You know the face. Honestly, even if the name Paul Guilfoyle doesn’t immediately ring a bell, you have definitely seen him. He’s that guy. The one who shows up in a high-stakes thriller as a weary detective, or in a prestige drama as a high-powered lawyer with a secret. He has this uncanny ability to make a two-minute scene feel like a whole movie.
Most people recognize him as Captain Jim Brass. For fourteen years, he was the backbone of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. But pinning him down as just a "TV cop" is a massive mistake. His career is a sprawling, decades-long masterclass in character acting that covers everything from cult horror to Oscar-winning biopics.
The Brass Era and the CSI Phenomenon
Let’s talk about Jim Brass for a second. When CSI kicked off in 2000, Brass was actually written a bit like an antagonist. He was the "old school" detective clashing with the "new school" scientists. But Guilfoyle didn't want to play a one-dimensional foil. He fought for the character. He famously admitted in interviews that he’d occasionally throw scripts across the room if they felt too formulaic.
He wanted Brass to have an internal life. That’s why the character evolved from a grumpy supervisor into the team's most loyal ally. Over 300 episodes, we saw him deal with a messy divorce and a troubled daughter, Ellie. It wasn't just about the case of the week; it was about the toll the job took on a man’s soul. He even came back for the series finale, Immortality, and the 2021 revival, CSI: Vegas, because you simply can't have that universe without his dry wit.
👉 See also: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
Paul Guilfoyle Movies: The 90s Character Actor King
If you look at the 1990s, Guilfoyle was basically everywhere. Seriously. He was the ultimate "utility player" for big-name directors.
Take L.A. Confidential (1997). He plays Mickey Cohen, the notorious mob boss. He’s only on screen for a short time, but he looms over the entire plot. That same year, he popped up in Air Force One as Lloyd Shepherd, the Chief of Staff. Think about that range. One minute he’s a terrifying gangster, the next he’s a buttoned-up Washington insider.
Here’s a quick look at some of his most essential film work:
✨ Don't miss: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
- Spotlight (2015): He played Pete Conley. This role earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble.
- Don’t Look Up (2021): He was General Themes. You remember him—he was the guy who charged the protagonists for free snacks. It was a hilarious, cynical bit of satire.
- Session 9 (2001): This is a cult classic. If you like psychological horror, his performance as Bill Griggs in an abandoned asylum is unsettling in the best way.
- Mrs. Doubtfire (1993): He was the head chef. A tiny role, but it shows he can do comedy just as well as hard-boiled drama.
- Hoffa (1992): He worked alongside Jack Nicholson, playing Ted Harmon.
Beyond the Badge: TV Roles You Forgot
Everyone knows the police procedurals, but Guilfoyle has a weirdly deep resume in sci-fi and prestige drama. Did you catch him in Star Trek: Discovery? He played "Carl," who turned out to be the humanoid avatar of the Guardian of Forever. It was a massive nod to original series lore, and he brought a strange, whimsical gravity to the part.
He also had a recurring stint on The Good Fight as Henry Rindell. It was a complete 180 from Jim Brass. Instead of the guy catching the criminals, he was a man caught in a massive financial scandal, looking broken and vulnerable.
More recently, he showed up in Evil as Archbishop Kirby. He has this way of playing authority figures where you’re never quite sure if they’re holy or hiding something terrible. It’s a specific kind of tension that very few actors can pull off without saying a word.
🔗 Read more: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
Why He Still Matters in 2026
The reason Paul Guilfoyle movies and tv shows continue to trend is because he represents a dying breed of actor. He isn't a "brand." He isn't a "personality." He’s a craftsman. He spent twelve years with the Theatre Company of Boston. He did Broadway with Al Pacino in Richard III. That stage background is why he can hold his own against giants like Harrison Ford or Robert De Niro.
Lately, he’s been working on indie projects like Any Day Now (2025), where he plays Marty Lyons, a character based on a real-life art thief. It’s a "Boston" movie, which is fitting since he’s a Boston native. He’s also in Arthur the King (2024), showing that even in his 70s, he isn't slowing down.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you want to truly appreciate his work, don't just stick to the procedurals.
- Watch the indies: Session 9 is mandatory viewing for horror fans.
- Look for the "ensemble" wins: His work in Spotlight and L.A. Confidential shows how he builds a world around the lead actors.
- Check out his voice work: He even voiced characters in the Prototype video game and Justice League Unlimited.
Next time you see that face on screen, stay for the credits. It’s almost certainly Paul Guilfoyle, and he’s probably about to give the best performance in the room.
To see his most recent work, check out the digital release of Any Day Now or his guest appearances in the final seasons of Evil. You can also stream the original CSI on most major platforms to see the 14-year evolution of Jim Brass.