Cast & creator
Buck Henry
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Mike Douglas Show
Buck Henry (born Henry Zuckerman; December 9, 1930 – January 8, 2020) was an American actor and filmmaker. His contributions to film included, his work as a co-director on Heaven Can Wait (1978) alongside Warren Beatty, and his work as a co-writer for Mike Nichols's The Graduate (1967) and Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up, Doc? (1972). His long career began on television with work on shows with Steve Allen in The New Steve Allen Show (1961). He went on to co-create Get Smart (1965-1970) with Mel Brooks, and hosted Saturday Night Live 10 times from 1976 to 1980. Henry later guest starred in such popular shows as Murphy Brown, Hot in Cleveland, Will & Grace, and 30 Rock. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award, for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Graduate (1967) and for Best Director for Heaven Can Wait (1978) alongside Warren Beatty.
Also known as: Henry Zuckerman, Buck Henry Zuckerman, 巴克·亨利
91
film credits
32
television credits
91
1959–2025 · acting roles
6.3
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (123)
Showing 123 of 123 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Mr. Morton
1999
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
1975
30 Rock
Dick Lemon
2006
Falcon Crest
Foster Glenn
1981
Will & Grace
Leonard
1998
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
Get Smart
Writer
1965Get Smart
Story Editor
1965Get Smart
Teleplay
1965Get Smart
Creator
1965
Hot in Cleveland
Fred
2010
Murphy Brown
Dr. Victor Rudman
1988
Tales from the Crypt
George
1989
Franklin & Bash
Judge Henry Dinsdale
2011
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Walter Lang
1985The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Writer
1985
Eek! The Cat
Cupid (voice)
1992
Get Smart
Characters
2008
The Graduate
Room Clerk
1967The Graduate
Screenplay
1967
Dilbert
Dadbert (voice)
1999
ABC Stage 67
Writer
1966
Captain Nice
Writer
1967Captain Nice
Executive Producer
1967Captain Nice
Creator
1967
Serendipity
Customer at Bloomingdales (uncredited)
2001
The Player
Buck Henry
1992
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self
2011
Grumpy Old Men
Snyder
1993
To Die For
Mr. H. Finlaysson
1995To Die For
Screenplay
1995
Candy
Mental Patient (uncredited)
1968Candy
Screenplay
1968
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Oliver Farnsworth
1976
Catch-22
Lt. Col. Korn
1970Catch-22
Screenplay
1970
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
Self
2010
What's Up, Doc?
Screenplay
1972
The Humbling
Screenplay
2014
Quark
Dignitary (uncredited)
1977Quark
Writer
1977Quark
Creator
1977
Short Cuts
Gordon Johnson
1993
Defending Your Life
Dick Stanley
1991
Heaven Can Wait
The Escort
1978Heaven Can Wait
Director
1978
The Nude Bomb
Characters
1980
Great Railway Journeys
Self - Presenter
1980
A Bird of the Air
Duncan Weber
2011
Harrison Bergeron
TV Producer
1995
The Last Shot
Lonnie Bosco
2004
The Day of the Dolphin
Man Standing Outside Women's Club (uncredited)
1973The Day of the Dolphin
Screenplay
1973
The Owl and the Pussycat
Man Looking Through Doubleday's Bookstore (uncredited)
1970The Owl and the Pussycat
Screenplay
1970
Breakfast of Champions
Fred T. Barry
1999
American Swing
Self
2009
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Dr. Dreyfus
1994
The New Show
1984
Gloria
Jack Dawn
1980
The Real Blonde
Dr. Leuter
1998
The Secret War of Harry Frigg
Stockade Commandant
1968
Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles
Self - Actor
2014
I'm Losing You
Phillip Dagrom
1998
The Bridge
Voice of American Soldier
1959
Town & Country
Suttler
2001Town & Country
Writer
2001
Eating Raoul
Mr. Leech
1982
Curtain Call
Charles Van Allsburg
1998
Casting By
Self
2012
Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary
Self
1989
Mastergate
Clay Fielder
1992
Tune in Tomorrow...
Father Serafim
1990
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self
2013
Old Boyfriends
Art Kopple
1979
Playboy: The Story of X
Self - Host
1998
Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration
Self
1979
Steve Martin Live!
Self
1984
A Fuller Life
Self - Reader (segment "The Pursuit of Happiness")
2013
Taking Off
Larry Tyne
1971
1999
Mr. Goldman
1997Is There Sex After Death?
Dr. Louise Manos
1971
It Came from Kuchar
Self
2009
I Miss Sonia Henie
Doctor
1971I Miss Sonia Henie
Writer
1971I Miss Sonia Henie
Director
1971
Hot to Trot
Fred's Dad
1988
The Absent-Minded Waiter
Bernie Cates
1977
The Linguini Incident
Cecil
1991
Aria
Preston
1987
Students of 'The Graduate'
Self
2007
Lisa Picard Is Famous
Buck Henry
2000
The Best of John Belushi
Various Characters
1985
Get Smart: A Man Called Smart
Writer
1967
Protocol
Screenplay
1984
The Lounge People
Lewis Louis
1992
The Directors: Milos Forman
Self
2000
Shotgun Freeway: Drives Through Lost L.A.
self
1995Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
Self (uncredited)
2002
First Family
Father Sandstone / TV Anchorman
1980First Family
Director
1980First Family
Writer
1980
Students of 'The Graduate'
Himself
2007
'The Graduate' at 25
Self
1992
Cinemaville
Self
2007
Mary Woronov: Cult Queen
Self
Rude Awakening
Lloyd Stool
1989Untitled Get Smart Reboot
Characters
The Republic Pictures Story
Self
1991
Shakespeare's Plan 12 from Outer Space
The Priest
1996
The Troublemaker
T. R. Kingston
1964The Troublemaker
Screenplay
1964The Troublemaker
Original Story
1964
The Graduate at 25
Himself
1992
Strong Medicine
1981
Keep the Change
Smitty
1992
Psycho Path
Self
1999
SEGAL
Self
2025
Kiss Kiss Fingerbang
Cat Owner
2015
Passion for Snow
Narrator
2013