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Tab Hunter

Tab Hunter

Actor, also producer and writer · Died July 8, 2018, aged 86 · New York City, New York, USA

Arthur Andrew Gelien (née Kelm; July 11, 1931 – July 8, 2018), known professionally as Tab Hunter, was an American actor, singer, producer and author.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 11, 1931
Died
July 8, 2018 (aged 86)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 75 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 29% in 30 days

What are Tab Hunter's films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 9th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Self
30%
Bonds
24%
Morality
14%
Survival
14%
Society
7%
Power
6%
Ideas
5%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 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 14 · Serious 11 · Dark 6

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 19 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 12 · Charged 13 · Intense 6

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 3

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 17 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 5

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 24 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

18 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 11 of 18 analyzed roles.

Hero
11 of 18
Herald
2 of 18
Ally
2 of 18
Shadow
2 of 18
Shapeshifter
1 of 18
Show the 18 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Warm
8
Absurd
7
Romantic
7
Contemplative
7
Other
31

How their films linger

Bittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet14
  • Ambiguous4
  • 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 Tab Hunter's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tab Hunter'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

75 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page; 31 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Tab Hunter Confidential(2015)

    Author · as Self

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Ballyhoo: The Hollywood Sideshow! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • God Save the Queens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Dark Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Producer · Story · as Perkins

  • Hollywood on Horses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Self - Presenter

  • Cameron's Closet(1988)

    as Owen Lansing

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Grotesque(1987)

    as Rod

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Out of the Dark(1988)

    as Driver

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Lust in the Dust(1984)

    Producer · as Abel Wood

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • That's Dancing!(1985)

    as From 'Damn Yankees' (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Masquerade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Just Our Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • And They're Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Henry Barclay

  • Grease 2(1982)

    as Mr. Stuart

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Pandemonium(1982)

    as Blue Grange

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Polyester(1981)

    as Todd Tomorrow

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Kid from Left Field(1979)

    as Bill Lorant

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • $weepstake$ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Chip

  • Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold(1978)

    as Elliot Bender

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Forever Fernwood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 30 episodes · Actor

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave King

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Maddox

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood(1976)

    as David Hamilton

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Timber Tramps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Big Swede

  • Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Police Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnold Blake

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean(1972)

    as Sam Dodd

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Herrick

  • Sweet Kill(1972)

    as Eddie Collins

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Hacksaw(1971)

    as Tim Andrews

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • San Francisco International (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Stayczek

  • The Legion of No Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Richard

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mel Burgess

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Patrick Harris

  • Shotgun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Sheriff Durango

  • Hostile Guns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Mike Reno

  • The Fickle Finger of Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Jerry

  • Birds Do It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Lieutenant Porter

  • The Loved One(1965)

    as Whispering Glades Tour Guide

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • City in the Sea(1965)

    as Ben Harris

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Man with Two Faces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Alex Carswell

  • Ride the Wild Surf(1964)

    as Steamer Lane

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Barney Blake

  • Operation Bikini(1963)

    as Lt. Morgan Hayes

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Combat!(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Del Packer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Arrow(1962)

    as Hassan

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Pleasure of His Company(1961)

    as Roger Henderson

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Tab Hunter Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 32 episodes · as Paul Morgan

  • That Kind of Woman(1959)

    as Red

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • They Came to Cordura(1959)

    as Lt. William Fowler

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Meet Me in St. Louis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as John Truett

  • Damn Yankees(1958)

    as Joe Hardy

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Gunman's Walk(1958)

    as Ed Hackett

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Lafayette Escadrille(1958)

    as Thad Walker

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Portrait of a Murderer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Donald Bashor

  • Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Hans Brinker

  • The Girl He Left Behind(1956)

    as Andy L. Shaeffer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Forbidden Area (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Stanley Smith

  • Playhouse 90 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Stanley Smith

  • Conflict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Burning Hills(1956)

    as Trace Jordan

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Sea Chase(1955)

    as Cadet Wesser

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Battle Cry(1955)

    as Pvt Dan 'Danny' Forrester

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Track of the Cat(1954)

    as Harold Bridges

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy Piersall

  • Return to Treasure Island(1954)

    as Clive Stone

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Steel Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Bill Larson

  • Gun Belt(1953)

    as Chip Ringo

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Daniel

  • Saturday Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Marine Corporal Michael J. Dugan

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Hans Brinker

  • The Lawless(1950)

    as Frank O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Tab & Tony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Book

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 75 titles, 74 of them dated from 1950 to 2015; peak year 1981.

Biggest box office

Lust in the Dust (1984)

$728K worldwide

Highest rated

Tab Hunter Confidential (2015)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Polyester (1981)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19502015

Peak 1981 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 5 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
Acting72 of 75: 70 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score36thWriting3 of 75: 2 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing3 of 75: 1 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1950s24 · acting1960s17 · acting1970s17 · acting1980s12 · 11 acting · 2 crew1990s3 · 3 acting · 1 crew2010s1 · crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 18% of 17 roles
545979

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 Tab Hunter's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Grease 2 (1982)

80th percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, writer

Tab Hunter Confidential (2015)

Midcredits 92nd · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 38. 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 Tab Hunter's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 34 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Tab Hunter work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tab Hunter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ray Teal shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles