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James Noble

James Noble

Actor · Died March 28, 2016, aged 94 · Dallas, Texas, USA

The son of a Dallas wholesale coal dealer, Noble spent much of his youth attending pool halls and movie houses. He retained his expertise with a pool cue throughout his life, while his stronger interest in acting (fueled by movies) manifested itself in local stage productions and drama studies at Southern Methodist University. Following Navy service in World War II, Noble went to New York to study at the Actors Studio, then went on to a stage revival of Pygmalion wherein he met his future wife, actress Carolyn Coates. The actor appeared on such TV soap operas as As the World Turns (1956), A World Apart (1970) and such Broadway productions as "1776" (a role he took to the movie 1776 (1972)), spending much of his spare time in psychotherapy to handle his ongoing feelings of self-doubt. In films from the mid '70s, Noble principally played small roles as authority figures and politicians (Being There (1979), The Nude Bomb (1980)), with occasional larger roles. such as Bo Derek's father in 10 (1979). In 1979, Noble was cast as the genially absent-minded "Governor Gene Gatling" on the sitcom, Benson (1979), a role in which he remained until the series' 1986 cancellation. Two years later, he resurfaced on TV in the role of a Nebraska-based recording engineer on the very short-lived sitcom, First Impressions (1988).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 5, 1922
Died
March 28, 2016 (aged 94)
From
Dallas, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 54 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 23% in 30 days

What are James Noble's films like?

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

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
36%
Morality
26%
Survival
15%
Bonds
15%
Power
6%
Society
3%
Deception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 9 · Intense 0

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 4 · 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

Casual 3 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 3
Ally
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Warm
7
Melancholic
3
Absurd
2
Hopeful
1
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous2

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 James Noble's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Noble'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

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

  • Fake(2011)

    as Mr. Rousseau

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Beech is Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • They Bite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Scientist #1

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

    as Rooftop Dealer

  • Peak Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Naughton

  • Born Kicking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Hudson

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Nelson Kurland

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again(1990)

    as Mr. Hyrum Lodge

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Chances Are(1989)

    as Dr. Bailey

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Dr. Gilmore Blount

  • Father Dowling Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Karnes

  • First Impressions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 8 episodes · as Raymond Voss

  • Paramedics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Chief Wilkins

  • A Tiger's Tale(1987)

    as Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Day My Kid Went Punk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Max Smiley

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam(1987)

    as Leonard Weeks

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • You Talkin' to Me?(1987)

    as Peter Archer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Deadly Deception (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Ed Shoat

  • When the Bough Breaks(1986)

    as Dr. Warren Towle

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Perfect Strangers(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Cinderella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as King Rupert III

  • The Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Carlisle

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Scarecrow and Mrs. King(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

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

    as Gavin McNab

  • The Woman Who Willed a Miracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Dr. Edwards

  • Airplane II: The Sequel(1982)

    as Father O'Flanagan

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as King Rupert III

  • This Is Kate Bennett... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Tom Fairmont

  • Baby Comes Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Dr. Elliott Olsen

  • Being There(1979)

    as Kaufman

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Promises in the Dark(1979)

    as Dr. Blankenship

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • 10(1979)

    as Dr. Miles

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Benson(1979)

    Show 158 episodes · as Eugene Gatling

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Dr. Metz

  • Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II(1978)

    as Ed

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Summer of My German Soldier(1978)

    as Pierce

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Breaking Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Haberle

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Elliot Norton · as Martin Corell

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Andros Targets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Tierney

  • Death Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Norman

  • Dragonfly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Dr. Lee

  • The Adams Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Jonathan Sewall

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Treasury Agent Kendall

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Who? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as General Deptford

  • 1776(1972)

    as Rev. John Witherspoon (NJ)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • ABC Afterschool Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Max Smiley

  • Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me(1971)

    as Father Pettis

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Sporting Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Canon Pritchard

  • A World Apart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 322 episodes · Actor

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • What's So Bad About Feeling Good?(1968)

    as Board Member

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

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

    Show 39 episodes · as Dr. Bill Winters

  • The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Ron Mayberry

Career shape

Star power in the 86th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 54 titles from 1961 to 2011; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

A Tiger's Tale (1987)

$208K worldwide

Highest rated

When the Bough Breaks (1986)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

Benson (1979)

Film career

19612011

Peak 1990 · 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.

  • 1972Screen debut· 1776

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting54 of 54: 54 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

By decade

1960s3 · acting1970s21 · acting1980s22 · acting1990s6 · acting2000s1 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 6 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 James Noble's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 16; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Fake (2011)

75th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Being There (1979)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 49. 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.

Who does James Noble work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Noble's MovieCove titles; Bruce Davison shares the most, 2.