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Kevin Whately

Kevin Whately

Actor · Born February 6, 1951 (75) · Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK

Kevin Whately (born 6 February 1951) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as DS Robert Lewis in the crime drama series "Inspector Morse (1987–2000)" and as DI Robert Lewis in the spinoff "Lewis (2006–2015)".

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 6, 1951 (75)
From
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 52 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 26Up 13% in 30 days

What are Kevin Whately's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile
: browse their Documentary 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
Bonds
28%
Self
22%
Society
20%
Morality
13%
Survival
13%
Power
4%
Justice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 5 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 1 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 2 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 1 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 2 · 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 3 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 1

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

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 4

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 3 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Ally
1 of 3
Shadow
1 of 3
Hero
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
5
Warm
4
Tense
4
Contemplative
4
Hopeful
3
Other
3

How their films linger

Thought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 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

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Kevin Whately's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on BritBox (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kevin Whately'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

52 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Inheritance(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · as Michael

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Who Shot Simon Cowell?(2017)

    as DI Robert Lewis

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Murdered by My Fiancé(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sunday For Sammy 2016 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • The Railway: Keeping Britain On Track (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 6 episodes · as Narrator

  • Vera(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Creelan

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Some Dogs Do (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as narrator

  • Joe Maddison's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Joe Maddison

  • Cowboy Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Narrator

  • Little Rabbit Foo Foo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Narrator

  • The Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Cameron

  • Carlo and the Really Nice Librarian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator

  • Who Gets the Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Jack Evans

  • The Ravenous Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as voice

  • Inspector Lewis(2006)

    Show 41 episodes · as Detective Inspector Robert 'Robbie' Lewis

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Live! Girls! Present Dogtown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Narrator

  • Dad(2005)

    as Oliver James

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Belonging (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jacob Copplestone

  • The Legend of the Tamworth Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Wolf

  • New Tricks(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Promoted to Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Maj. Nigel Hurst

  • Silent Cry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Dr Richard Herd

  • Plain Jane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as David Bruce

  • Murder in Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Nigel Liddy

  • Purely Belter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Mr. Caird

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

    as Clive

  • Pure Wickedness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Geoff Meadows

  • What Katy Did(1999)

    as Dr. Carr

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Broker's Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 12 episodes · as James 'Jimmy' Griffin

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeremy Whittingdale

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Gobble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Colin Worsfold

  • The English Patient(1996)

    as Sgt. Hardy

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Trip Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Skallagrigg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Sam Hopkins

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

    Show 36 episodes · as Dr. Jack Kerruish

  • B&B (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Steve Shepard

  • Night Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Neil Baldwin

  • Comic Relief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Geordie Racer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Inspector Morse(1987)

    Show 28 episodes · as Detective Sergeant Lewis

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Neil Baldwin

  • Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Detective Sergeant Fletcher

  • Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 38 episodes · as Neville Hope

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

    Show 1 episode · as Jameson Adams

  • The Return of the Soldier(1982)

    as Hostile Soldier's Mate

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Fair Stood the Wind for France (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Lancaster Crew

  • The Dig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bob Smith

  • Shoestring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Bobby Treen

  • Strangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Hobb

  • Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Smith

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1974 to 2023; peak year 1996.

Biggest box office

The English Patient (1996)

$232M worldwide

Highest rated

Inspector Morse (1987)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Inspector Lewis (2006)

Film career

19742023

Peak 1996 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 2 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
Acting52 of 52: 52 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score84th

By decade

1970s4 · acting1980s10 · acting1990s11 · acting2000s19 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s1 · acting

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.

How do Kevin Whately's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 6; across their 5 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 89th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Reach · how many have seen their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 12 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser3
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

Who Shot Simon Cowell? (2017)

79th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Inspector Morse (1987)

Midcredits 94th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles; fans 86, detractors 58. 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 Kevin Whately'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 54 · moderateMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 36

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

Who does Kevin Whately work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kevin Whately's MovieCove titles; Clare Holman shares the most, 2.