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Olympia Dukakis

Olympia Dukakis

Actor, also producer · Died May 1, 2021, aged 89 · Lowell, Massachusetts, USA

Olympia Dukakis (June 20, 1931 – May 1, 2021) was an American actress. She performed in more than 130 stage productions, more than 60 films and in 50 television series. Best known as a screen actress, she started her career in theater. Not long after her arrival in New York City, she won an Obie Award for Best Actress in 1963 for her off-Broadway performance in Bertolt Brecht's Man Equals Man. She later moved to film acting and won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, among other accolades, for her performance in Moonstruck (1987). She received another Golden Globe nomination for Sinatra (1992) and Emmy Award nominations for Lucky Day (1991), More Tales of the City (1998) and Joan of Arc (1999). Dukakis's autobiography, Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress, was published in 2003. In 2018, a feature-length documentary about her life, titled Olympia, was released theatrically in the United States. Description above from the Wikipedia article Olympia Dukakis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 20, 1931
Died
May 1, 2021 (aged 89)
From
Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
58 on Motif · 112 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 65 days to Oct 28Down 40% in 30 days

What are Olympia Dukakis' films like?

Across their 42 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their Motif 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
44%
Self
21%
Society
11%
Survival
11%
Morality
8%
Power
3%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds23 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 24 · Serious 9 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 26 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 16 · Charged 19 · Intense 5

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

Steady 25 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 10

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

Slow burn 26 · Even-paced 12 · 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 29 · Engaged 9 · 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 22 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 8 of 17 analyzed roles.

Mentor
8 of 17
Ally
4 of 17
Shadow
2 of 17
Hero
2 of 17
Threshold guardian
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
21
Hopeful
19
Melancholic
15
Bittersweet
12
Joyful
12
Other
35

How their films linger

Hopeful25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Olympia Dukakis' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 42 of their 58 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Olympia Dukakis' titles on Motif; 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

112 credits, 58 with a Motif page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Not to Forget(2021)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The New Abolitionists (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Producer · as Self

  • The New Greek Americans (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Narrator

  • Tales of the City(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Anna Madrigal

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Change in the Air(2018)

    as Margaret Lemke

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Infiltrator(2016)

    as Aunt Vicky

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Her Secret Sessions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Arlene

  • Emily & Tim(2015)

    as Emily (Segment 6)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • 7 Chinese Brothers(2015)

    as Grandma

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Irene & Marie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    as Marie

  • Beneath the Olive Tree (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Big Driver(2014)

    as Doreen

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • A Little Game(2014)

    as Yaya

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Spirit(2013)

    as Gwen Hollander

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Sex & Violence(2013)

    Show 15 episodes · Executive Producer · as Alex Mandalakis

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • The Misadventures of the Dunderheads(2012)

    Producer · as Ira

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Last Keepers(2013)

    as Rosmarie Carver

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Cloudburst(2011)

    as Stella

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Birds of a Feather(2011)

    as Olympia

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Bored to Death(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · as Belinda

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Away from Her(2006)

    as Marian

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • In the Land of Women(2007)

    as Phyllis

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines(2006)

    as Margie Carsen

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Day On Fire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Dr. Mary Wade

  • Jesus, Mary and Joey(2005)

    as Sophia Vitello

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Whiskey School (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Ellen Haywood

  • 3 Needles (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Hilde

  • The Thing About My Folks(2005)

    as Muriel Kleinman

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Great New Wonderful(2005)

    as Judy Hillerman

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlotte Yates

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Signs Out of Time: The Life of Archaeologist Marija Gimbutas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • Center of the Universe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 10 episodes · as Marge Barnett

  • The Librarian: Quest for the Spear(2004)

    as Margie Carsen

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Charlie's War (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Charlie

  • Mafia Doctor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Rose Dellarusso

  • The Event (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Lila Shapiro

  • Cher: The Farewell Tour(2003)

    as Rose Castorini

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Intended(2002)

    as Erina

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Guilty Hearts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Amanda Patterson

  • Strange Relations (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Esther Lipman

  • Further Tales of the City (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · as Anna Madrigal

  • Ladies and The Champ (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Sara Stevens

  • And Never Let Her Go (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Marguerite Capano

  • And Never Let Her Go (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Marguerite Capano

  • Borough of Kings (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Helen Manners

  • The Last of the Blonde Bombshells(2000)

    as Dinah

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Crimes of Honour (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Debby Marsh

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Joan of Arc (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mother Babette

  • Better Living (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Nora

  • Mafia!(1998)

    as Sophia

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • More Tales of the City (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 6 episodes · as Anna Madrigal

  • The Pentagon Wars(1998)

    as Madam Chairwoman

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Scattering Dad (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Dotty

  • A Life for a Life (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Charlotte Kiszko

  • Picture Perfect(1997)

    as Rita

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • A Match Made in Heaven(1997)

    as Helen Rosner

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Balkan Island: The Last Story of the Century (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mother

  • Milk & Money (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Goneril Plogg

  • Jerusalem (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Mother (Mrs. Gordon)

  • Never Too Late (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Rose

  • Mr. Holland's Opus(1995)

    as Principal Jacobs

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Mighty Aphrodite(1995)

    as Jocasta

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Jeffrey(1995)

    as Mrs. Marcangelo

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Dead Badge (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Dr. Doris Rice

  • Young at Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Rose Garaventi

  • Mother (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Mrs. Jay

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Clara

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • I Love Trouble(1994)

    as Jeannie

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult(1994)

    as Olympia Dukakis (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Look Who's Talking Now(1993)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Digger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Bea

  • Tales of the City (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 5 episodes · as Anna Madrigal

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Caller #3 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Cemetery Club(1993)

    as Doris Silverman

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Sinatra (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dolly Sinatra

  • Over the Hill (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Alma Harris

  • Fire in the Dark(1991)

    as Emily Miller

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Lucky Day (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Katherine Campbell

  • The General Motors Playwrights Theater (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Cunningham

  • Look Who's Talking Too(1990)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • In the Spirit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sue

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Zelda (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Steel Magnolias(1989)

    as Clairee Belcher

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Dad(1989)

    as Bette Tremont

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Look Who's Talking(1989)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Working Girl(1988)

    as Personnel Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Moonstruck(1987)

    as Rose Castorini

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Flanagan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    as Mary

  • The Equalizer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Paula G. Walsh

  • The Neighborhood (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Mrs. St Paul

  • Movie Madness(1982)

    as Helena Naxos ("Success Wanters")

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • King of America (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Mama Nicola

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

    Show 1 episode · as Anna Madrigal · as Mama Nicola

  • The Idolmaker(1980)

    as Mrs. Vacarri

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • F.D.R.: The Last Year(1980)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Rich Kids(1979)

    as Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Wanderers(1979)

    as Joey's Mother (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Andros Targets (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Marina Angelis

  • The Seagull (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    as Pauline

  • Death Wish(1974)

    as Cop at the Precinct (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Nicky's World (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Irene Kaminios

  • The Rehearsal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Sisters(1972)

    as Louise Wilanski

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Made for Each Other(1971)

    as Gig's Mother

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Pauline

  • John and Mary(1969)

    as John's Mother

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Stiletto (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Mrs. Amato (uncredited)

  • Lilith(1964)

    as Patient (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Twice a Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Young Mother

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

    Show 1 episode · as Anna Nieves

  • Search for Tomorrow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 111 titles from 1951 to 2021; peak year 1988.

Biggest box office

Look Who's Talking (1989)

$297M worldwide

Highest rated

Away from Her (2006)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Tales of the City (2019)

Film career

19512021

Peak 1988 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 5 Motif 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
Acting110 of 111: 109 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thProducing2 of 111: 1 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s5 · acting1970s10 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s36 · acting2000s26 · acting2010s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew2020s3 · 2 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 3% of 31 roles
6484940409

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 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 Olympia Dukakis' films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 50; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 58 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 58 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor, producer

The Misadventures of the Dunderheads (2012)

85th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Cher: The Farewell Tour (2003)

Midcredits 96th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 48. 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 Midcredits 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 Olympia Dukakis' work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 Motif titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles10–79 · median 27 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles24–77 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles27–58 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles24–47 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles10–84 · median 26 · mildlighter 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 Olympia Dukakis work with?

People who share at least 2 of Olympia Dukakis' Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Amy Heckerling shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles