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Scatman Crothers

Scatman Crothers

Actor · Died November 22, 1986, aged 76 · Terre Haute, Indiana, USA

Benjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers (May 23, 1910 – November 22, 1986) was an American actor, singer, dancer and musician known for his work as Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show Chico and the Man, and as Dick Hallorann in The Shining in 1980. He was also a prolific voiceover artist, and provided the voices of Meadowlark Lemon in the animated TV version of The Harlem Globetrotters, Jazz the Autobot in The Transformers, the title character in Hong Kong Phooey, and Scat Cat in the 1970 film The Aristocats.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 23, 1910
Died
November 22, 1986 (aged 76)
From
Terre Haute, Indiana, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 105 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 26Up 7% in 30 days

What are Scatman Crothers' films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation 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
22%
Morality
21%
Power
15%
Self
15%
Society
12%
Survival
9%
Ideas
7%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 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 14 · Serious 5 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 7

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 9 · Charged 8 · Intense 9

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

A split, not a type: Steady 12 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

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 13 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 10 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 10
Mentor
2 of 10
Threshold guardian
2 of 10
Hero
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Joyful
10
Thrilling
6
Melancholic
7
Warm
6
Other
27

How their films linger

Fun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous3

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 Scatman Crothers' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Scatman Crothers' 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

105 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Transformers: 40th Anniversary Event (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Jazz (archive audio)

  • Room 237(2012)

    as Dick Hallorann

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Scooby-Doo! and the Pirates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as (voice) (archive footage)

  • Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Jazz

  • Rock Odyssey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Jukebox (voice)

  • The Transformers: The Movie(1986)

    as Jazz (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Morningstar/Eveningstar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Jazz (voice)

  • The Journey of Natty Gann(1985)

    as Sherman

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Paw Paws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 21 episodes · as Eugene the Genie (voice)

  • Transformers(1984)

    Show 92 episodes · as Jazz (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Two of a Kind(1983)

    as Earl

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Twilight Zone: The Movie(1983)

    as Mr. Bloom

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

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

    Show 5 episodes · as Sam

  • Missing Children: A Mother's Story(1982)

    as Mose Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Deadly Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as George Faskins

  • It Takes Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Matt Houston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Garland Fisk

  • Zapped!(1982)

    as Dexter Jones

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Jokebook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · Theme Song Performance

  • Working (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Parking Attendant

  • One of the Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 13 episodes · as Bernard Soloman

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

    Show 1 episode · as Parking Attendant

  • The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island(1981)

    as Dewey Stevens

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Tickler

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Harlem Globetrotters Meet Snow White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Nate (voice)

  • Bronco Billy(1980)

    as Doc Lynch

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Shining(1980)

    as Hallorann

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Scavenger Hunt(1979)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Banjo the Woodpile Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Crazy Legs (voice)

  • Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • The Super Globetrotters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 13 episodes · as Nate Branch / Liquid Man (voice)

  • Flying High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Vega$ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Taxi(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Walt

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Cheap Detective(1978)

    as Tinker

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Mean Dog Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mudcat

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Virgil Gibson

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Scooby's All-Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 94 episodes · as Hong Kong Phooey (voice)

  • Roots(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mingo

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Silver Streak(1976)

    as Ralston

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Ben Benson

  • The Shootist(1976)

    as Moses

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Stay Hungry(1976)

    as William

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Laverne & Shirley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Friday Foster(1975)

    as Reverend Noble Franklin

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest(1975)

    as Orderly Turkle

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Coonskin(1974)

    Songs · as Pappy / Old Man Bone (voice)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Man on the Outside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Ruben Hammer

  • The Fortune(1975)

    as Fisherman

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Linda Lovelace for President(1975)

    as Super Black

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Win, Place or Steal(1974)

    as Attendant

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Chico and the Man(1974)

    Show 88 episodes · as Louie

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Kolchak: The Night Stalker(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Uncle Filemon

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Hong Kong Phooey(1974)

    Show 31 episodes · as Hong Kong Phooey (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Truck Turner(1974)

    as Duke

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Sty of the Blind Pig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Doc

  • Black Belt Jones(1974)

    as Pop Byrd

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Gaylord Fuller

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Griff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Rawls

  • Scooby-Doo! Meets the Harlem Globetrotters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as (voices)

  • Slaughter's Big Rip-Off(1973)

    as Cleveland

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Detroit 9000(1973)

    as Reverend Markham

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The King of Marvin Gardens(1972)

    as Lewis

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Lady Sings the Blues(1972)

    as Big Ben

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Temperatures Rising (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The New Scooby-Doo Movies(1972)

    Show 3 episodes · as Meadowlark Lemon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Lorax(1972)

    as Singer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Sanford and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Chandler(1971)

    as Smoke

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Floyd

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Nichols (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack

  • The Aristocats(1970)

    as Scat Cat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Great White Hope(1970)

    as Carnival Barker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Odd Couple(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Blind Man

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Harlem Globetrotters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 22 episodes · Actor

  • Bloody Mama(1970)

    as Moses

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Hello, Dolly!(1969)

    as Mr. Jones (Porter) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as One-Man Band

  • Hook, Line and Sinker(1969)

    as The Corpse (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as George Strothers

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Jason

  • Bewitched(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Handler

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Patsy(1964)

    as Shoeshine Boy

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Lady in a Cage(1964)

    as Mr. Paul's Assistant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Sins of Rachel Cade(1961)

    as Musinga

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Tarzan and the Trappers(1960)

    as Tyana (as Sherman Crothers) · as Tyana

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Train Attendant (uncredited)

  • Bourbon Street Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Jud

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Porgy and Bess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Crabman

  • Alias Jesse James(1959)

    as Railroad Porter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Between Heaven and Hell(1956)

    as George (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Jim Bowie(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Timothy

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Walking My Baby Back Home(1953)

    as Smiley

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • East of Sumatra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Baltimore (as Scat Man Crothers)

  • Meet Me at the Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Enoch Jones

  • Yes Sir, Mr. Bones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Scatman

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnson

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 104 titles from 1950 to 2024; peak year 1975.

Biggest box office

The Aristocats (1970)

$191M worldwide

Highest rated

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Shining (1980)

Film career

19502024

Peak 1975 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 12 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
Acting103 of 104: 102 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thOther crew2 of 104: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s12 · acting1960s12 · acting1970s51 · 51 acting · 1 crew1980s27 · 26 acting · 1 crew2010s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 3% of 34 roles
56667681

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.

How do Scatman Crothers' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 41; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

30 of their 63 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser30
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · actor

Win, Place or Steal (1974)

87th percentile spread · 61% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 40. 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 Scatman Crothers' work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles28–84 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles10–72 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles29–88 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles23–56 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles15–84 · median 59 · 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 Scatman Crothers work with?

People who share at least 2 of Scatman Crothers' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jack Nicholson shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles