Daniel Jacob Stern (born August 28, 1957) is an American actor, artist, director, comedian, and screenwriter. In film, he starred as Marv in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Phil Berquist in City Slickers (1991) and City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994). His other films include Breaking Away (1979), Stardust Memories (1980), Diner (1982), Blue Thunder (1983), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), Coupe de Ville (1990), and Very Bad Things (1998). He made his feature-film directorial debut with Rookie of the Year (1993).
In 2023, Stern joined the cast of the Apple TV sci-fi series For All Mankind in the leading role of Eli Hobson. His other television roles include voicing adult Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Years and Dilbert from the animated series of the same name.
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Early life
Daniel Jacob Stern was born on August 28, 1957, in Bethesda, Maryland to Cynthia and Leonard Stern. His father was a social worker while his mother managed a day care center. Stern is Jewish. His brother is television writer David M. Stern. During his years at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Stern starred in several theater productions, including playing Chuck Baxter in Promises, Promises and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. He applied for a job as a lighting engineer for a Shakespeare Festival in Washington, D.C., but was hired as a walk-on in their production of The Taming of the Shrew, starring Glenn Close. Stern dropped out of high school in his senior year and soon moved to New York. After taking acting lessons at HB Studio with Austin Pendleton and Herbert Berghof, Stern began his acting career in Off Broadway and Broadway productions, including True West with Gary Sinise and How I Got That Story at Second Stage Theatre with Bob Gunton. Stern acted in numerous productions at The Public Theater, Ensemble Studio Theater, Cherry Lane Theater, and Manhattan Theater Club.
Career
In 1979, Stern made his film debut as Cyril in Breaking Away. The following year, Stern played a student who raised objections during Jill Clayburgh's proof of the snake lemma in the film It's My Turn. His breakthrough role as Laurence "Shrevie" Schreiber came in Barry Levinson's Diner (1982). He was the novice observer Richard Lymangood in the 1983 action thriller film Blue Thunder. Stern had another early film role in the 1984 horror film C.H.U.D., as the soup kitchen C.H.U.D. hunter. Stern appeared in two films with Woody Allen, Stardust Memories (1980) and Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). His other roles during this time included The Boss' Wife (1986), Born in East L.A. (1987), D.O.A. (1988), Coupe de Ville (1990), and My Blue Heaven (1990). He also appeared as Herbie Platt in Robert Redford's The Milagro Beanfield War (1988).
From 1988 to 1993, Stern provided the voice of the narrator on the television series The Wonder Years, which starred Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold. As narrator, Stern played the adult Kevin Arnold, remembering his youth. Stern and Savage were also featured together in Little Monsters (1989), in which Stern played the father of Savage's character.
Stern has played characters in a number of comedic roles, such as Marv the burglar in the first two Home Alone films, Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), with Joe Pesci, and Phil Berquist in City Slickers (1991) and City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994). He also starred as Phil Brickma in Rookie of the Year (1993), Max in Bushwhacked (1995), and Mike in Celtic Pride (1996).
In 1998, Stern took on a more serious role in the black comedy Very Bad Things with Christian Slater, Cameron Diaz and Jon Favreau. Stern provided the voice for the main character of the Dilbert animated television series, based on the comic strip by Scott Adams.
Stern directed several episodes of The Wonder Years, as well as the film Rookie of the Year, and in recent years directed two episodes of the television series, Manhattan. Stern created, wrote, and starred in the CBS television show Danny.
Stern wrote the off-Broadway hit Barbra's Wedding, which was produced by The Dodgers and Manhattan Theater Club. It starred John Pankow and Julie White and ran for six months. Stern also appeared in the play at Garry Marshall's Falcon Theater.
Personal life
Stern is a cattle and citrus farmer, and also works as an artist, specializing in bronze sculpture. He has created sculptures for California public art projects in San Diego, Pasadena, Palm Desert, Temple City, Monrovia, and Agoura Hills. Stern is an artist in residence at Studio Channel Islands Art Centre in Camarillo. He has also done many private commissions, gallery exhibitions and art fairs. Stern married actress Laure Mattos in 1980, and they have three children, one of whom is California State Senator Henry Stern.
On December 10, 2025, Stern was involved in an alleged prostitution sting in Ventura County, California, and was issued a misdemeanor citation; he was not arrested or taken into custody. The charge was later dismissed.
Filmography
Memoir
Stern, Daniel (2024). Home and Alone. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-63228-121-0.
