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Richard Crenna

Richard Crenna

Actor and director, also producer · Died January 17, 2003, aged 76 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Richard Donald Crenna (November 30, 1926 – January 17, 2003) was an American motion picture, television, and radio actor and occasional television director. He starred in such motion pictures as The Sand Pebbles, Wait Until Dark, Body Heat, the first three Rambo movies, Hot Shots! Part Deux, and The Flamingo Kid. Crenna played "Walter Denton" in the CBS radio and CBS-TV network series Our Miss Brooks, and "Luke McCoy" in ABC's TV comedy series, The Real McCoys, (1957–63), which moved to CBS-TV in September 1962. Crenna was in one of the few TV political dramatic series Slattery's People on CBS. Crenna played "Colonel Trautman" in the first three Rambo movies. He also played "Frank Skimmerhorn" in the critically acclaimed mini-series Centennial.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 30, 1926
Died
January 17, 2003 (aged 76)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Actor and director, also producer
Titles
69 on MovieCove · 129 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 29% in 30 days

What are Richard Crenna's films like?

Across their 61 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Thriller 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
30%
Bonds
20%
Self
16%
Survival
15%
Power
11%
Society
7%
Ideas
1%
Justice20 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival12 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 59 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 15 · Serious 19 · Dark 25

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 39 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 7

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 10 · Charged 21 · Intense 28

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

Steady 23 · Shifting 32 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 40 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 7

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 40 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 25 · Engaged 29 · Full focus 5

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 21 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 18

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

Resolved 52 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

52 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 20 of 52 analyzed roles.

Hero
20 of 52
Mentor
12 of 52
Ally
6 of 52
Shadow
6 of 52
Herald
3 of 52
Trickster
2 of 52
Threshold guardian
2 of 52
Shapeshifter
1 of 52
Show the 52 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
40
Melancholic
22
Dread
16
Warm
15
Joyful
8
Other
53

How their films linger

Feel-good20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy25
  • Bittersweet25
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous5

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 Richard Crenna's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 69 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Richard Crenna'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

129 credits, 69 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Rambo(2008)

    as Col. Samuel Trautman (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Out of the Ashes(2003)

    as Jake Smith

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Day Reagan Was Shot(2001)

    as Ronald Reagan

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • By Dawn's Early Light(2001)

    as Ben Maxwell

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For(2000)

    as Warren Pierce

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 12 episodes · as Jared Duff

  • To Serve and Protect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Howard Carr

  • To Serve and Protect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Howard Carr

  • Wrongfully Accused(1998)

    as Fergus Falls

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Heart Full of Rain(1997)

    as Arliss Dockett

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Deep Family Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Clay Chadway

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea(1997)

    as Professor Aronnax

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Real Las Vegas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Narrator (voice)

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Race Against Time: The Search for Sarah(1996)

    as John Porter

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Sabrina(1995)

    as Patrick Tyson

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Jade(1995)

    as Governor Edwards

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Harmon Rabb Sr. (voice)

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • In the Name of Love: A Texas Tragedy(1995)

    as Luke Constable Sr.

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • A Pyromaniac's Love Story(1995)

    as Tom Lumpke (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Janek: The Silent Betrayal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Frank Janek

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Rockwell

  • Jonathan Stone: Threat of Innocence(1994)

    as Jonathan Stone

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Forget-Me-Not Murders(1994)

    as Frank Janek

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Hot Shots! Part Deux(1993)

    as Col. Denton Walters

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Hearts of Hot Shots! Part Deux—A Filmmaker's Apology (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • A Place to Be Loved(1993)

    as George Russ

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Terror on Track 9(1992)

    as Det. Frank Janek

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Neil Chase

  • Pros and Cons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 12 episodes · as Mitch O'Hannon

  • And the Sea Will Tell(1991)

    as Vincent Bugliosi

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • And the Sea Will Tell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Vincent Bugliosi

  • Murder Times Seven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Frank Janek

  • Gabriel's Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show Actor

  • Last Flight Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Dan Hood

  • Montana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Hoyce Guthrie

  • Murder in Black and White(1990)

    as Frank Janek

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Stuck with Each Other(1989)

    as Bert Medwick

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mort Sahl: The Loyal Opposition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Narrator

  • The Case of the Hillside Stranglers(1989)

    as Sgt. Bob Grogan

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Leviathan(1989)

    as Dr. Glen 'Doc' Thompson

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Internal Affairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Frank Janek

  • Rambo III(1988)

    as Trautman

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Plaza Suite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Roy Hubley

  • Kids Like These (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Bob Goodman

  • Police Story: The Freeway Killings(1987)

    as Deputy Chief Bob Devers

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The High Price of Passion(1986)

    as Williams Douglas

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • On Wings of Eagles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as H. Ross Perot

  • A Case of Deadly Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Lawrence O'Donnell Sr.

  • Doubletake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Frank Janek

  • Summer Rental(1985)

    as Al Pellet

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Rape of Richard Beck(1985)

    as Richard Beck

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Rambo: First Blood Part II(1985)

    as Col. Samuel Trautman

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Flamingo Kid(1984)

    as Phil Brody

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Passions(1984)

    as Richard Kennerly

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Squaring the Circle(1984)

    as The Narrator

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Allison Sydney Harrison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • Table for Five(1983)

    as Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Magic Statue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director

  • First Blood(1982)

    as Col. Samuel Trautman

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • It Takes Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 22 episodes · as Dr. Sam Quinn

  • The Day the Bubble Burst(1982)

    as Jesse Livermore

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Ordeal of Bill Carney(1981)

    as Mason Rose

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Daniel Boone

  • Body Heat(1981)

    as Edmund Walker

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Fugitive Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Brian Roberts

  • Joshua's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Dr. Joshua Torrance

  • Death Ship(1980)

    as Trevor Marshall

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure(1979)

    as William Brewster

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Better Late Than Never(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Stone Cold Dead(1979)

    as Sgt. Boyd

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Turnabout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Wild Horse Hank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Pace Bradford

  • A Fire in the Sky(1978)

    as Jason Voight

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • First, You Cry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as David Towers

  • Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell(1978)

    as Mike Barry

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Centennial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 12 episodes · as Colonel Frank Skimmerhorn

  • Grandpa Goes to Washington (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Evil(1978)

    as C.J. Arnold

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Rosetti and Ryan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • James at 16 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The War Between the Tates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Professor Brian Tate

  • All's Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 24 episodes · Actor

  • Breakheart Pass(1975)

    as Gov. Richard Fairchild

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • A Girl Named Sooner(1975)

    as R.J. 'Mac' McHenry

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Honky Tonk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Candy Johnson

  • Double Solitaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Charley Potter

  • Shootout in a One Dog Town(1974)

    as Zack Wells

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Howard Faloon

  • Jonathan Livingston Seagull(1973)

    as Father (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Double Indemnity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Walter Neff

  • The Man Called Noon(1973)

    as Noon

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Footsteps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Paddy

  • A Cop(1972)

    as Simon

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Neal Wilkinson

  • Catlow(1971)

    as Cowan

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Red Sky at Morning(1971)

    as Frank Arnold

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Doctors' Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Pete Brennan

  • The Devil's Backbone(1970)

    as Major Wade Brown

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Make Room for Granddaddy(1970)

    Show Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Marooned(1969)

    as Jim Pruett

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Midas Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Warden

  • Star!(1968)

    as Richard Aldrich

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Wait Until Dark(1967)

    as Mike Talman

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Sand Pebbles(1966)

    as Captain Collins

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Summer Fun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Made in Paris(1966)

    as Herb Stone

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!(1965)

    as John Goldfarb

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Slattery's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 36 episodes · as James Slattery

  • No Time for Sergeants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Wendy and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Long Lost Life of Edward Smalley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Edward Smalley

  • Kraft Suspense Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Edward Smalley

  • Vacation Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Andy Griffith Show(1960)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Real McCoys(1957)

    Show 224 episodes · Director · as Luke McCoy

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Our Miss Brooks(1956)

    as Walter Denton

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Over-Exposed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Russell Bassett

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralph McKnight

  • Our Miss Brooks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 130 episodes · as Walter Denton

  • It Grows on Trees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Ralph Bowen

  • The Pride of St. Louis(1952)

    as Paul Dean

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Red Skies of Montana(1952)

    as Noxon (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • I Love Lucy(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Morton

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 128 titles from 1951 to 2008; peak year 1981.

Biggest box office

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

$300M worldwide

Highest rated

First Blood (1982)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

The Real McCoys (1957)

Film career

19512008

Peak 1981 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 16 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
Acting114 of 128: 113 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stDirecting15 of 128: 14 only directing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s12 · 12 acting · 1 crew1960s15 · 10 acting · 5 crew1970s33 · 26 acting · 7 crew1980s31 · 29 acting · 2 crew1990s32 · acting2000s5 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 12% of 25 roles
667686

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 Richard Crenna's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 62; across their 59 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 59

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 59

Reach · how many have seen their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 59

Midcredits score across 69 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th24
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 69 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed27

Most divisive · actor

The Day the Bubble Burst (1982)

82nd percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

First Blood (1982)

Midcredits 96th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 54 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 43. 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 Richard Crenna's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles21–84 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles9–62 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles25–65 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles23–43 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles10–73 · median 60 · 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 Richard Crenna work with?

People who share at least 2 of Richard Crenna's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jerry Goldsmith shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles