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Terry Kiser

Terry Kiser

Actor · Born August 1, 1939 (87) · Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Terry Kiser (born August 1, 1939) is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the dead title-character in the comedy Weekend at Bernie's, and its sequel, Weekend at Bernie's II. Terry was a regular on two soap operas, The Secret Storm on CBS and The Doctors on NBC. Kiser has guest-starred numerous times on episodic television, particularly sitcoms, though he made a notable appearance as a comedian Vic Hitler (aka, Vic the Narcoleptic Comic) on the drama Hill Street Blues. He also portrayed the conniving Doctor Crews in Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood and appeared in Mannequin: On the Move as a sorcerer. He played a jerky lawyer in the volleyball film Sideout. Kiser also had a recurring role as Craven on Night Court, H.G. Wells in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. He also appeared in three episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will & Grace and The Golden Girls, as well as in two episodes of Three's Company as two different characters. Kiser was a member of Carol Burnett's repertory company on Carol and Company that aired in 1990 and 1991. Description above from the Wikipedia article Terry Kiser, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 1, 1939 (87)
From
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 115 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 11% in 30 days

What are Terry Kiser's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th 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
Bonds
28%
Self
22%
Morality
22%
Survival
12%
Society
7%
Ideas
6%
Power
4%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 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 18 · Serious 6 · Dark 6

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 16 · Intense 5

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

Steady 16 · 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 14 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 10

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 22 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 12 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 12
Threshold guardian
2 of 12
Ally
2 of 12
Mentor
2 of 12
Trickster
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Absurd
8
Thrilling
12
Joyful
7
Warm
7
Other
28

How their films linger

Fun16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic2
  • 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 Terry Kiser's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 36 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Terry Kiser'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

115 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Pitchfork Retreat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Ike

  • A Gunfighter's Deal(2025)

    as Stranger

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Stream(2024)

    as Bruce

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Mutilator 2(2023)

    as Jack Chatham

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Rose Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Dr. Crews

  • Mr. Local Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Producer

  • Farmer of the Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Virgil

  • The Kingsbury Run(2018)

    as Todd Fincher

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Christmas Tree Miracle(2013)

    as Henry Banks

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Vampire Riderz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Father Lemoine

  • Tornado Warning(2012)

    as Mike Hardy

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Mask Maker(2011)

    as Mr. Peck

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Dead Start (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Mort Maxwell

  • See Jane Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • The Huntress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Divorce: A Contemporary Western(1998)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Two Guys and a Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Chet

  • Hourglass(1995)

    as Henry Jardine

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Forest Warrior(1996)

    as Travis Thorne

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Good Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Legacy of Sin: The William Coit Story(1995)

    as Uncle Paul

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Baywatch Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as George Wilson

  • Caroline in the City(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Taxicab Driver

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Tammy and the T-Rex(1994)

    as Dr. Wachenstein

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Pet Shop(1994)

    as Joe Yeagher

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Loving Deadly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Walter

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as H.G. Wells

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Weekend at Bernie's II(1993)

    as Bernie Lomax

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Incredi-Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Charlie Brooks · as Charlie Brooks / Maxwell 'Iceman' Kronert

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Into the Sun(1991)

    as Mitchell Burton

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Mannequin: On the Move(1991)

    as Count Spretzle / Sorcerer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Hosek

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Perry Gold

  • Carol & Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 33 episodes · Actor

  • Side Out(1990)

    as Uncle Max

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Nasty Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Boris Diamond

  • Chameleons(1989)

    as Lieut. Abel

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Weekend at Bernie's(1989)

    as Bernie Lomax

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Hard Time on Planet Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Friday the 13th: The New Blood(1988)

    as Dr. Crews

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • From a Whisper to a Scream(1987)

    as Jesse Hardwick

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Hooperman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as C.J.

  • The Return of the Six-Million-Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman(1987)

    as Santiago

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Throb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Sal Cassella

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • 227(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Don · as Santa Claus

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Half Nelson(1985)

    as Leo Holcomb

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Gordon LaMonica · as Wally Bryce

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Cover Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Phillip Sherman

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Crazy Dan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Lawyer

  • Young Lust(1984)

    as Howard Levinthal

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Surf II(1983)

    as Mr. O'Finley

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Night Court(1984)

    Show 4 episodes · as Al Craven

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Scarecrow and Mrs. King(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hardcastle and McCormick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Your Place... or Mine? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Stan

  • Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land(1983)

    as Freddie Barrett

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Tucker's Witch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Royal Davis

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Six Pack(1982)

    as Terk

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Making Love(1982)

    as Harrington

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Cassie & Co. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Alex Strong

  • Prime Suspect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Lyman

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Fall Guy(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Looker(1981)

    as Commercial Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • An Eye for an Eye(1981)

    as Dave Pierce

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • All Night Long(1981)

    as Ultra-Sav Day Manager

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Dennis Redfield

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Enos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Teddy Becker

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang(1979)

    as Nafius

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

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

    as Valentino

  • Seven(1979)

    as Senator

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Rich Kids(1979)

    as Ralph Harris

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider(1979)

    as Lester Neal

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Diff'rent Strokes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • WKRP in Cincinnati(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Roller Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Don Mitchell

  • Cops and Robin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Wayne Dutton

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Sugar Time! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Three's Company(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Max · as Mr. Canon

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Benny & Barney: Las Vegas Undercover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Benny Kowalski

  • Captains and the Kings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 8 episodes · as Courtney Wickersham

  • Gemini Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • City of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bionic Woman(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • One Day at a Time(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Hanna

  • Baretta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Alexsei

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Lapin 360 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Bernard Lapin

  • Maude(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • All in the Family(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Augie

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Rachel, Rachel(1968)

    as Preacher

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 39 episodes · as Dr. John Rice

  • The Secret Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 319 episodes · Actor

  • 2:59 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Robert Winward

  • Future Cop: Cops and Robin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Wayne

  • Girls on Tap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Terry

  • Laugh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Colonel Bartholomew Collymore

  • The Body Sculptor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Dr. Jason Stone

  • The Events Surrounding a Peeping Tom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Professor Barnes

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 115 titles, 109 of them dated from 1954 to 2025; peak year 1988.

Biggest box office

Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

$30M worldwide

Highest rated

Rachel, Rachel (1968)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

The Fall Guy (1981)

Film career

19542025

Peak 1988 · 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
Acting114 of 115: 114 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score39thProducing1 of 115: 1 only producing, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s27 · acting1980s40 · acting1990s23 · acting2000s3 · acting2010s7 · 6 acting · 1 crew2020s5 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 21 roles
688393

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 Terry Kiser's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 26th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 26th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 63 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed29

Most divisive · actor

A Gunfighter's Deal (2025)

95th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Hill Street Blues (1981)

Midcredits 92nd · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 52/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 67, detractors 30. 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 Terry Kiser's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 79 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles35–58 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 56 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 61 · 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 Terry Kiser work with?

People who share at least 2 of Terry Kiser's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jeff Burr shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles