Daniel von Bargen (born June 5, 1950) is an American film, stage, and television actor.

While probably best known as Commandant Edwin Spangler in the TV comedy Malcolm in the Middle, Von Bargen's film credits include RoboCop 3, Basic Instinct, Broken Arrow, Philadelphia, A Civil Action, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Snow Falling on Cedars, and Super Troopers. He played the maniacal sorcerer Nix in Clive Barker's Lord of Illusions, and the Sherriff in The Postman. He also played Mr. Kruger, George Costanza's boss at Kruger Industrial Smoothing, on the final season of Seinfeld, appearing in the famous "Festivus" episode. (He had what was intended as a recurring character on The West Wing, as a high-ranking Air Force official, but schedule conflicts caused his character to be dropped after two appearances.) His distinguished stage career includes a long residency with Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island; he appeared in the premiere of Larry Gelbart's Mastergate and other plays at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and made his Broadway debut when the show went to New York.

Daniel Von Bargen was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 5, 1950. He grew up there for most of his childhood, before moving with his family to Southern California. He attended Purdue University, majoring in drama. Daniel joined the Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island after graduation, and worked with them for many years. A breakthrough role in "Mastergate" by Larry Gelbart launched him onto Broadway stages. He has also starred in off-Broadway productions of "Beggars in the House of Plenty," "Macbeth," "The Cherry Orchard," "Hurlyburly," and "Uncle Vanya." On TV, he is best known for his roles in "Malcolm in the Middle" (2000) and "West Wing, The" (1999). A seemingly typecast actor, he's often playing a military officer or policeman.

A character actor who seems to pop up everywhere as the sterotypical cop, military officer and/or tough guy, Von Bargen can nevertheless turn in performances of stunning complexity when given the chance. His role in The Postman as the Pineview sheriff who suspects Kevin Costner's character of being a fraud, was a stand-out as Von Bargen enfused the role with the pathos of a man caught between just trying to survive and wanting to believe in the hope the Postman represents. His performance, which was an amalgam of characters from the Novel, contained just the perfect blend of world-weary skepticism and desperate hope. In an otherwise mediocre film, audiences were moved to tear up as his character shouts "Ride Postman! Ride!" just before being put to death for assisting in the rebellion. His more evil side was brought out in Clive Barker's Lord Of Illusions as he played an Nix, older, wiser, more magical and supernatuerally gifted type of Charlie Manson charcter rising from the dead to "Murder the world." Many people don't remember him, but do remember his name and recall his characters distinctly and their lines, such as him calling Michael douglas "shooter" all the time in Basic Instinct. Von Bargen is at his best when he is permitted to layer an otherwise forgettable character with a subtle and poignant humanity he often conveys merely with his eyes or change of voice. By rights, he should be one of our most celebrated character actors. Here's hoping his talents are put to good use in the future!