# David Patrick Kelly
**David Patrick Kelly** (born 1951) is an American character actor whose career spans film, television, and the stage. He made his film debut as Luther, the taunting leader of the Rogues gang, in [Walter Hill](https://www.edgepedia.org/walter-hill)'s *The Warriors* (1979), and is also known for playing Jerry Horne in [David Lynch](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-lynch) and [Mark Frost](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-frost)'s *Twin Peaks* and its 2017 revival, T-Bird in *The Crow* (1994), and Charlie in the *John Wick* films.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) Alongside his screen work he has maintained a substantial theater career, winning an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence.[3](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/david-patrick-kelly/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1951, Detroit, Michigan, to Margaret Elizabeth (Murphy) and Robert Corby Kelly, Sr., an accountant[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Breakthrough role | Luther, leader of the Rogues, in *The Warriors* (1979), his film debut[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) |
| Signature villain roles | Sully-type antagonist in *Commando* (1985), T-Bird in *The Crow* (1994), Doyle in *Last Man Standing* (1996)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Television | Jerry Horne in *Twin Peaks* (1990–1991 and 2017); Paul Chambers in *Succession* (2018–2023); Miller Portnoy in *Only Murders in the Building* (2025)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Theater honors | Obie Award for Sustained Excellence; Connecticut Critics' Circle Award for *Tartuffe*[3](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/david-patrick-kelly/) |
| *Once* | Originated the role of Da at New York Theatre Workshop (2011) and on Broadway (2012); sang and played mandolin on the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) |
| Music | Album *David Patrick Kelly: Rip Van Boy Man* (2008); appeared as a cop on the 2024 *Warriors* concept album by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) |
## Early life
Kelly was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Margaret Elizabeth (Murphy) and Robert Corby Kelly, Sr., an accountant.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true) His stage work began early: he appeared in *Hair* at the Vest Pocket Theatre in 1970 and in *The Rocky Horror Show* at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway in 1975, and performed in off-off-Broadway productions including *Mr. Jello* (1974) and *C.O.R.F.A.X. (Don't Ask)* at La MaMa in 1975.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) As a composer and musician he participated in New York's rock and cabaret scene, writing the music for the title song of George Birimisa's *Mr. Jello*, produced at La MaMa in 1974.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/)
## Film career
Kelly's screen career began with *The Warriors* (1979), in which he played Luther, the devious leader of the leather-clad gang "The Rogues" in Walter Hill's New York City gang film. The role's taunting call of "Warriors, come out to plaaayyy" came from his debut on-screen performance and became one of his best-remembered moments.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true) He worked with Hill again in *48 Hrs.* (1982), playing Luther Kelly opposite [Eddie Murphy](https://www.edgepedia.org/eddie-murphy) and [Nick Nolte](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-nolte).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true)
**Villain roles.** His small, wiry physique and intense screen presence made him a frequent choice for antagonists in genre films.[4](https://www.fandango.com/people/david-patrick-kelly-342393) He was dropped over a cliff by [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://www.edgepedia.org/arnold-schwarzenegger) in *Commando* (1985), was a member of a trio of killers pursuing [Harry Dean Stanton](https://www.edgepedia.org/harry-dean-stanton) in David Lynch's *[Wild at Heart](https://www.edgepedia.org/wild-at-heart-film)* (1990), and played T-Bird, leader of a gang of arsonist murderers, in *The Crow* (1994).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true) A critic's survey in *TV Insider* also notes his performance in the science-fiction thriller *Dreamscape* (1984) as a would-be assassin who attacks the President through his dreams.[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-patrick-kelly/)
His other film credits include *Hammett* (1982), *Malcolm X* (1992), *Crooklyn* (1994), *Flirting with Disaster* (1996), *Last Man Standing* (1996), *Songcatcher* (2000), *K-PAX* (2001), *The Longest Yard* (2005), *Flags of Our Fathers* (2006), in which he played President Truman, *John Wick* (2014) and *John Wick: Chapter 2* (2017) as Charlie, and [Spike Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/spike-lee)'s *Chi-Raq* (2015) as Major King Kong.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true) In *Adieu, Lacan* (2022) he played the psychoanalyst [Jacques Lacan](https://www.edgepedia.org/jacques-lacan).[6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-19082/filmographie/)
## Television
Kelly's television work stretches from *Sanctuary of Fear* (1979) and *Miami Vice* (1985) through decades of New York-shot series, including the *Law & Order* franchise, *Gossip Girl* (2008–2011), *Louie* (2010), *Blue Bloods* (2015), and *The Blacklist* (2015).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) His most prominent television role is Jerry Horne in *Twin Peaks*, which he played in the original 1990–1991 series and reprised in four episodes of the 2017 [Showtime](https://www.edgepedia.org/showtime-tv-network) revival *Twin Peaks: The Return* directed by David Lynch.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) • [6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-19082/filmographie/) He also provided his voice to the audiobook release of *The Secret History of Twin Peaks*.[7](https://twinpeaks.fandom.com/wiki/David_Patrick_Kelly) More recently he played Paul Chambers in *Succession* (2018–2023), Matty Galloway in *Ray Donovan: The Movie* (2022), and Miller Portnoy in *Only Murders in the Building* (2025).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true) • [6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-19082/filmographie/)
## Theater
Kelly's stage career runs parallel to his screen work and includes many of his most substantial roles. On Broadway he has appeared in *Twelfth Night* (as Feste in [Lincoln Center](https://www.edgepedia.org/lincoln-center)'s 1998 revival), *Uncle Vanya* (2000), *The Government Inspector* (1994), *Working*, *The Suicide*, *Is There Life After High School*, and *Festen* (2006).[3](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/david-patrick-kelly/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) [Off-Broadway](https://www.edgepedia.org/off-broadway) credits include *Henry VI*, *The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui*, Richard Foreman's *Pearls for Pigs*, *The Mind King*, *Film Is Evil/Radio Is Good*, *The Cure*, and *Miss You Like Hell* at the Public Theater in 2018.[3](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/david-patrick-kelly/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/)
**Once and later musicals.** Kelly originated the role of Da in *Once*, both at New York Theatre Workshop in 2011 and in the original Broadway production in 2012, and sang and played mandolin on the production's Grammy Award-winning soundtrack.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) In 2022 he played the Narrator and the Mysterious Man in the *Into the Woods* revival at Encores! and on Broadway, continuing with the 2023 national tour.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) In 2024 he played King Sextimus the Silent in the Broadway revival of *Once Upon a Mattress* and Morten Kiil in the Broadway revival of *An Enemy of the People*.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/)
His regional and resident-theater work includes the title roles in *Woyzeck* and *Tartuffe* at Hartford Stage Company, *The Tempest* at the American Conservatory Theatre, *Iphigenia* at the Huntington Theatre, and productions at the American Repertory Theater in [Cambridge, Massachusetts](https://www.edgepedia.org/cambridge-massachusetts), including the title role of *Enrico IV* and *Snow in June*.[3](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/david-patrick-kelly/) His performance as Tartuffe earned a Connecticut Critics' Circle Award, and he was named Best Actor by *Boston Magazine* for *Enrico IV* and *Seascape*; he also holds an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence.[3](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/david-patrick-kelly/)
## Music
Beyond his acting, Kelly has worked as a composer and performer. He released the album *David Patrick Kelly: Rip Van Boy Man* in 2008, featuring original music and live recordings from his club performances in 1975.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/) In 2024 he appeared as a cop on *Warriors*, a concept album by [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://www.edgepedia.org/lin-manuel-miranda) and Eisa Davis based on the film that launched his career.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/)
## References
1. [David Patrick Kelly, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446314/?showAllCredits=true)
2. [David Patrick Kelly, Broadway & Theatre Credits, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Patrick-Kelly/)
3. [David Patrick Kelly, American Repertory Theater biography](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/david-patrick-kelly/)
4. [David Patrick Kelly, Fandango biography](https://www.fandango.com/people/david-patrick-kelly-342393)
5. [David Patrick Kelly, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-patrick-kelly/)
6. [David Patrick Kelly: Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-19082/filmographie/)
7. [David Patrick Kelly, Twin Peaks Wiki](https://twinpeaks.fandom.com/wiki/David_Patrick_Kelly)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames I to Kh*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license