Skip to content
MovieCove
Kip Niven

Kip Niven

Actor · Died May 6, 2019, aged 73 · Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Kip Niven was raised in Prairie Village, Kansas (a suburb of Kansas City in affluent Johnson County), and graduated in 1963 from Shawnee Mission East High School. After spending a year at Baylor University, he changed his mind and entered the theater program at The University of Kansas, where he performed in dozens of plays. Niven had an impressive resume that includes films such as Magnum Force (1973), Earthquake (1974) and Midway (1976). He had performed on countless television shows, including memorable parts on The Waltons (1972), Law & Order (1990) and Walker, Texas Ranger (1993). He had roles on Broadway, in regional theater and episodic radio shows. He was probably best known for his three-year stint as Steve Marsh on the TV sitcom Alice (1976). Niven and the star of that series, (actress Linda Lavin), married in 1982. The marriage was turbulent and they subsequently divorced. Kip was first married to Susan and had two children Jim and Kate. She tragically died in a car accident in 1981. He and his 3rd wife Beth lived in Kansas and had a daughter Maggie, who was born in 1994. He also had two grandsons. In 1995 Kip returned to the Kansas City area where he grew up. He continued to work in local theater and on a comedy radio show.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
May 27, 1945
Died
May 6, 2019 (aged 73)
From
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 56 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 17% in 30 days

What are Kip Niven's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
28%
Morality
23%
Ideas
18%
Society
12%
Bonds
12%
Self
6%
Power
2%
Justice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 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 2 · Serious 2 · Dark 6

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 5 · Intense 3

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 2 · 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
Melancholic
3
Dread
2
Contemplative
2
Thrilling
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Thought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous3

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 Kip Niven's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kip Niven'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

56 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page.

  • It's Hell Getting Old (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Goodland(2017)

    as Hal Bloom

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Devil's Food Cake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Uncle Fred

  • E.P.G. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Dr. Hooft

  • Jayhawkers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Forrest 'Phog' Allen

  • Raising Jeffrey Dahmer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Attorney Howard Parker

  • Ambrose Bierce: Civil War Stories(2006)

    as General Masterson (segment: One Kind of Officer)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Dirty Harry: The Original(2001)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • More Than Puppy Love(2000)

    as Vincent

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Hostage High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as FBI Agent Brown

  • A Deadly Vision(1997)

    as Lt. Chad Mulligan

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Summer of Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Father

  • Gone in the Night(1996)

    as Captain Peck

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Dead Before Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Ken Fuller

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Rudman

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Crazy like a Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Harrington

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Larry McLain

  • Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain(1982)

    as Reverend Tom Marshall

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Secret Service Agent Bob Komack

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • A Wedding on Walton's Mountain(1982)

    as Reverend Tom Marshall

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Amos Clark

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Goliath Awaits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gantman (uncredited)

  • A Matter of Life and Death(1981)

    as Dr. Hamilton

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • New Year's Evil(1980)

    as Richard Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

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

    Show 4 episodes · as Egil Krogh

  • The Sky Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Buddy Phelps

  • Shadow of Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • A Fire in the Sky(1978)

    as Mac

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Million Dollar Dixie Deliverance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Lt. Ames

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Rutledge

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Damnation Alley(1977)

    as Lt. Tom Perry

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Corey: For the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Peters

  • How the West Was Won(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Ayeless

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Code R (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill

  • Once an Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 7 episodes · as Ryetower

  • Davy Crockett on the Mississippi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Running Wolf / Jake (voice)

  • Amelia Earhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Allen Bradford

  • Swashbuckler(1976)

    as Willard Culverwell

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Midway(1976)

    as Lt. Howard P. Ady, PBY Pilot

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Hindenburg(1975)

    as Lt. Truscott

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Earthquake(1974)

    as Walter Russell

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Airport 1975(1974)

    as Lt. Thatcher

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Newman's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Assistant Coroner

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

    as Norman Hastings

  • Magnum Force(1973)

    as Officer Alan "Red" Astrachan

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Maneater(1973)

    as Shep Saunders

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Runaway! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as College Man

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Rev. Tom Marshall

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Hanks · as Clive Jonas · as Stan Taylor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Holden

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

    Show 1 episode · as Randolph

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Krell

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Richards

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer Phillips

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Joey · as Phil Wagner Jr.

Career shape

Star power in the 86th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles from 1967 to 2019; peak year 1973.

Biggest box office

Magnum Force (1973)

$40M worldwide

Highest rated

Magnum Force (1973)

Midcredits 87th

Film career

19672019

Peak 1973 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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 score48th

By decade

1960s3 · acting1970s28 · acting1980s10 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s2 · acting2010s5 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 7 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 Kip Niven's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 29th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 30 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Ambrose Bierce: Civil War Stories (2006)

76th percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Magnum Force (1973)

Midcredits 87th · 79% liked

Reviewers score the acting 57/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 34. 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 Kip Niven'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 39 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does Kip Niven work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kip Niven's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bill Norton shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Producers