David Rysdahl (born April 2, 1987) is an American actor and screenwriter. He is best known for his lead role in the fifth season of the television series Fargo, his supporting role in the television series Alien: Earth, and for his starring roles in the fantasy drama film Nine Days (2020) and the thriller film No Exit (2022). He also appeared in Oppenheimer (2023).
Early life Rysdahl was born to Gigi and Scott Rysdahl. He has two brothers and a sister. He grew up in New Ulm, Minnesota, where he attended Cathedral High School. After briefly working in public health in Guatemala, he became more interested in acting as a career.
Rysdahl attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he majored in chemistry. Career Rysdahl was cast in a stage production of Hamlet at the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minnesota.
After moving to New York, Rysdahl starred in short films. In 2018, he starred in Cathy Yan’s comedy-drama Dead Pigs. In 2020, he appeared in the fantasy drama film Nine Days, and in 2022, he starred in the thriller No Exit. His other credits include the Netflix docuseries The Family, episode 4, season 6 of Netflix's Black Mirror, season 5 of the FX series Fargo, and the indie feature The Land of Owls. He played American chemist Donald Hornig in Christopher Nolan's 2023 biopic Oppenheimer. In 2025, Rysdahl played a supporting role as Arthur Sylvia in the FX series Alien: Earth, reuniting him with Fargo creator Noah Hawley.
Personal life
As of February 2022, Rysdahl lives in Harlem.
Rysdahl met actress Zazie Beetz at an acting workshop, and they began dating around 2014. They started a production company called Sleepy Poppy. The couple married in 2023.
Filmography Film + Year Title RoleNotesRef. 2015 That's Not Us Spencer 2017 The Revival Eli 2018 Dead Pigs Sean Landry 2020 Nine Days Mike 2021 The Land of Owls Theo 2022 No Exit Lars2023 Oppenheimer Donald Hornig Booger Snake 2024 The Luckiest Man in America Todd 2026 Soulm8te David Wasson
Television YearTitleRoleNotesRef. 2016 Next Big Thing Tom TV movie 2017 Bull Wes 2 episodes 2018 Guap Eric TV movie 2019 The Family Jeff Sharlet 3 episodes 2023 Black Mirror Nathan Episode: "Mazey Day" 2023–2024 Fargo Wayne Lyon Season 5 main role 2025 Alien: Earth Arthur Sylvia Main cast (season 1)
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