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Alan Bates

Alan Bates

Actor · Died December 27, 2003, aged 69 · Allestree, Derbyshire, England

BAFTA Award winner · Screen Actors Guild Award winner · Oscar nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Sir Alan Arthur Bates CBE (17 February 1934 – 27 December 2003) was an English actor, who came to prominence in the 1960s, a time of high creativity in British cinema, when he demonstrated his versatility in films ranging from the popular children’s story Whistle Down the Wind to the "kitchen sink" drama A Kind of Loving. He is also known for his tour-de-force with Anthony Quinn, Zorba the Greek, as well as his roles in King of Hearts, Georgy Girl, Far From the Madding Crowd, and The Fixer, which gave him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. In 1969, he starred in the Ken Russell film Women in Love with Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson. Bates went on to star in The Go-Between, An Unmarried Woman, Nijinsky, and The Rose with Bette Midler, as well as playing varied roles in television drama, including The Mayor of Casterbridge, Harold Pinter's The Collection, A Voyage Round My Father, An Englishman Abroad (as Guy Burgess), and Pack of Lies. He also continued to appear on the stage, notably in the plays of Simon Gray, such as Butley and Otherwise Engaged.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 17, 1934
Died
December 27, 2003 (aged 69)
From
Allestree, Derbyshire, England
Works as
Actor
Titles
53 on MovieCove · 93 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 46% in 30 days

What are Alan Bates' films like?

Across their 48 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Drama24 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
23%
Morality
19%
Bonds
18%
Power
14%
Survival
12%
Society
10%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 45 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 9 · Serious 12 · Dark 24

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

Grounded 29 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 18 · Intense 18

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

Steady 21 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 28 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 32 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 13 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 9

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 9 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 19

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 19 · Open-ended 17 · Ambiguous 9

Roles they play

38 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 14 of 38 analyzed roles.

Shadow
14 of 38
Hero
9 of 38
Mentor
5 of 38
Ally
3 of 38
Shapeshifter
2 of 38
Trickster
2 of 38
Herald
2 of 38
Threshold guardian
1 of 38
Show the 38 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
25
Melancholic
23
Bittersweet
16
Warm
11
Contemplative
16
Other
37

How their films linger

Bittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet25
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous12
  • Cyclical1

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 Alan Bates' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 53 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Alan Bates' 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

93 credits, 53 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Archive

  • Shuttlecock(1991)

    as Major James Prentis (archival footage)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Larry Kramer in Love and Anger(2015)

    as Rupert Birkin

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Discovering Hamlet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Claudius (archive footage)

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Antonius Agrippa

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

    as Antonius Agrippa

  • Hollywood North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Michael Baytes

  • The Statement(2003)

    as Armand Bertier

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Meanwhile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Father Peter

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Sir William Phips

  • Evelyn(2002)

    as Thomas Connolly

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Bertie and Elizabeth(2002)

    as King George V

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Sum of All Fears(2002)

    as Dressler

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Mothman Prophecies(2002)

    as Alexander Leek

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Gosford Park(2001)

    as Jennings

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Love in a Cold Climate(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Uncle Matthew

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The Prince and the Pauper(2000)

    as Re Enrico VIII

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • In the Beginning(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jethro

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Arabian Nights(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Storyteller

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • St. Patrick: The Irish Legend(2000)

    as Calpornius

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • 20th Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years(2000)

    as Saul

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Cherry Orchard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Gayev

  • Nicholas’ Gift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Reg Green

  • The Grotesque (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Sir Hugo Coal

  • Oliver's Travels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 5 episodes · as Oliver

  • Hard Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Josiah Bounderby

  • Hard Times(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Josiah Bounderby

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Silent Tongue(1993)

    as Eamon McCree

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Shuttlecock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Major James Prentis VC

  • Unnatural Pursuits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hamish Partt

  • Losing Track (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Henry Sitchell

  • Unnatural Pursuits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Hamish Partt

  • Secret Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as John

  • Hamlet(1990)

    as Claudius

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • 102 Boulevard Haussmann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Marcel Proust

  • Dr. M(1990)

    as Dr, Marsfeldt / Guru

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Mister Frost(1990)

    as Felix Detweiler

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Screen One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Sitchell

  • Uncontrollable Circumstances(1989)

    as Malcolm Forrest

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Dog It Was That Died(1989)

    as Blair

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • We Think the World of You(1988)

    as Frank Meadows

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Ray Bradbury Theater: And So Died Riabouchinska (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as John Fabian

  • A Prayer for the Dying(1987)

    as Jack Meehan

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Pack of Lies(1987)

    as Stewart

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Duet for One(1986)

    as David Cornwallis

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • One for the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Nicholas

  • The Ray Bradbury Theater(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as John Fabian

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Marcel Proust

  • Dr. Fischer of Geneva (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Dr. Alfred Jones

  • A Voyage Round My Father(1982)

    as John Mortimer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • An Englishman Abroad(1983)

    as Guy Burgess

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Wicked Lady(1983)

    as Captain Jerry Jackson

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Return of the Soldier(1982)

    as Captain Chris Baldry

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Separate Tables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as John Malcolm / Maj. Pollock

  • Britannia Hospital(1982)

    as Macready

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Quartet(1981)

    as H.J. Heidler

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Trespasser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Siegmund

  • Very Like a Whale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Sir Jock Mellor

  • Nijinsky(1980)

    as Sergei Diaghilev

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Rose(1979)

    as Rudge Campbell

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Shout(1978)

    as Charles Crossley

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • An Unmarried Woman(1978)

    as Saul Kaplan

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Mayor of Casterbridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 7 episodes · as Michael Henchard

  • Laurence Olivier Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show Actor

  • The Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as James

  • Two Sundays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Charles

  • Plaintiffs and Defendants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Peter

  • Royal Flash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Rudi Von Sternberg

  • In Celebration(1975)

    as Andrew Shaw

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Story of Jacob and Joseph(1974)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Butley(1974)

    as Ben Butley

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Impossible Object (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Harry

  • A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Bri

  • Second Best (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Producer · as Tom

  • The Go-Between(1971)

    as Ted Burgess

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as James

  • Three Sisters(1970)

    as Col. Vershinin

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Women in Love(1969)

    as Rupert Birkin

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Fixer(1968)

    as Yakov Bok

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Far from the Madding Crowd(1967)

    as Gabriel Oak

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • King of Hearts(1966)

    as Charles Plumpick

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Georgy Girl(1966)

    as Jos Jones

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Tractor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Joe Turrel

  • Zorba the Greek(1964)

    as Basil

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Grigor Pecharin

  • Nothing But the Best(1964)

    as Jimmy Brewster

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Guest(1963)

    as Mick

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Running Man(1963)

    as Stephen

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • A Kind of Loving(1962)

    as Victor 'Vic' Brown

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Whistle Down the Wind(1961)

    as The Man, Arthur Alan Blakey

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Entertainer(1960)

    as Frank Rice

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Lewis Black · as Mario

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

    Show 1 episode · as Stewart

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 91 titles from 1951 to 2025; peak year 1967.

Biggest box office

The Sum of All Fears (2002)

$194M worldwide

Highest rated

Zorba the Greek (1964)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

The Sum of All Fears (2002)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19512025

Peak 1967 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 7 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
Acting91 of 91: 90 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thProducing1 of 91: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s14 · acting1970s18 · 18 acting · 1 crew1980s22 · acting1990s16 · acting2000s16 · acting2010s1 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 18% of 28 roles
6065708090

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

a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and 1 other major award from 14 major nominations, 1963–2002.

WinNomination
  1. 2002
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Acting Ensemble
  2. 1993
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor
  3. 1992
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
  4. 1984
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Actor
  5. 1976
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor
  6. 1970
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor
  7. 1969
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor - Drama
  8. 1968
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor - Drama
Show 2 earlier years
  1. 1967
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor - Comedy or Musical
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Most Promising Newcomer - Male
  2. 1963
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best British Actor

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 Alan Bates' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 48; across their 45 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 45

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th24
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 53 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

20th Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years (2000)

94th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Zorba the Greek (1964)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 43 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 54. 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 Alan Bates' work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles27–65 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles25–59 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles38–84 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian 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 Alan Bates work with?

People who share at least 2 of Alan Bates' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert A. Halmi shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers