Keith Gordon

Keith Gordon, born on February 3, 1961, in New York City, is a distinguished American actor and film director. He hails from a Jewish family with atheistic beliefs, and his passion for acting ignited at the age of twelve after witnessing James Earl Jones perform in the Broadway classic Of Mice and Men.

Gordon's acting career took off with his first film role as the humorous Doug in Jaws 2 (1978). He later showcased his talent in Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical film All That Jazz (1979), portraying a younger version of protagonist Joe Gideon, played by Roy Scheider. He worked with celebrated director Brian De Palma in Home Movies (1979) and the thriller Dressed to Kill (1980). However, he is perhaps best known for his role as Arnie Cunningham in John Carpenter's 1983 horror film Christine, based on Stephen King's novel. Other notable performances include Lloyd Muldaur in the cult classic The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) and Jason Melon in the comedy Back to School (1986). Gordon's portrayal of nerdy characters earned him recognition as one of Cinematical's Top 7 Most Convincing Nerds.

Transitioning to directing, Gordon made his debut with The Chocolate War in 1988, a film addressing student rebellion against strict school hierarchies. His directorial portfolio includes the anti-war drama A Midnight Clear (1992), Mother Night, Waking the Dead, and the acclaimed series The Singing Detective. He has directed episodes for prominent TV shows like Homicide: Life on the Street, Dexter, and Fargo, solidifying his reputation in both film and television. Gordon's most recent film appearance was in the 2001 movie Delivering Milo.