Daniel von Bargen was born on June 5, 1950, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Juanita (Bustle) and Donald L. von Bargen, of German and English descent. He spent most of his childhood in Cincinnati before moving with his family to Southern California. Von Bargen attended Purdue University, where he majored in drama. After graduation, he joined the Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island, and worked with them for many years.
A breakthrough role in Larry Gelbart's Mastergate in 1992 launched him onto Broadway. He also starred in off-Broadway productions of "Beggars in the House of Plenty", "Macbeth", "The Cherry Orchard", "Hurlyburly", and "Uncle Vanya". On television, he was best-known for his roles in Malcolm in the Middle and The West Wing.
Von Bargen's role in The Postman as the Pineview sheriff who suspects Kevin Costner's character of being a fraud, was a standout performance. He infused the role with the pathos of a man caught between just trying to survive and wanting to believe in the hope the Postman represents. In an otherwise mediocre film, audiences were moved to tears as his character shouts, "Ride Postman! Ride!", just before being put to death for assisting in the rebellion.
In contrast, his role in Clive Barker's Lord of Illusions as Nix, an older, wiser, more magical and supernaturally gifted type of Charles Manson character rising from the dead to "murder the world", showcased his more evil side.
