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Ed Flanders

Ed Flanders

Actor · Died February 22, 1995, aged 60 · Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Edward Paul Flanders was an American actor. He is best known for playing Dr. Donald Westphall in the medical drama series St. Elsewhere. Flanders was nominated for eight Primetime Emmys and won three times in 1976, 1977, and 1983.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 29, 1934
Died
February 22, 1995 (aged 60)
From
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 53 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 41% in 30 days

What are Ed Flanders' films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
25%
Morality
18%
Survival
16%
Society
15%
Bonds
13%
Power
13%
Ambition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 1 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 7 · Intense 5

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 2

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 2 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 6

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 7
Threshold guardian
1 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Shapeshifter
1 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
8
Contemplative
4
Dread
3
Hopeful
5
Other
13

How their films linger

Bittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous4

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 Ed Flanders' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ed Flanders' 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

53 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Bye Bye Love(1995)

    as Walter Sims

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Road Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 6 episodes · as Walter Babineaux

  • Message from Nam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Ed Wilson

  • Citizen Cohn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Joseph N. Welch

  • Jack's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Perfect Tribute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Warren

  • The Exorcist III(1990)

    as Father Joseph Kevin Dyer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Final Days(1989)

    as Leonard Garment

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Special Bulletin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as John Woodley

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 120 episodes · as Donald Westphall

  • Tomorrow's Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Anders Stenslund

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

    as Mayor Albert J. Smith

  • The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper(1981)

    as Brigadier

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • True Confessions(1981)

    as Dan T. Campion

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Inchon(1981)

    as President Harry S. Truman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Ninth Configuration(1980)

    as Col. Richard Fell

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Salem's Lot(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Bill Norton

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Blind Ambition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as Charles Shaffer

  • Backstairs at the White House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as Pres. Calvin Coolidge

  • Mary White(1977)

    as William Allen White

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • MacArthur(1977)

    as President Harry S. Truman

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Amazing Howard Hughes(1977)

    as Noah Dietrich

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Amazing Howard Hughes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Noah Dietrich

  • Harry S. Truman: Plain Speaking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Harry S. Truman

  • Truman at Potsdam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Harry Truman

  • Eleanor and Franklin(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · as Louis Howe

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • A Moon for the Misbegotten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Phil Hogan

  • Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ralph Paine

  • The Legend of Lizzie Borden(1975)

    as Hosea Knowlton

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Things in Their Season(1974)

    as Carl Gerlach

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

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

    Show 1 episode · as George C. McClellan

  • Indict and Convict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Timothy Fitzgerald

  • Barnaby Jones(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as 'Doc' Fred Tucker

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

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

    as Dr. Miles

  • The Female Instinct (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Milo Perkins

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Alonzo Davis

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Bricker

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Trial of the Catonsville Nine(1972)

    as Father Daniel Berrigan

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Goodbye, Raggedy Ann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as David Bevin

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Harlan B. Flanders

  • Travis Logan, D.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Psychiatrist

  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Fr. Terrance Brian

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Grasshopper(1970)

    as Jack Benton

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Phil MacIver

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bernie Ross · as Byers · as Dmitri Rostov · as Dr. Alexander Kline · as Joe Connors · as Professor David Stone

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Lazlo Subich

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Cimarron Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Arliss Blynn

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Col. Richard Lackland

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

    Show 1 episode · as Harry S. Truman

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles from 1951 to 1995; peak year 1982.

Biggest box office

The Exorcist III (1990)

$39M worldwide

Highest rated

The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

Salem's Lot (1979)

Film career

19511995

Peak 1982 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting53 of 53: 53 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score64th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s7 · acting1970s29 · acting1980s9 · acting1990s7 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 11% of 9 roles

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.

How do Ed Flanders' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 14; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

The Trial of the Catonsville Nine (1972)

85th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975)

Midcredits 83rd · 79% liked

Reviewers score the acting 80/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 85, detractors 52. 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 Ed Flanders' work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 63 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles23–48 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 50 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 74 · intenseMedian 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 Ed Flanders work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ed Flanders' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Aaron Stell shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles