Diego Klattenhoff
A versatile character actor who brings grounded intensity to roles as military men and federal agents on high-stakes television.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Canadian actor·Birthday: August 21·Generation X
Biography
Diego Klattenhoff emerged from the small fishing community of French River, Nova Scotia, with a work ethic forged in blue-collar jobs before he ever faced a camera. His early career was a slow burn of guest spots and minor roles, including a memorable turn as the crush-worthy Shane Oman in the teen comedy classic 'Mean Girls.' The breakthrough came with television's shift toward complex, morally ambiguous storytelling. As Mike Faber, the loyal Marine husband in the first season of 'Homeland,' Klattenhoff provided the emotional anchor to a world of paranoia. This led to his defining role as FBI Agent Donald Ressler on 'The Blacklist,' where for nearly a decade he played the straight-arrow rule-follower perpetually unnerved by James Spader's criminal mastermind. Klattenhoff's strength lies in his ability to convey deep conviction and simmering conflict with a quiet, physical presence, making him a bedrock performer in some of TV's most tense dramas.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Diego was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Diego Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Diego's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a central role as FBI Special Agent Donald Ressler across all seasons of the hit NBC drama 'The Blacklist.'
- Portrayed Marine Captain Mike Faber in the first season of the critically acclaimed series 'Homeland.'
- Appeared in the cult film 'Mean Girls' as Shane Oman, a role that gained lasting recognition.
- Held a series regular role on the CW drama 'Whistler' early in his career.
Did You Know?
He worked as a landscaper and a roofer before pursuing acting full-time.
Klattenhoff is an avid ice hockey player and fan.
He is of German and French-Canadian descent.
His first major acting job was on the Canadian series 'The Newsroom' in the late 1990s.
“I learned more about acting from working construction than from any class.”
