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Richard C. Sarafian

Richard C. Sarafian

Director, actor and writer, also editor and producer · Died September 18, 2013, aged 83 · New York City, New York, USA

Richard Caspar Sarafian (April 28, 1930 – September 18, 2013) was an American television and film director and actor. He compiled a versatile career that spanned over five decades as a director, actor, and writer. Sarafian is best known as the director of the 1971 film Vanishing Point.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 28, 1930
Died
September 18, 2013 (aged 83)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Director, actor and writer, also editor and producer
Titles
41 on MovieCove · 78 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 26Down 39% in 30 days

What are Richard C. Sarafian's films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: 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
Morality
29%
Power
22%
Bonds
21%
Survival
14%
Self
12%
Ideas
1%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themePower4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 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 4 · Serious 8 · Dark 13

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 12 · Intense 11

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 5

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

Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 1

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 13 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 11 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 3

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

Easy watch 6 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

1 analyzed role
  • Shadowas Paul Castellano in Gotti (1996)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
13
Thrilling
5
Romantic
4
Warm
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Thought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic5
  • 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 Richard C. Sarafian's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Richard C. Sarafian'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

78 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Masked and Anonymous(2003)

    as President

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Hitters(2002)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Dolittle 2(2001)

    as God Beaver (voice)

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Blue Streak(1999)

    as Uncle Lou

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Blink of an Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Erlik

  • Bulworth(1998)

    as Vinnie

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Bound(1996)

    as Gino Marzzone

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Gotti(1996)

    as Paul Castellano

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Hello, She Lied(1996)

    as Henry Kronfeld

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Crossing Guard(1995)

    as Sunny Ventura

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Don Juan DeMarco(1994)

    as Detective Sy Tobias

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Road Killers(1994)

    as Trucker

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Gunmen(1993)

    as Chief Chavez

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Solar Crisis(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Ruby(1992)

    as Proby

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Bugsy(1991)

    as Jack Dragna

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Wiseguy(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Street Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director · as Taxi Driver

  • The Falling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Capt. J.J. Wells (voice) (uncredited)

  • Eye of the Tiger(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Liberty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · as Philbert Evans

  • Long Time Gone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Omar

  • Foley Square (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 14 episodes · as Spiro Papadopolis

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

    Show 1 episode · as Caspar Kasabian

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

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Songwriter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Rodeo Rocky

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

    Director

  • Splendor in the Grass(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Gangster Wars(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Gangster Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 13 episodes · Director

  • The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story(1980)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Disaster on the Coastliner(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Sunburn(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • A Killing Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • The African Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • The Next Man(1976)

    Director · Screenplay · as Gregory Zolnikov (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • One of Our Own(1975)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Lolly-Madonna XXX(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Man in the Wilderness(1971)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Vanishing Point(1971)

    Director · as Man with Fire Hose (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Fragment of Fear(1970)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Run Wild, Run Free(1969)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Shadow on the Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • The Danny Thomas Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Cimarron Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Jericho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Batman(1966)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Convoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Wild Wild West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Long, Hot Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • I Spy(1965)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Big Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Andy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Writer

  • Slattery's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Redigo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Gallant Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

  • Terror at Black Falls(1962)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer

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

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

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Roaring 20's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Surfside 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Lawman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 22 episodes · Director

  • Bronco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Man Who Died Twice(1958)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Cool and the Crazy(1958)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Notorious Mr. Monks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Screenplay

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Attila(1954)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 77 titles from 1955 to 2003.

Biggest box office

Vanishing Point (1971)

$12M worldwide

Highest rated

Bound (1996)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Vanishing Point (1971)

Film career

  • 1986Screen debut· The Falling
  • 1996Career best· Bound

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting25 of 77: 21 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thDirecting53 of 77: 47 only directing, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stWriting6 of 77: 3 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing1 of 77: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleEditing1 of 77: 0 only editing, 1 with another role

77 titles, 6 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1950s12 · crew1960s23 · crew1970s11 · 2 acting · 11 crew1980s15 · 8 acting · 9 crew1990s13 · 12 acting · 1 crew2000s3 · acting

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 0% of 11 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 Richard C. Sarafian's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 37th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 41 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · director

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story (1980)

97th percentile spread · 64% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Twilight Zone (1959)

Midcredits 97th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 61/100 and the pacing 45/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Richard C. Sarafian's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 58 · 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 Richard C. Sarafian work with?

People who share at least 2 of Richard C. Sarafian's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Florio shares the most, 4.

Actors

Editors

Producers

Mixed roles