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Jay O. Sanders

Jay O. Sanders

Actor · Born April 16, 1953 (73) · Austin, Texas, USA

Independent Spirit Award winner

Jay Olcutt Sanders (born April 16, 1953) is an American film, theatre and television actor and playwright. He frequently appears in plays off-Broadway at The Public Theatre. He has received a Drama Desk Award and a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award. Sanders made his off-Broadway debut in a Shakespeare in the Park production of Henry V in 1976. He originated the role of Bradley in Sam Shepard's Buried Child (1978). He made his Broadway debut in the play Loose Ends (1979). He returned to Broadway in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1983), Saint Joan (1993), Pygmalion (2007), Girl from the North Country (2020), and Purlie Victorious (2023). He made his feature film debut in the comedy Starting Over (1979). He had notable roles in films such as Cross Creek (1983), Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988), Glory (1989), JFK (1991), Hostages (1992), Angels in the Outfield (1994), Music of the Heart (1999), Tumbleweeds (1999), and Revolutionary Road (2008). He took recurring roles in television series including Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Good Wife, Person of Interest, Blindspot, and Sneaky Pete. He has served as the narrator for the shows Wide Angle, Nova, and Secrets of the Dead. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jay O. Sanders, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 16, 1953 (73)
From
Austin, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
94 on MovieCove · 173 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 3% in 30 days

What are Jay O. Sanders' films like?

Across their 54 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Thriller 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
25%
Morality
18%
Survival
18%
Society
6%
Ideas
3%
Power
3%
Family bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice12 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief11 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 51 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 22 · Serious 14 · Dark 15

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

Grounded 42 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 15 · Charged 22 · Intense 14

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

A split, not a type: Steady 25 · 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 30 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 28 · Relentless 2

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 24 · Engaged 22 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 17 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 14

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

Resolved 36 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 4 of 16 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
4 of 16
Ally
3 of 16
Shapeshifter
2 of 16
Shadow
2 of 16
Mentor
2 of 16
Herald
2 of 16
Hero
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
27
Melancholic
20
Hopeful
19
Warm
15
Contemplative
14
Other
43

How their films linger

Hopeful26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy20
  • Bittersweet18
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous11

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 Jay O. Sanders' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 62 of their 94 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (24).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jay O. Sanders' 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

173 credits, 94 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Remain(2027)

    Actor

  • Queens of Combat: Rome's Female Gladiators (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Narrator

  • The Rise & Fall of the Colosseum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Narration

  • Girl From the North Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Nick Laine

  • His Three Daughters(2023)

    as Vincent

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee

  • Decoding the Universe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator

  • Lost Treasures of Angkor: Ancient Laos Revealed(2024)

    Show as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Outrage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Frank Brand

  • When You Finish Saving the World(2022)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths(2022)

    as Ambassador Jones

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Road to Galena(2022)

    as John Baird

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Incidental Moments of the Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Richard Apple

  • And So We Come Forth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Richard Apple

  • Tapes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • What Do We Need to Talk About? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Richard Apple

  • Regular Singing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Richard Apple

  • Sorry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Richard Apple

  • Sweet and Sad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Richard Apple

  • That Hopey Changey Thing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Richard Apple

  • The Assistant(2019)

    as Boss (voice)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • NOVA: Decoding da Vinci (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Uncle Vanya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Vanya

  • World War Speed: The Drugs That Won WWII (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Narrator

  • DC Noir(2019)

    as Sgt. Peters

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Saving the Dead Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Secrets of the Dead: The Nero Files (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Violin Alone(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Broken Places(2018)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • NOVA: Prediction by the Numbers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • NOVA: First Face of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Vice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Governor

  • Ghosts of Stonehenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Manhunt(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Watson Bryant

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Holocaust Escape Tunnel(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play Three: Women of a Certain Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as George Gabriel

  • The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play Two: What Did You Expect? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as George Gabriel

  • The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play One: Hungry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as George Gabriel

  • Catfight(2016)

    as Angry Guy

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • NOVA: Why Trains Crash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • NOVA: Secrets of the Sky Tombs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Secrets of the Dead: Graveyard of the Giant Beasts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Iceman Reborn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • NOVA: Mystery Beneath the Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • NOVA: Life's Rocky Start (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • NOVA: Secret Tunnel Warfare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Inside Einstein's Mind: The Enigma of Space and Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Chicago Med(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Cray

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Secrets of the Dead: The Real Trojan Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • NOVA: Secrets of Noah's Ark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Blindspot(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Bill Weller

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Dawn of Humanity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Sneaky Pete(2015)

    Show 15 episodes · as Sam

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • NOVA: The Great Math Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Northern Borders(2013)

    as Agent Sanders

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Mystery of Mona Lisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Gathering Swarms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • True Detective(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Billy Lee Tuttle

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • NOVA: Cold Case JFK (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Phil

  • NOVA: Who Killed Lindbergh's Baby? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Man Who Stopped WW3: Revealed/The Man Who Saved the World(2012)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • NOVA: Secrets of the Viking Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Earth from Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • A Novel Romance(2011)

    as Walter Evans

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Pan Am(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Douglas Vanderway

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Person of Interest(2011)

    Show 9 episodes · as Special Counsel

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Unforgettable(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Jonathan Hedstrom

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • I'm Coming Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Walter

  • Green Lantern(2011)

    as Carl Ferris

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Hunting the Edge of Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Presenter

  • Body of Proof(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Harvey Brady

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • The Jewel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Mr. Rothman

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy Reagan

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Edge of Darkness(2010)

    as Whitehouse

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Riddles of the Sphinx (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Secrets of Stonehenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Judge Hal Ferris

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • I Hate Valentine's Day(2009)

    as Tim the Delivery Guy

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Undying(2009)

    as Dr. Russell Lassiter

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Revolutionary Road(2008)

    as Bart Pollock

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Cadillac Records(2008)

    as Mr. Feder

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • NOVA: Arctic Dinosaurs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Dissection of Thanksgiving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Cliff

  • Kill the Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Dr. Susskind

  • NOVA: Judgement Day - Intelligent Design on Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Greetings from the Shore(2007)

    as Commodore Callaghan

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Damages(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Calder Security Executive

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Happenstance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Bob

  • The Valley of Light(2006)

    as Howard

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Wedding Daze(2006)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Half Nelson(2006)

    as Russ Dunne

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Day After Tomorrow(2004)

    as Frank Harris

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Hair High(2004)

    as Football Announcer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Abby Singer(2003)

    as Kevin's Father

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear(2003)

    as Douglas Duncan

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Salem Witch Trials (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Thomas Putnam

  • Widows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 4 episodes · as Detective John Maynard

  • Dead Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Frank Edmonds

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 8 episodes · as Harry Rowan, Sr. · as Joseph Hannah

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Brickmaker in America(2001)

    as Mike Potter

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Boss of Bosses(2001)

    as Joseph O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Along Came a Spider(2001)

    as Kyle Craig

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Familiar Stranger(2001)

    as Patrick Hennessy Welsh

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

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

    as Bo Tatum

  • Secrets of the Dead(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

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

    as Howard Bevens

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Butowski

  • Wild Costa Rica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Narrator

  • Earthly Possessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Zack Emery

  • Tumbleweeds(1999)

    as Dan Miller

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Music of the Heart(1999)

    as Dan Paxton

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • ATF(1999)

    as Sam Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Life of Girls(1999)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Jack Bull(1999)

    as Atty. Gen. Metcalfe

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Confession(1999)

    as Jack Renoble

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Odd Couple II(1998)

    as Leroy

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Wrestling with Alligators (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Rick

  • For Richer or Poorer(1997)

    as Samuel Yoder

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The MatchMaker(1997)

    as Senator John McGlory

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Kiss the Girls(1997)

    as FBI Agent Kyle Craig

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Daylight(1996)

    as Steven Crighton

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Prosecutors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as DA Alan Baker

  • Silver Strand(1995)

    as Lucas Hughes

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Three Wishes(1995)

    as Coach Schramka

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Down Came a Blackbird(1995)

    as Jan Talbeck

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Big Green(1995)

    as Jay Huffer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Xander

  • Kiss of Death(1995)

    as Federal Agent

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Barkley

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • New York Undercover(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Howard

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Angels in the Outfield(1994)

    as Ranch Wilder

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Nobody's Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Joe Stevens

  • State of Emergency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Dr. Jeffrey Forrest

  • Rio Shannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as John Cleary

  • My Boyfriend's Back(1993)

    as Sheriff McCloud

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Hostages (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Terry Anderson

  • JFK(1991)

    as Lou Ivon

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Meeting Venus(1991)

    as Stephen Taylor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Defenseless(1991)

    as Bull Dozer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • V.I. Warshawski(1991)

    as Murray Ryerson

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Destiny(1990)

    as Jackie Earle

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Defense Attorney Alan Fenwick · as Nick Taska / Bill Fallon

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Northern Exposure(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. John Summer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Revealing Evidence: Stalking the Honolulu Strangler(1990)

    as Tom Marshall

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Glory(1989)

    as Gen. George Crockett Strong

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Cold Sassy Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Clayton McAllister

  • Just Like in the Movies(1989)

    as Ryan Legrand

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Booker(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Gordon Rudd

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Roseanne(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ziggy

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Prince of Pennsylvania(1988)

    as Trooper Joe

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Tucker: The Man and His Dream(1988)

    as Kirby

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Revolt of Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Adam Penn

  • The Misfit Brigade(1987)

    as Tiny

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Crime Story(1986)

    Show 24 episodes · as Steve Kordo

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Michael Phillips

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Spenser: For Hire(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Crawford

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Det. Tim Duryea

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • A Doctor's Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Dr. Curtis

  • Kate & Allie(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim Merr

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Cross Creek(1983)

    as Charles Rawlings

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Eddie Macon's Run(1983)

    as Rudy Potts

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story(1983)

    as Dick Willey

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Nature(1982)

    Show 5 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Hanky Panky(1982)

    as Katz

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Penn

  • Starstruck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Mr. Miller

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

    Show 3 episodes · as Seth

  • The Day Christ Died(1980)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Starting Over(1979)

    as Larry

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Scarlet Letter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as Robert Salter

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Miller

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Howard

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 172 titles, 171 of them dated from 1951 to 2026; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

$553M worldwide

Highest rated

His Three Daughters (2023)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

Sneaky Pete (2015)

Film career

19512026

Peak 1998 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 6 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
Acting171 of 172: 171 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thOther crew1 of 172: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s3 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s36 · acting2000s32 · acting2010s56 · 55 acting · 1 crew2020s19 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 42 roles
798994990409

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.

Awards

Won an Independent Spirit Award in 2025.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Jay O. Sanders' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of the 65 of 67 with a score; across their 49 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Midcredits score across 92 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up26
  • 50th to 74th28
  • 25th to 49th25
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

44 of their 92 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser44
  • Broadly Agreed10
  • Mixed23

Most divisive · actor

Abby Singer (2003)

97th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

JFK (1991)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 45 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 46. 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 Jay O. Sanders' work okay for kids?

Across up to 18 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles3–79 · median 47 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity18 titles8–58 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity15 titles42–79 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles17–53 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles23–66 · median 54 · moderateheavier 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 Jay O. Sanders work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jay O. Sanders' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Randy Edelman shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles