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Michael Murphy

Michael Murphy

Actor · Born May 5, 1938 (88) · Los Angeles, California, USA

Michael Murphy (born May 5, 1938) is an American film and television actor.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 5, 1938 (88)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
67 on MovieCove · 120 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 16% in 30 days

What are Michael Murphy's films like?

Across their 49 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th 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
27%
Bonds
24%
Morality
16%
Survival
15%
Power
10%
Society
5%
Ideas
4%
Survival13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 49 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 16 · Serious 12 · Dark 21

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 28 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 11 · Charged 19 · Intense 19

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

A split, not a type: Steady 23 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 4

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 28 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 10

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 24 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 18 · Engaged 26 · Full focus 5

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 15 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 18

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

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 15 · Ambiguous 7

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 16 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 16
Threshold guardian
4 of 16
Ally
3 of 16
Hero
2 of 16
Herald
1 of 16
Mentor
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
34
Melancholic
22
Dread
12
Absurd
9
Contemplative
9
Other
39

How their films linger

Bittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous15

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 Murphy's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 67 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Murphy'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

120 credits, 67 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Man Who Tried to Feed the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as narrator

  • The Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Narrator

  • Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese(2019)

    as The Politician

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Indian Horse(2017)

    as Father Quinney

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Grand Coulee Dam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator

  • The Race Underground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator

  • The Battle Of Chosin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator

  • Tesla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Way Out on a Limb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Space Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator

  • Murder of a President (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator

  • Edison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Fall(2014)

    as Father Sam Ryan

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • They Came Together(2014)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Narrator

  • White House Down(2013)

    as Vice President Hammond

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Rogue(2013)

    Show 20 episodes · as George Kelly

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Silicon Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Narrator

  • Custer's Last Stand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Billy the Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Narrator

  • Person of Interest(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Hallen

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Triangle Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as narrator

  • The Greely Expedition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Panama Canal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Narrator

  • Dinosaur Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Narrator

  • Robert E. Lee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Narrator

  • The Trotsky(2009)

    as Frank McGovern

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Bridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 13 episodes · as Ed Wycoff

  • Wyatt Earp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Narrator

  • According to Greta(2009)

    as Joseph

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Away from Her(2006)

    as Aubrey

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Wind in the Willows(2006)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Path to 9/11 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as William Cohen

  • X-Men: The Last Stand(2006)

    as Warren Worthington II

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Playing House(2006)

    as Hubbard

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Jesse James (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Las Vegas: An Unconventional History: Part 2 - American Mecca (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Narrator

  • Las Vegas: An Unconventional History: Part 1 - Sin City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Narrator

  • Mayday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Captain Randall Williams

  • Heights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Jesse

  • Tilt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 9 episodes · as Jimmy Molloy

  • H2O (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as U.S. Ambassador Conrad

  • H2O (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as U.S. Ambassador Conrad

  • Tanner on Tanner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jack Tanner

  • Silver City(2004)

    as Senator Judson Pilager

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • LAX (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Emmet

  • Childstar(2004)

    as Reed Harrison

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Tricks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Arthur

  • The Rise & Fall of Penn Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • This Is Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 39 episodes · as Judge Maxwell Fraser

  • Footsteps(2003)

    as Robbie

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Transcontinental Railroad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Live from Baghdad(2002)

    as Tom Johnson

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Day Reagan Was Shot(2001)

    as Michael Deaver

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Blakemore

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Tart(2001)

    as Mike Storm

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Art of War(2000)

    as Politician (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Magnolia(1999)

    as Alan Kligman, Esq.

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ian Lumberg

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

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Alistair McNeil

  • Indiscretion of an American Wife(1998)

    as Russell Burton

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Norma Jean, Jack, and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as John F. Kennedy

  • Sleeping Dogs Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Edgar Trott

  • Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story(1997)

    as Pete Louganis

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Private Parts(1997)

    as Roger Erlick

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Kansas City(1996)

    as Henry Stilton

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Special Report: Journey to Mars(1996)

    as Dean Rumplemeyer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Ultimate Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Malcolm McGrath

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

    as Dinner Speaker (uncredited)

  • Bad Company(1995)

    as William V. 'Smitty' Smithfield (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Clean Slate(1994)

    as Dr. Doover

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster(1992)

    as Bill Reilly

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Batman Returns(1992)

    as Mayor

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Folks!(1992)

    as Ed

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Nolan Tinsdale

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Shocker(1989)

    as Lt. Don Parker

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Tailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Richard Burt

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 13 episodes · as Narrator (voice) · as Self - Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial(1988)

    as Captain Blakely

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Tanner '88 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 12 episodes · as Jack Tanner

  • Hard Copy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Bobby Lewis

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Salvador(1986)

    as Ambassador Thomas Kelly

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Mesmerized(1985)

    as Wilson

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Countdown to Looking Glass(1984)

    as Bob Calhoun

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Cloak & Dagger(1984)

    as Rice

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Talk to Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Ross

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

    as Burt / Tom

  • The Year of Living Dangerously(1982)

    as Pete Curtis

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Rules of Marriage(1982)

    as Alan Murray

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Strange Behavior(1981)

    as John Brady

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • O Youth and Beauty! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Cash Bentley

  • Manhattan(1979)

    as Yale

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Class of Miss MacMichael(1978)

    as Martin

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Great Bank Hoax(1977)

    as Reverend Everett Manigma

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • An Unmarried Woman(1978)

    as Martin Benton

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Front(1976)

    as Alfred Miller

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Nashville(1975)

    as John Triplette

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Parsons

  • The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman(1974)

    as Quentin Lerner

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Phase IV(1974)

    as James R. Lesko

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • I Love You...Good-bye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Alec Shield

  • The Thief Who Came to Dinner(1973)

    as Ted

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Crooked Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Frank Adamic

  • What's Up, Doc?(1972)

    as Mr. Smith

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Sixth Sense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Brewster McCloud(1970)

    as Shaft

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • McCabe & Mrs. Miller(1971)

    as Eugene Sears

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Count Yorga, Vampire(1970)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Lawyer(1970)

    as Intern in Legal Office (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • M*A*S*H(1970)

    as 'Me Lai' Marston

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Arrangement(1969)

    as Father Draddy

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • That Cold Day in the Park(1969)

    as The Rounder

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Lylah Clare(1968)

    as Mark Peter Sheean

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Countdown(1967)

    as Rick

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Double Trouble(1967)

    as Morley

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Hogan's Heroes(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Corporal Walter Comminsky

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Interne

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Will Holt

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 120 titles from 1959 to 2020; peak year 2006.

Biggest box office

Batman Returns (1992)

$267M worldwide

Highest rated

Manhattan (1979)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Batman Returns (1992)

Film career

19592020

Peak 2006 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 14 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
Acting120 of 120: 120 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s8 · acting1970s20 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s28 · acting2010s28 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 5% of 40 roles
677277879707

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 Murphy's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 58; across their 49 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Midcredits score across 67 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

30 of their 67 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser30
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Indiscretion of an American Wife (1998)

86th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Magnolia (1999)

Midcredits 97th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 45 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 44. 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 Murphy's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles23–83 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles12–56 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles19–78 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles27–79 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles7–80 · median 68 · intenseheavier than most 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 Michael Murphy work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Murphy's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Altman shares the most, 7.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles