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Hart Bochner

Hart Bochner

Actor, also director, producer and writer · Born October 3, 1956 (70) · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hart Matthew Bochner  (born October 3, 1956) is a Canadian film actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. Bochner was born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Ruth (née Roher), a concert pianist, and actor Lloyd Bochner. Bochner appeared in such films as Islands in the Stream (1977), Breaking Away (1979), Terror Train (1980), Rich and Famous (1981), Supergirl (1984) and Die Hard (1988). He portrayed a cold-blooded killer in Apartment Zero (1988) and also starred in Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000). Among the films he has directed are PCU and High School High. He also starred in a key role as Byron Henry in the 1988 ABC miniseries War and Remembrance. He is a board member of the Environmental Media Awards. He starred as Zach, boyfriend of Molly Kagan (Debra Messing), on USA Network's The Starter Wife. Description above from the Wikipedia article Hart Bochner, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 3, 1956 (70)
From
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Actor, also director, producer and writer
Titles
35 on Motif · 53 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 3% in 30 days

What are Hart Bochner's films like?

Across their 23 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Motif score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Motif score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Motif score: 37th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Motif score: 25th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Motif score: 40th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
30%
Morality
23%
Bonds
21%
Power
8%
Survival
7%
Society
7%
Ideas
3%
Purpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 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 12 · Serious 5 · Dark 6

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 8 · Intense 7

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

A split, not a type: Steady 11 · Shifting 8 · 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 10 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 7

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 13 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 8 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 8
Shapeshifter
2 of 8
Trickster
2 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
8
Warm
6
Joyful
6
Bittersweet
5
Other
24

How their films linger

Fun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous6

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 Hart Bochner's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 35 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Hart Bochner's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

53 credits, 35 with a Motif page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Last Stand of Ellen Cole (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as Duke

  • Forty Winks(2022)

    as The Narrator (voice)

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Too Old to Die Young(2019)

    Show 4 episodes · as Lieutenant

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Rules Don't Apply(2016)

    as Colonel Willis

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • NCIS: New Orleans(2014)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Creating 'Carrie'(2014)

    as Mr. Hargensen

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Carrie(2013)

    as Mr. Hargensen (uncredited)

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Scandal(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Mayor Verrano

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Franklin & Bash(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Patrick Fitzgerald

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Spread(2009)

    as Will (uncredited)

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Starter Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 10 episodes · as Zach McNeal

  • Just Add Water(2008)

    Director · Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Inside (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Cole Brandt

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Julian Crest

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Baby for Sale (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Steve Johnson

  • Liberty Stands Still(2002)

    as Capt. Hank Willford

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Speaking of Sex(2001)

    as Felix

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Ben Hothorne

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Say Nothing (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Matt Needham

  • Night Visions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack (segment "Used Car")

  • Silicon Follies (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Urban Legends: Final Cut(2000)

    as Professor Solomon

    Motif score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Anywhere But Here(1999)

    as Josh Spritzer

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Break Up(1998)

    as Frankie Dade

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Bulworth(1998)

    as Hugh Waldron (uncredited)

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • High School High(1996)

    Director

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Children of the Dust (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Shelby Hornbeck

  • PCU(1994)

    Director

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Batman: Mask of the Phantasm(1993)

    as Arthur Reeves (voice)

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Innocent(1993)

    as Russell

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Complex of Fear (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Ray Dolan

  • Mad at the Moon(1992)

    as Miller Brown

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • And the Sea Will Tell(1991)

    as Buck Walker

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • And the Sea Will Tell (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Buck Walker

  • Mr. Destiny(1990)

    as Niles Pender

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Teach 109 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Dr. Bonner

  • Fellow Traveller (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Clifford Byrne

  • Apartment Zero (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Jack Carney

  • War and Remembrance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 12 episodes · as Byron Henry

  • Die Hard(1988)

    as Harry Ellis

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Making Mr. Right(1987)

    as Don

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Supergirl: The Making of the Movie(1985)

    as Ethan (archive footage)

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Sun Also Rises (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jakes Barnes

  • The Wild Life(1984)

    as David Curtiss

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Supergirl(1984)

    as Ethan

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Having It All(1982)

    as Jess Enright

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Bonner (segment 'Teach 109')

  • Rich and Famous(1981)

    as Chris Adams

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • East of Eden (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Aron Trask

  • Terror Train(1980)

    as Doc

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Haywire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as William 'Bill' Hayward

  • Breaking Away(1979)

    as Rod

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Islands in the Stream(1977)

    as Tom

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1977 to 2024; peak year 1989.

Biggest box office

Die Hard (1988)

$144M worldwide

Highest rated

Die Hard (1988)

Motif 99th

Film career

19772024

Peak 1989 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 Motif title. 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
Acting48 of 52: 48 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score40thDirecting4 of 52: 3 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 52: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 52: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s15 · acting1990s14 · 12 acting · 2 crew2000s13 · 12 acting · 1 crew2010s6 · 5 acting · 1 crew2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 21 roles
778797

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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, 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 Hart Bochner's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Motif score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

Supergirl: The Making of the Movie (1985)

92nd percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Die Hard (1988)

Motif 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Hart Bochner's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles28–89 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles19–51 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity7 titles26–76 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles22–60 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles28–70 · median 57 · 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 Hart Bochner work with?

People who share at least 2 of Hart Bochner's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Susan Sarandon shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers