Brian Thompson was born on August 28, 1959, in Ellensburg, Washington. He was raised in Longview, Washington. Thompson studied business management at Central Washington University, where he developed an early interest in acting by participating in several school productions. During his time at the university, he also played collegiate football. After graduating, he moved to California and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree. Initially, Thompson aspired to pursue a career in musical theater and performed in a production of The King and I staged by the Riverside Civic Light Opera.
Thompson made his film debut with a small but career-launching role in James Cameron’s The Terminator (1984), playing a punk gang member. Following this, he found a niche playing villains in science fiction, horror, and thriller genres. Notable early television appearances include roles in Knight Rider, Street Hawk, and Otherworld, where he consistently portrayed tough or antagonistic characters.
Known for his distinctive facial features, Thompson has often been cast in intense, physically imposing roles. According to the actor, his look has been both an asset and a limitation—helping him secure parts in action-packed roles while making it less likely for him to be cast in more subdued or "geeky" roles. He rarely, if ever, portrayed calm or unassuming characters.
One of Thompson’s most recognizable performances came in 1986 with the film Cobra, starring Sylvester Stallone. Despite receiving mostly negative critical reviews, the film was a commercial success. He continued to play compelling characters in both film and television through the 1990s, appearing in titles such as Rage and Honor (1992) and the series Key West (1993), in which he played a sheriff across its 13-episode run—a role he described as one of his personal favorites.
| Birth Date: | 28 Aug, 1959 |
| Age: | 60 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Ellensburg |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor |
| Net Worth 2021: | 4 million |
