Wallace Langham
A character actor whose sharp wit and distinctive presence made him a memorable fixture on television for over three decades.
Born 1965 (age 61)·American actor·Birthday: March 11·Generation X
Biography
Wallace Langham built a career on being the perfectly cast supporting player, the guy who steals a scene with a dry quip or a prickly demeanor. After early film roles in the 80s, he found his true home on television. His breakout came as the sarcastic head writer Phil on HBO's groundbreaking 'The Larry Sanders Show,' where he mastered the art of the comic aside. He later became a familiar face in primetime, playing Josh Blair on 'Veronica's Closet' and, most enduringly, the brilliant but abrasive lab technician David Hodges on 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' for 15 seasons. Langham possesses a unique ability to make unlikeable characters compelling, often serving as the necessary irritant or intellectual foil in an ensemble. His longevity is a testament to the value of a specific, reliably excellent character actor in Hollywood.
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.
Wallace was born in 1965, 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 Wallace Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Wallace's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the cynical lab technician David Hodges across 15 seasons of 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' and its sequel series 'CSI: Vegas'.
- Played a key supporting role as head writer Phil on the critically acclaimed HBO series 'The Larry Sanders Show'.
- Appeared in notable films including 'Little Miss Sunshine' as a cynical pageant coordinator and 'The Social Network' as a Yahoo! executive.
Did You Know?
He began his acting career under the stage name Wally Ward before switching back to his real name in 1989.
He is a skilled guitarist and has performed musically on occasion.
Langham played a young reporter in the 1985 film 'Weird Science'.
“I've always been drawn to characters who are a little too sure of themselves.”
