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Gerard Parkes

Gerard Parkes

Actor · Died October 19, 2014, aged 90 · Dublin, Ireland

Gerard "Gerry" Parkes was an Irish-born Canadian actor. He was born in Dublin, and moved to Toronto in 1956. He is best known for playing "Doc" on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television series Fraggle Rock and the bartender in the film The Boondock Saints and its sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. His acting career spanned film, radio, television, and the stage. Parkes worked often on CBC radio, beginning in 1959, and shifted into television and film, acting in such diverse series as the 1960s' ecological adventure series The Forest Rangers, children's show The Littlest Hobo, and the detective series Cagney and Lacey. In 1968, Parkes won the first Canadian film award (then called the Etrog and now known as the Gemini) for his portrayal of Uncle Matthew in the movie Isabel. He received the Andrew Allan Award in 1983 for Best Radio Actor, and in 1999, he won the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role for Kilt. In 1996, he portrayed Jonathan Swift in the HBO Original Film Handel's Last Chance. In 1998, he appeared on an episode of PBS's Noddy, as Wally the Wanderer in "Noah's Leaving". He appeared with Willem Dafoe and Billy Connolly in The Boondock Saints (playing a Tourette's syndrome-afflicted bartender, also named "Doc"). He reprised the role for The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. He appeared in The Adjuster (1991), premiering at the New York Film Festival. In 1991, it won the Special Silver St. George at the 17th Moscow International Film Festival. In 1993, the Toronto International Film Festival ranked the film 10th in the Top 10 Canadian Films of All Time. This page is based on a Wikipedia article written by contributors. Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 16, 1924
Died
October 19, 2014 (aged 90)
From
Dublin, Ireland
Works as
Actor
Titles
20 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 37 days to Oct 26Up 23% in 30 days

What are Gerard Parkes' films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
Morality
32%
Self
19%
Bonds
18%
Survival
13%
Society
10%
Power
7%
Ideas
2%
Justice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 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 1 · Serious 4 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 4

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

A split, not a type: Steady 5 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 1

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 5 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 6 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Melancholic
5
Romantic
2
Warm
2
Cold
2
Other
11

How their films linger

Thought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Gerard Parkes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gerard Parkes' 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, 20 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day(2009)

    as Doc

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Fraggle Rock: Dance Your Cares Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Doc (as Gerry Parkes)

  • Blessed Stranger: After Flight 111(2000)

    as Bruno Mettler

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Deeply (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Uncle Peat

  • A House Divided (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Judge Stevens

  • Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble(2000)

    as Charles Kemble

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Must Be Santa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Storm of the Century(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Orville Boucher

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • The Boondock Saints(1999)

    as Doc

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Noddy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Wally the Wanderer

  • Thanks of a Grateful Nation(1998)

    as Ferdinand Noble

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Thunder Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Prime Minister

  • Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Women(1997)

    as Father Daniel (segment "Mamusha")

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Mother Night(1996)

    as Father Patrick Keeley

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Handel's Last Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Jonathan Swift

  • It Takes Two(1995)

    as St. Bart's Priest

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Small Gifts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Priest

  • Trapped in Paradise(1994)

    as Father Gorenzel

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • That Scatterbrain Booky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • The Adjuster(1991)

    as Tim

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Henry Clay Adams

  • The Gunrunner(1989)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Common Ground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Father Foley

  • Speaking Parts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as The Father

  • The Last Winter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • War of the Worlds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Emil Gestaine

  • Short Circuit 2(1988)

    as Priest

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • A Muppet Family Christmas(1987)

    as Doc

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Fight for Life(1987)

    as Father Robert Hunt

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Heaven On Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Reverend Laird

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Monsignor Perrault

  • Fraggle Rock: Scared Silly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Doc

  • The Suicide Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Frank Bushmill

  • The Bells of Fraggle Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Doc

  • Draw!(1984)

    as Circuit Judge Fawcett

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Spasms(1983)

    as Captain Novack

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Fraggle Rock: Live by the Rule of the Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Doc

  • Fraggle Rock(1983)

    Show 96 episodes · as Doc

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Cagney and Lacey: The Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Capt. Wells

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

    as Professor Saunders

  • An American Christmas Carol(1979)

    as Jessup

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

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

    as Dr. MacCacken

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Second Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Packard

  • Freedom of the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Priest

  • The National Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 7 episodes · as Edward Blake

  • Running Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as The Old Lady's Son

  • The Pyx (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • The Apprentice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Professor

  • The First Time(1969)

    as Charles

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • A Great Big Thing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Appie

  • Isabel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Uncle Matthew

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Guvariov

  • David Thompson: The Great Mapmaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Duncan McGillivray

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 54 titles from 1964 to 2009; peak year 1995.

Biggest box office

Mother Night (1996)

$404K worldwide

Highest rated

The Boondock Saints (1999)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Fraggle Rock (1983)

Film career

19642009

Peak 1995 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting54 of 54: 54 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rd

By decade

1960s5 · acting1970s9 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s6 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
7994

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 Gerard Parkes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 18; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 20 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Women (1997)

78th percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 39. 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 Gerard Parkes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gerard Parkes' MovieCove titles; Eric Till shares the most, 2.