You probably know Larry Birkhead as the guy who won that high-stakes, international paternity battle over Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, Dannielynn. It was everywhere. For months in 2007, you couldn't turn on a TV without seeing his face next to a DNA test result. But since the dust settled, Birkhead hasn't exactly chased the A-list movie star life. He didn't run off to be a leading man in rom-coms or try to land a gritty detective role on a network procedural. Instead, his "career" in front of the camera has been a weird, fascinating mix of high-profile documentaries and some truly unexpected reality TV cameos.
Honestly, Larry Birkhead movies and tv shows aren't what you’d call a traditional filmography. He’s a photographer by trade. But when you’re the father of the most famous baby in the world for a hot minute, the producers come knocking. Most of his screen time has been dedicated to telling his side of the Anna Nicole story or raising Dannielynn in the public eye—but on his own terms.
The Reality TV Years: From Wife Swap to Matchmakers
After the intense legal drama died down, Birkhead stayed in the spotlight, but it felt different. He wasn't the "paternity claimant" anymore; he was just a single dad in Kentucky. Then came 2014. That was a big year for him in the reality circuit.
He showed up on Celebrity Wife Swap, which was a wild choice. He traded lives with Indy 500 driver Helio Castroneves. It was a classic "fish out of water" setup. You had Larry, this laid-back Southern guy who focuses entirely on his daughter, swapping with a high-octane racing champion. It gave people a glimpse into his actual life in Louisville—messy kitchen, school runs, the whole bit.
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Then he did The Millionaire Matchmaker with Patti Stanger. If you’ve seen the show, you know Patti is intense. She basically grilled him about his dating life—or lack thereof. He was 41 at the time and seemed genuinely stuck. It’s hard to date when your previous relationship is a matter of public record and your daughter is a mini-clone of a global icon. He also popped up on Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry. That episode was heavy. Tyler Henry supposedly connected with Anna Nicole, and Larry looked visibly shaken but also weirdly comforted. It’s the kind of TV that feels a bit invasive but also explains why people still follow his journey.
Larry Birkhead Movies and TV Shows: The Documentary Work
If you're looking for "acting," you won't find it. But if you want to understand the man, the documentaries are where he actually puts in the work. He doesn't just do interviews; he often produces or provides the primary narrative.
The big one is the 2020 Lifetime docuseries Hopelessly in Love: Anna Nicole Smith and Larry Birkhead. This wasn't some tabloid hit piece. Larry was deeply involved, sharing old home movies and personal photos that nobody had ever seen. It painted a much more complicated picture of their relationship than the "one-night stand" narrative the media pushed for years. He’s also been a staple on 20/20 and Good Morning America for their annual "Life After Anna" updates.
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A List of Key Appearances
- Hopelessly in Love (2020) – This is arguably his most definitive "role."
- Celebrity Wife Swap (2014) – Swapping lives with Helio Castroneves.
- The Millionaire Matchmaker (2014) – Seeking dating help from Patti Stanger.
- Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry (2016) – A spiritual "reconnection" episode.
- Life After Anna – An E! Network special that followed his early days of fatherhood.
- Steve Harvey & The Wendy Williams Show – Frequent guest spots to talk parenting.
- Entertainment Tonight & Access Hollywood – He’s basically their go-to source for anything related to the Anna Nicole estate.
Why He Turned Down Netflix
It’s worth noting what he isn't in. In 2023, Netflix released a documentary called Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me. Larry famously slammed it. He told ET Online he refused to participate because it felt like a "poorly reviewed cesspool." He even deleted his and Dannielynn’s joint Instagram photos temporarily to distance them from the project.
This tells you a lot about his "acting" career. He isn't doing this for the SAG card. He’s doing it to protect a brand—not his own, but his daughter’s. Every time he appears on a show like The Oprah Winfrey Show or Larry King Live, it feels less like a celebrity chasing fame and more like a guy protecting a legacy. He’s very picky. He doesn't want Dannielynn to see a version of her mother that’s just "the tragic blonde."
The Future of the Birkhead Brand
So, will we ever see a Larry Birkhead movie? Probably not. He’s mentioned in interviews that he’s not pushing Dannielynn into acting yet either, even though she’s had plenty of offers. They do their annual Kentucky Derby appearance—which is basically a TV event in itself at this point—but they mostly live a quiet life.
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If you’re looking to binge-watch his stuff, start with the Lifetime series. It’s the most "human" he’s ever been on screen. It moves past the tabloid headlines and actually looks at the grief and the chaos of that era.
If you want to keep up with what Larry and Dannielynn are doing without waiting for a new TV special, the best way is actually through their social media or the annual Kentucky Derby coverage every May. He tends to use those platforms to share authentic updates rather than scripted TV roles. You can also check out his older photography work if you want to see what he was doing before the cameras turned on him.