Where Is the Cast of ‘Fargo’ Today?

FARGO, Frances McDormand, 1996 — Everett Collection

Fargo opened in U.S. theaters on March 8, 1996, and at first, it didn’t look like the kind of movie that would be talked about decades later. Set against a stark Midwestern winter and built around awkward moments as much as big crimes, it became a cult classic.

The film went on to win two Academy Awards, Best Actress for Frances McDormand and Best Original Screenplay for Joel and Ethan Coen, and slowly became one of those titles people return to over and over again. In the years that followed, many of the film’s actors went on to some of their most notable work in movies and television, helping define the decades that followed. Here’s where the main cast of Fargo went next.

Frances McDormand (68)

Marge Gunderson

Gramercy Pictures/Everett Collection; Jerod Harris/Getty Images

Frances McDormand won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Marge Gunderson, a role that became one of the defining screen performances of the 1990s. McDormand continued working largely in character-driven projects. Following Fargo, she appeared in films such as Almost Famous, Wonder Boys and Burn After Reading. She later won two additional Academy Awards, for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in 2018 and Nomadland in 2021. McDormand has also remained active on stage and continues to collaborate frequently with the Coen brothers. She has been married to Joel Coen since 1984.

William H. Macy (75)

Jerry Lundegaard

Gramercy Pictures/Everett Collection; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

William H. Macy received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Jerry Lundegaard. In the years immediately following Fargo, Macy became a familiar presence in major ensemble films, including Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Jurassic Park III. His most widely recognized role came later as Frank Gallagher on Shameless, which ran for eleven seasons from 2011 to 2021. The series gave Macy one of the longest sustained roles of his career and earned him multiple Emmy nominations.

Steve Buscemi (68)

Carl Showalter

Gramercy Pictures/Everett Collection; Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Steve Buscemi’s performance as Carl Showalter further established him as one of the most distinctive character actors of his era. After Fargo, Buscemi continued his close working relationship with the Coen brothers, appearing in The Big Lebowski and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. He later starred as Nucky Thompson on Boardwalk Empire from 2010 to 2014, a role that earned him a Golden Globe Award and marked a rare leading television role. In addition to acting, Buscemi has directed both film and television projects.

Peter Stormare (72)

Gaear Grimsrud

Everett Collection; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Paramount+

Peter Stormare’s largely silent performance as Gaear Grimsrud became one of the most unsettling elements of Fargo. After the film, Stormare developed a career specializing in intense roles. His post-Fargo work includes appearances in films such as The Big Lebowski, Minority Report, and Constantine, as well as recurring roles in television series such as Prison Break. Stormare has also done extensive voice and motion capture work for video games.

John Carroll Lynch (62)

Norm Gunderson

Gramercy Pictures/Everett Collection; Amy Sussman/Getty Images

After the film, Lynch became a prolific character actor in both film and television. His notable credits include Zodiac, Gran Torino, and multiple seasons of American Horror Story, where he often played darker, more disturbing characters. Lynch also portrayed Drew Carey‘s brother in The Drew Carey Show. In recent years, he has added directing to his resume while continuing to act consistently.

In Memoriam

Gramercy Pictures/Everett Collection

Harve Presnell, who portrayed Wade Gustafson, died on June 30, 2009, at the age of 75 from pancreatic cancer. Following Fargo, Presnell appeared in films including Saving Private Ryan and Flags of Our Fathers.

Where to watch Fargo

Fargo is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, or to rent or purchase digitally on major platforms and on DVD and Blu-ray.

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