborations in the late 1970s.
- #021
Has a daughter named Melissa (b. 1976) and a son named Mac (b. 1988) with different women.
- #022
Like Sex and the City (1998) star Chris Noth ("Mr. Big"), he attended Marlboro College in Vermont for a time in the 1970s.
- #023
His father was of Russian Jewish descent. His mother had English ancestry.
- #024
Has a daughter named Melissa (b. 1976) and a son named Mac (b. 1988) with different women.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work