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Gary Busey

Gary Busey

Actor, also composer · Born June 29, 1944 (82) · Goose Creek, Texas, USA

William Gary Busey (born June 29, 1944) is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in over 120 films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 1978 for his role in The Buddy Holly Story.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 29, 1944 (82)
From
Goose Creek, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor, also composer
Titles
111 on MovieCove · 170 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Up 4% in 30 days

What are Gary Busey's films like?

Across their 83 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action39 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Thriller5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 7th percentile
: browse their Thriller movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 8th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
24%
Bonds
21%
Self
20%
Survival
15%
Power
10%
Society
9%
Ideas
1%
Survival25 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice19 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds17 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition12 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship10 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty11 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 82 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 35 · Serious 25 · Dark 22

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 42 · Stylized 27 · Heightened 13

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 49 · Intense 20

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 30 · Shifting 41 · Whiplash 11

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 37 · Some laughs 25 · Funny 20

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 49 · Relentless 13

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 50 · Engaged 26 · Full focus 6

Easy watch: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their easy watch movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 43 · Affecting 28 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 67 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 6

Roles they play

59 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 20 of 59 analyzed roles.

Shadow
20 of 59
Hero
9 of 59
Mentor
9 of 59
Trickster
8 of 59
Ally
7 of 59
Threshold guardian
3 of 59
Shapeshifter
2 of 59
Herald
1 of 59
Show the 59 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
57
Absurd
29
Thrilling
26
Melancholic
21
Warm
11
Other
61

How their films linger

Fun38 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 11 with a twist

  • Happy31
  • Bittersweet30
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous14
  • Cyclical2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Gary Busey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 61 of their 111 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (33).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gary Busey's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

170 credits, 111 with a MovieCove page; 38 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dead Janitors Club(2026)

    as George

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Gettysburg Address(2025)

    as John C. Calhoun (voice)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Trick and Treats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Pastor Joseph

  • The Gingerdead Man: Murder-Thon(2025)

    as Millard Findlemeyer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Holy Cash(2024)

    as Actor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Reggie: A Millennial Depression Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Trainer

  • Butcher's Bake Off: Hell's Kitchen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Millard Findlemeyer (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • The Last Sharknado: It's About Time(2018)

    as Wilford Wexler

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Camp Manna(2018)

    as Jack Cujo Parrish

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mamaboy(2016)

    as Coach Dombrowski

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens(2016)

    as Wilford Wexler

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Candiland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Arnie/God

  • The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Alternate Universe Peabody ​(voice)

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Bikini Model Academy(2015)

    as Uncle Seymore

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Mansion of Blood(2015)

    as Zacharia

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Entourage(2015)

    as Gary Busey

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Confessions of a Womanizer(2014)

    as Gary

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Behaving Badly(2014)

    as Chief Clark

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Guido (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Steve Kaufman

  • Bounty Killer(2013)

    as Van Sterling

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Matt's Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Bill

  • Piranha 3DD(2012)

    as Clayton

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Doggiewoggiez! Poochiewoochiez!(2012)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • 2 Everything 2 Terrible 2: Tokyo Drift(2010)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Nite Tales: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Army Man

  • Hallettsville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Sheriff David Ketchum

  • Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew(2008)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Beyond the Ring(2008)

    as Tony De Luca

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Maneater(2007)

    as Grady Barnes

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Homo Erectus(2007)

    as Krutz

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Ultimate Fighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Wizard

  • Succubus: Hell-Bent(2007)

    as Sentinel

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Hard Easy(2006)

    as Vinnie

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Shut Up and Shoot!(2006)

    as Bob Katz

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Dolittle 3(2006)

    as Butch (voice)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Valley of the Wolves: Iraq(2006)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Descansos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as The Keeper

  • Cloud 9(2006)

    as Gary Busey

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Crooked(2006)

    as John Rouse

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Making of: The Gingerdead Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • The Gingerdead Man(2005)

    as Millard Findlemeyer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Yesenin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 11 episodes · as Зингер (бывший муж Дункан)

  • Buckaroo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Dr. Brawn

  • Into the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 6 episodes · as Johnny Fox

  • Shade of Pale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Billings

  • Chasing Ghosts(2005)

    as Marcos Alfiri

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Busey (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • No Rules(2005)

    as Leroy Little

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Motocross Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Viper

  • Tom Goes to the Mayor(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach Red Harris (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • El padrino(2004)

    as Lars

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Latin Dragon(2004)

    as Thorn

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Entourage(2004)

    Show 3 episodes · as Gary Busey

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Ghost Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jack Pickett

  • If Love Hadn't Left Me Lonely (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Mesdeg

  • Fallacy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Border Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as LAPD medium Michael March

  • High Chaparall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Two and a Half Men(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Busey

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Frost: Portrait of a Vampire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Micah

  • I'm with Busey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • The Brendan Leonard Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Quigley(2003)

    as Archie Channing

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Welcome 2 Ibiza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Cortez

  • Penn & Teller: Bullshit!(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Russians in the City of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 3 episodes · as March

  • The Prize Fighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Whitey Ferguson

  • On the Edge(2002)

    as Felix

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Hooded Angels(2002)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Sam & Janet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Bartender

  • Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice(2002)

    as Richmond Claremont

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Down 'n Dirty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as D. A. Mickey Casey

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Busey

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • A Crack in the Floor(2001)

    as Tyler Trout

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • G-Men from Hell(2000)

    as Lt. Langdon

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Huntress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Two Shades of Blue(1999)

    as Jack Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Hot Boyz(2000)

    as Tully

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Tribulation(2000)

    as Tom Canboro

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • No Tomorrow(1999)

    as Noah

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang(1999)

    as The Hooded Fang

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Girl Next Door(1998)

    as Sheriff Larson

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Soldier(1998)

    as Church

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Detour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mo Ginsburg

  • Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms(1998)

    as Otto Mazur

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas(1998)

    as Highway Patrolman

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Rough Draft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Nelson Keece

  • Steel Sharks(1997)

    as Cmdr. Bill McKay

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Rage(1997)

    as Art Dacy

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Rough Riders(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gen. Joseph Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Plato's Run(1997)

    as Plato

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Suspicious Minds(1997)

    as Vic Mulvey

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Lethal Tender(1996)

    as Mr. Turner

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Lost Highway(1997)

    as Bill Dayton

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Mad Dog (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Chain(1996)

    as Frank Morrisey

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Sticks & Stones(1996)

    as Book's Dad

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Black Sheep(1996)

    as Drake Sabitch

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Carried Away(1996)

    as Major Nathan Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Real Thing(1996)

    as Foreman

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Man with a Gun(1995)

    as Jack Rushton

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Ezra Burnham

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The History of Rock 'n' Roll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 11 episodes · as Narrator

  • Drop Zone(1994)

    as Ty Moncrief

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Warriors(1994)

    as Frank Vail

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Chasers(1994)

    as Sergeant Vince Banger

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Surviving the Game(1994)

    as Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Breaking Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Dwight

  • South Beach(1993)

    as Lenny

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Fallen Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as 'Buzz' Meeks

  • Rookie of the Year(1993)

    as Chet Steadman

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Firm(1993)

    as Eddie Lomax

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Donovan Riggs

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Under Siege(1992)

    as Commander Krill

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Canvas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Ozzy Decker

  • The Player(1992)

    as Gary Busey

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Chrome Soldiers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Jim 'Flash' Gordon

  • Wild Texas Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Justice Parker

  • Point Break(1991)

    as Agent Angelo Pappas

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys(1991)

    as Clint Hornby

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Predator 2(1990)

    as Peter Keyes

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Tommy Vega

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Busey (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Neon Empire(1989)

    as Frank Weston

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Neon Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frank Weston

  • Hider in the House(1989)

    as Tom Sykes

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • A Dangerous Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 3 episodes · as Tony O'Neil

  • Act of Piracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Ted Andrews

  • Bulletproof (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Frank 'Bulletproof' McBain

  • Lethal Weapon(1987)

    as Mr. Joshua

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Let's Get Harry(1986)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Half a Lifetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Bart

  • Eye of the Tiger(1986)

    as Buck Matthews

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Silver Bullet(1985)

    as Uncle Red

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Insignificance(1985)

    as The Ballplayer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Bear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Paul W. Bryant

  • D.C. Cab(1983)

    as Dell

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Rev. Nolan Powers

  • Barbarosa(1982)

    as Karl Westover

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Foolin' Around(1980)

    as Wes

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Carny(1980)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Set-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Big Wednesday(1978)

    as Leroy "The Masochist" Smith

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Buddy Holly Story(1978)

    as Buddy Holly

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Straight Time(1978)

    as Willy Darin

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • A Star Is Born(1976)

    as Bobbie Ritchie

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Gumball Rally(1976)

    as Gibson (Camaro Team)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Nashville(1975)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • You and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Baretta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as William Bright

  • Thunderbolt and Lightfoot(1974)

    as Curly

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Execution of Private Slovik(1974)

    as Jimmy Feedek

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Blood Sport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as David Lee Birdsong

  • Hex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Giblets

  • The Last American Hero(1973)

    as Wayne Jackson

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Lolly-Madonna XXX(1973)

    as Zeb Gutshall

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Dirty Little Billy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Basil Crabtree

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Josh

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Magnificent Seven Ride!(1972)

    as Hank Allan

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Angels Hard as They Come(1971)

    as Henry

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Didn’t You Hear? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as James

  • Wild in the Streets(1968)

    as Concert Attendee (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The High Chaparral (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Rafe

  • The Love-Ins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Hippie with Loudspeaker (uncredited)

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Johnson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Harve Daley

  • Downtown Bus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Gruce Gissler

  • The Hand Job (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Blind Master

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 169 titles, 167 of them dated from 1955 to 2026; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

The Firm (1993)

$270M worldwide

Highest rated

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

19552026

Peak 1986 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 23 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting168 of 169: 168 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score37thMusic1 of 169: 1 only music, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s21 · 20 acting · 1 crew1980s19 · acting1990s44 · acting2000s55 · acting2010s17 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 23% of 47 roles
68788388939808

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Gary Busey's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 31st percentile, the median of all 95; across their 82 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 82

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 82

Reach · how many have seen their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 82

Midcredits score across 111 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th22
  • Below 25th48

Shape of the crowd

42 of their 111 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned5
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive11
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser33
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed42

Most divisive · actor

The Gettysburg Address (2025)

98th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Midcredits 96th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 54/100 in their films, across 76 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 34. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Gary Busey's work okay for kids?

Across up to 29 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore19 titles26–89 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity29 titles15–67 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity19 titles46–86 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs17 titles31–71 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense17 titles20–79 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Gary Busey work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gary Busey's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Fred Williamson shares the most, 3.

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Mixed roles