
John Lacy
Acting • Born 1965-08-29
Biography
John Lacy (born August 29, 1965) is an American actor-director-writer living in Los Angeles. John was born in Iowa City where his father, the writer Robert Lacy, studied at the Iowa Writer's Workshop under the mentor-ship of Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Yates, alongside fellow students and notable writers, Andre Dubus, William Harrison, Theodore Weesner, and detective novelist James Crumley. The family settled in Minneapolis after Robert took a position working for the State Capitol as a speech writer for the late Senator Nick Coleman. John's mother, Lyn Ellen Lacy is an accomplished educator and published author, specializing in children's' visual literacy. His older brother, Peter Lacy, works as an innovator in corporate culture integration in Seattle, WA; and his older sister, Ruth Grim, is a museum curator in Daytona, Florida. John's acting career began in 1988, initially showing up in beer commercials and music videos. After extensive study, stage work, and commitment to the Meisner technique, his roles improved considerably, booking several guest starring roles on a handful of Miller/Boyett Production situation comedies. Then came John's first significant film role, cast as 'Fector' in Nancy Savoca's anti-war love story Dogfight. Since then, John's stock has risen steadily year after year, appearing in all of television's top rated programs while continuing a substantial and recognizable presence in television commercials, and supporting roles in several notable films, most recently, Just Mercy. His powerful performance as Howard Madson in the 2019 FX series American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace drew considerable critical acclaim. John has also established a reputation as a career coach and motivational speaker for aspiring talent getting in to the entertainment business. His acting studio in Burbank, The Lacy Group Acting Studio, has been instrumental in developing and cultivating some of the most promising young actors in Hollywood. John has been married to Karin Lacy since 1994. They have three sons. John created the critically acclaimed Crime Noir web series The Reveal... using over 30 actors from his acting studio, The Lacy Group. He followed that up with another web series creation, The Adventures of Hollywood & Vine, a screwball comedy depicting a pair of struggling actor roommates' daily struggles. His feature film debut, Custody Road, won Best Editing at the Auckland International Film Festival and streamed on Amazon Prime, GooglePlay, iTunes. His second feature, Rosebud Lane, is scheduled for release in August, 2021.
Filmography
67 credits
Live Free or Die Hard
Movie • 2007
EMT

Red State
Movie • 2011
Travis' Father

Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
Movie • 1991
Hilton Security

Angels in Stardust
Movie • 2014
Business Man

Helter Skelter
Movie • 2004
CHP Officer

Bull Run
Movie • 2025
Blair Raney

Half Past Dead 2
Movie • 2007
Murphy

When He's Not a Stranger
Movie • 1989
Football Player #1

Zodiac
Movie • 2007
Zodiac 4

Joker: Folie à Deux
Movie • 2024
Arkham Guard

Carnal Innocence
Movie • 2011
Junior

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Movie • 1993
Nunnemacher

Dogfight
Movie • 1991
Fector

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip
Movie • 2015
Owner

Backyards & Bullets
Movie • 2007
Detective Lars Andressen

All We Are
Movie • 2018
James

Just Mercy
Movie • 2019
Bill

The Wrong Husband
Movie • 2019
Detective Grant

Hitchcock
Movie • 2012
First Guard

Earth Angel
Movie • 1991
Jock

Everyone Asked About You
Movie • 2025
Jack

Frankenstein
Movie • 2015
Mark Rubin

Wild Card
Movie • 1992

The Congress
Movie • 2013
Gate Guard (voice)

Shark
TV • 2006
Terry Burns

Justice
TV • 2006

Desperate Housewives
TV • 2004
Detective Beckerman

Monk
TV • 2002
Coach Chauncey

Bones
TV • 2005
Bill Dowd

Doogie Howser, M.D.
TV • 1989

24
TV • 2001
Marshall Holtzman

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
ATF Special Agent John Calder

American Dreams
TV • 2002

Family Matters
TV • 1989
Barry

Criminal Minds
TV • 2005
Officer Jeff Bedwell

NCIS
TV • 2003
Ranger Kett

Big Love
TV • 2006
Security-System Installer

The Mentalist
TV • 2008
Kyle Rayburn

Over There
TV • 2005
Principal Howard

Free Spirit
TV • 1989

Major Crimes
TV • 2012
Jimmy Bosch

American Horror Story
TV • 2011
Mikey

Rizzoli & Isles
TV • 2010
Dustin Williams

Hell on Wheels
TV • 2011
Virgil Farnsworth

Weeds
TV • 2005
Bruce

Heroes
TV • 2006
Detective

ER
TV • 1994
Kevin Poole

Sons of Anarchy
TV • 2008
Ken Haas

Snowfall
TV • 2017
Larry

Grey's Anatomy
TV • 2005
Zack

American Crime Story
TV • 2016
Howard Madson

For the People
TV • 2018
Dave

House
TV • 2004
Dr. Dave Thomas

9-1-1
TV • 2018
Officer Reynolds

Psych
TV • 2006
Edward Tripp

Touch
TV • 2012
Jerry Woods

Chicago Fire
TV • 2012
Billy Nicholson

Malcolm in the Middle
TV • 2000
Spectator

Coach
TV • 1989
Skip

White Famous
TV • 2017
Officer Smiley

Private Practice
TV • 2007
Jim Davies

NCIS: Los Angeles
TV • 2009
Security Chief Oaks

Numb3rs
TV • 2005
Police Detective

Las Vegas
TV • 2003
Guard

The Secret Life of the American Teenager
TV • 2008

Saving Grace
TV • 2007
Wayne Wilson

Matlock
TV • 1986
Lester