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Michael Fairman

Michael Fairman

Actor · Born February 25, 1934 (92) · New York City, New York, USA

Michael Fairman is a veteran of film, stage and television, with a career spanning more than 40 years. He has portrayed Adlai Stevenson in the political thriller Thirteen Days (2000) starring Kevin Costner, was featured in David Lynch's Academy Award-nominated Mulholland Drive (2001) and played Ben Affleck's father in Dreamworks' Forces of Nature (1999). This versatile actor can be seen regularly on television, having guest appearances on popular shows such as ER (1994), The Practice (1997), The X-Files (1993), Boston Public (2000), Family Law (1999) and Dharma & Greg (1997), to name just a few. He started out his career as a navigator in the U.S. Air Force. While stationed at Tachikawa Air Force Base near Tokyo, he joined a theater group and has been acting ever since. After the Air Force, he enrolled in the Dramatic Arts Department of New York University. Beginning with Oedipus in Sophocles Oedipus Rex, he played leads throughout college, including a series of classical roles at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival. He has played everything from Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire" to Pozzo in "Waiting for Godot" to his critically acclaimed "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail" and was in numerous productions off-Broadway. This extensive stage experience led Michael to numerous recurring roles in such hit TV shows as L.A. Law (1986), Hill Street Blues (1981) and Cagney & Lacey (1981), and extended runs on the soap operas General Hospital (1963), Ryan's Hope (1975) and Love of Life (1951). Fairman is in the soon-to-be-released feature film comedy Wheelmen (2005).

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
February 25, 1934 (92)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
75 on MovieCove · 114 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 29% in 30 days

What are Michael Fairman's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Action 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
31%
Bonds
28%
Power
20%
Self
10%
Survival
9%
Ideas
2%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 4 · Wry 2 · Earnest 7

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 5 · 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 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 3 · 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 7 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Absurd
5
Dread
5
Melancholic
3
Hopeful
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic1

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 Michael Fairman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 50 of their 75 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Fairman'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

114 credits, 75 with a MovieCove page.

  • Righteous Thieves(2023)

    as Vanderhooff

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Will Trent(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Dale Merrick

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Father Stu(2022)

    as Randall

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Kidding(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • After the Reality(2016)

    as Elmer Severson

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Benched(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Ickles

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Workaholics(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gramps DeMamp

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Dark Streets(2008)

    as Nathaniel

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Sons of Anarchy(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lumpy Feldstein

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Dead Silence(2007)

    as Henry Walker

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Hard Easy(2006)

    as Colonel Max

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Love Comes to the Executioner(2006)

    as Warden

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Night Stalker(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Hugh

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Ghost Whisperer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Dennis' Father

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as David Hal-El

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Frontier Doctor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Ordinary Miracles(2005)

    as Sterling Grimes

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as David Rosen (2004)

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Thomas Healy

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Firefly(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Adelai Niska

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Stanley Greenblatt

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Black Scorpion Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as General Stryker

  • Mulholland Drive(2001)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Wife(2001)

    as Orville Gleason

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Black Scorpion(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Thirteen Days(2000)

    as Adlai Stevenson

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold Shaw

  • The Perfect Tenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Mr. Hartwell

  • Family Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Pierce's Attorney

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

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Henry Bouton

  • Forces of Nature(1999)

    as Richard Holmes

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Providence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Gerrish

  • The Christmas Wish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mr. Connor

  • Freedom Strike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Gen. Porter

  • The King of Queens(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Mike Hammer, Private Eye(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Dharma & Greg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Porter

  • Brooklyn South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Vanderluke

  • Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Zachary (segment "Titan")

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Just Shoot Me!(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Governor's Council Interviewer · as School Board President

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Cupid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Carl

  • Sunset Beach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • The Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Bob Martin

  • Kid Cop(1996)

    as Charlie Rebbins

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Apollo 11(1996)

    as Edwin Aldrin, Sr.

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • 7th Heaven(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Milton Madison

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Arli$$(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Buddy Reingold

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Great White Hype(1996)

    as Chairman Jerry Schwartz

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • An Unfinished Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Clayton Edmunds

  • The Late Shift(1995)

    as Michael Gartner

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Norman Watts

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Courthouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mort Harris

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Viper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Abe Goldberg

  • Hoggs' Heaven(1994)

    as Dad

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Shameful Secrets(1993)

    as Mal

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Markman

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Older Jason Nichols

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as General Quarry

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Vendor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Mad About You(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Conductor

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh(1991)

    as Medical Examiner (as Michael Eugene Fairman)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Eddie Dodd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Johnny Ryan(1990)

    as Meyer Lansky

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Wings(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Reporter

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Banker(1989)

    as Fred

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Alien Nation(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Capt. McKnight

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Seinfeld(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Pensky

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Mulhearn

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Murphy Brown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Writer

  • Tour of Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Down and Out in Beverly Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Story of Book One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • 21 Jump Street(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Hartman

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 14 episodes · as Judge Douglas McGrath

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later(1985)

    as Gen. Hatten

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Gen. Relkwin

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

    as Ned Rosenberg, M.D.

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Cabby

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Weller

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Anatomy of an Illness(1984)

    as Dr. Lowman

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Night Court(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Judge Casement

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Found Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer · as Lt. Haskell

  • Scarecrow and Mrs. King(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Theodore Glaser · as Sergei

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Anthony Raymond

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Mama's Family(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Gavilan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Newhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Remington Steele(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Cop

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Cheers(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Dutch Kincaid

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Eric Fenton

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Powers of Matthew Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Deputy Inspector Knelman

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Fly Away Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Hap Andrews

  • Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen(1981)

    as Bernard Lupowitz

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 4 episodes · as Arnold Detweiler

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Any Which Way You Can(1980)

    as CHP Captain

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Bosom Buddies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Marilyn: The Untold Story(1980)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Scared Straight! Another Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Warden Livermore

  • The French Atlantic Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Comdr. Hewitt

  • Like Normal People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Lt. Anderson

  • Mrs. Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Lieutenant

  • WKRP in Cincinnati(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Shoe Store Owner

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Taxi(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as John Brennan

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • A Question of Guilt(1978)

    as Man on Stand

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Peeping Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mayor of Ewell · as The Mayor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Thomas Chamberlain · as Senator

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Cal Stone

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • The Anderson Tapes(1971)

    as Sergeant Claire

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 114 titles from 1971 to 2023; peak year 1999.

Biggest box office

Forces of Nature (1999)

$94M worldwide

Highest rated

Thirteen Days (2000)

Midcredits 88th

Most popular right now

Dead Silence (2007)

Film career

19712023

Peak 1999 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting113 of 114: 112 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thWriting2 of 114: 1 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s10 · acting1980s37 · 36 acting · 2 crew1990s39 · acting2000s21 · acting2010s4 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 10 roles
8000

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 Michael Fairman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 24th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 75 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

30 of their 75 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser30
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · actor

Hoggs' Heaven (1994)

82nd percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Sons of Anarchy (2008)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 48/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 29. 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 Michael Fairman's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 12 · minimalMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does Michael Fairman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Fairman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sondra Currie shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers

Producers