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Buck Henry

Buck Henry

Actor and writer, also director · Died January 8, 2020, aged 89 · New York City, New York, USA

Buck Henry (born Henry Zuckerman; December 9, 1930 – January 8, 2020) was an American actor and filmmaker. His contributions to film included, his work as a co-director on Heaven Can Wait (1978) alongside Warren Beatty, and his work as a co-writer for Mike Nichols's The Graduate (1967) and Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up, Doc? (1972). His long career began on television with work on shows with Steve Allen in The New Steve Allen Show (1961). He went on to co-create Get Smart (1965-1970) with Mel Brooks, and hosted Saturday Night Live 10 times from 1976 to 1980. Henry later guest starred in such popular shows as Murphy Brown, Hot in Cleveland, Will & Grace, and 30 Rock. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award, for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Graduate (1967) and for Best Director for Heaven Can Wait (1978) alongside Warren Beatty.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 9, 1930
Died
January 8, 2020 (aged 89)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and writer, also director
Titles
50 on MovieCove · 72 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 40% in 30 days

What are Buck Henry's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
34%
Bonds
25%
Morality
11%
Power
9%
Society
8%
Survival
8%
Ideas
5%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception9 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 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 11 · Wry 1 · Earnest 19

Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 21 · Serious 8 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 16 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 12 · Charged 16 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 17 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 2

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 5 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 18

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Mentor
2 of 5
Hero
1 of 5
Herald
1 of 5
Trickster
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
16
Tense
11
Joyful
9
Melancholic
8
Warm
7
Other
28

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous8

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 Buck Henry's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 50 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Buck Henry'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

72 credits, 50 with a MovieCove page; 29 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Kiss Kiss Fingerbang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Cat Owner

  • The Humbling(2014)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Passion for Snow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Narrator

  • A Bird of the Air(2011)

    as Duncan Weber

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Franklin & Bash(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Judge Henry Dinsdale

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Hot in Cleveland(2010)

    Show 3 episodes · as Fred

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Get Smart(2008)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control(2008)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dick Lemon

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Last Shot(2004)

    as Lonnie Bosco

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Serendipity(2001)

    as Customer at Bloomingdales (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Town & Country(2001)

    Writer · as Suttler

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Lisa Picard Is Famous(2000)

    as Buck Henry

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Morton

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Breakfast of Champions(1999)

    as Fred T. Barry

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Dilbert(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Dadbert (voice)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • It All Came True(1998)

    as Charles Van Allsburg

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Leonard

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • I'm Losing You(1998)

    as Phillip Dagrom

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Real Blonde(1997)

    as Dr. Leuter

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • 1999(1997)

    as Mr. Goldman

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Shakespeare's Plan 12 from Outer Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as The Priest

  • To Die For(1995)

    Screenplay · as Mr. H. Finlaysson

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Harrison Bergeron(1995)

    as TV Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Even Cowgirls Get the Blues(1993)

    as Dr. Dreyfus

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Grumpy Old Men(1993)

    as Snyder

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Short Cuts(1993)

    as Gordon Johnson

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Mastergate(1992)

    as Clay Fielder

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Eek! The Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Cupid (voice)

  • Keep the Change (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Smitty

  • The Player(1992)

    as Buck Henry

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Lounge People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Lewis Louis

  • The Linguini Incident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Cecil

  • Defending Your Life(1991)

    as Dick Stanley

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Tune in Tomorrow...(1990)

    as Father Serafim

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Rude Awakening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Lloyd Stool

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as George

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Victor Rudman

  • Hot to Trot(1988)

    as Fred's Dad

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Aria(1987)

    as Preston

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Writer · as Walter Lang

  • The Best of John Belushi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Various Characters

  • Protocol(1984)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The New Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Eating Raoul(1982)

    as Mr. Leech

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Foster Glenn

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • First Family(1980)

    Director · Writer · as Father Sandstone / TV Anchorman

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Gloria(1980)

    as Jack Dawn

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Nude Bomb(1980)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Old Boyfriends(1979)

    as Art Kopple

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Heaven Can Wait(1978)

    Director · as The Escort

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Absent-Minded Waiter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Bernie Cates

  • Quark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Creator · Writer · as Dignitary (uncredited)

  • The Man Who Fell to Earth(1976)

    as Oliver Farnsworth

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Day of the Dolphin(1973)

    Screenplay · as Man Standing Outside Women's Club (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • What's Up, Doc?(1972)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Is There Sex After Death? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Dr. Louise Manos

  • Taking Off(1971)

    as Larry Tyne

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • I Miss Sonia Henie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director · Writer · as Doctor

  • The Owl and the Pussycat(1970)

    Screenplay · as Man Looking Through Doubleday's Bookstore (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Catch-22(1970)

    Screenplay · as Lt. Col. Korn

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Candy(1968)

    Screenplay · as Mental Patient (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Secret War of Harry Frigg(1968)

    as Stockade Commandant

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Graduate(1967)

    Screenplay · as Room Clerk

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Get Smart: A Man Called Smart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Writer

  • Captain Nice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 15 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

  • ABC Stage 67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • Get Smart(1965)

    Show 7 episodes · Creator · Story Editor · Teleplay · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Troublemaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Original Story · Screenplay · as T. R. Kingston

  • The Bridge(1959)

    as Voice of American Soldier

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Untitled Get Smart Reboot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Characters

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 71 titles, 70 of them dated from 1959 to 2015; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

The Graduate (1967)

$105M worldwide

Highest rated

The Graduate (1967)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

19592015

Peak 1994 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 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
Acting61 of 71: 48 only acting, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stDirecting3 of 71: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting22 of 71: 8 only writing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score47thProducing1 of 71: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew3 of 71: 0 only other crew, 3 with another role

71 titles, 15 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s8 · 4 acting · 7 crew1970s12 · 11 acting · 7 crew1980s15 · 13 acting · 4 crew1990s22 · 22 acting · 1 crew2000s6 · 5 acting · 2 crew2010s6 · 5 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 26 roles
59748994

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 Buck Henry's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 41; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 50 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 50 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Mastergate (1992)

86th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, writer

The Graduate (1967)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles; fans 79, 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 Buck Henry's work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles23–54 · median 34 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles23–77 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles28–60 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles28–50 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles10–49 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Buck Henry work with?

People who share at least 2 of Buck Henry's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William A. Fraker shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers