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Paul Michael Glaser

Paul Michael Glaser

Actor and director, also producer and writer · Born March 25, 1943 (83) · Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Paul Michael Glaser (born March 25, 1943) is an American actor and director, perhaps best known for his role as Detective David Starsky on the 1970s television series Starsky and Hutch; he also appeared as Captain Jack Steeper on the 1999 to 2005 NBC series Third Watch. Description above from the Wikipedia article Paul Michael Glaser, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 25, 1943 (83)
From
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor and director, also producer and writer
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 59 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 28% in 30 days

What are Paul Michael Glaser's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
42%
Self
21%
Morality
12%
Society
10%
Survival
7%
Power
4%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 4 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 6 · Intense 4

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 9 · 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 10 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 2 of 8 analyzed roles.

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

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Joyful
5
Thrilling
6
Warm
5
Romantic
2
Other
14

How their films linger

Feel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet6
  • 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 Paul Michael Glaser's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Michael Glaser'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

59 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • F-Stops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Old Gabe

  • Grace and Frankie(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Leo

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Ray Donovan(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Alan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers(2010)

    as Kjeld Playwell (voice)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • A Clutch Powers 4D Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Kjeld Playwell (voice)

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter Crew

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Live!(2007)

    as Network President

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Raines(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Detective Garrity

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • E-Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Davis Mayhan

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Ladies Night(2005)

    as Art Kirkland/Pavalek

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Brett Hanson

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Starsky & Hutch(2004)

    as Original Starsky

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Something's Gotta Give(2003)

    as Dave

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Lyon's Den (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Mister Sterling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Robbery Homicide Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Agency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

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

    as Frank Gugliatta

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Frank Gugliatta

  • Third Watch(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · as Captain Jack Steeper

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Kazaam(1996)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Special Effects: Anything Can Happen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • The Air Up There(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Cutting Edge(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Derrick contre Superman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Starsky (archive footage)

  • Double Impact(1991)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Running Man(1987)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Band of the Hand(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Otherworld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Lights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Greek Nobleman

  • Single Bars, Single Women(1984)

    as Gabe

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Attack on Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Dave Mitchell

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Amazons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Jealousy(1984)

    as Daniel

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Princess Daisy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · as North

  • Wait Till Your Mother Gets Home!(1983)

    as Bob Peters

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Phobia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Dr. Peter Ross

  • The Great Houdinis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Harry Houdini

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 92 episodes · Director · as David Starsky

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Starsky & Hutch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Det. Dave Starsky

  • The Impersonation Murder Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Gordon Lampert

  • Trapped Beneath the Sea(1974)

    as Jack Beech

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralph Correll

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Lou Giordino

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Butterflies Are Free (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Ralph Santori

  • The Sixth Sense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Fiddler on the Roof(1971)

    as Perchik

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 248 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 59 titles from 1967 to 2021; peak year 1971.

Biggest box office

Something's Gotta Give (2003)

$265M worldwide

Highest rated

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Starsky and Hutch (1975)

Film career

19672021

Peak 1971 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove 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
Acting41 of 59: 38 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thDirecting20 of 59: 16 only directing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score70thWriting1 of 59: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 59: 1 only producing, 1 with another role

59 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s14 · 14 acting · 1 crew1980s13 · 7 acting · 6 crew1990s9 · 4 acting · 6 crew2000s17 · 10 acting · 8 crew2010s4 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 13% of 8 roles

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.

How do Paul Michael Glaser's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 36th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · director, writer, producer

Kazaam (1996)

82nd percentile spread · 69% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 68, detractors 34. 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 Paul Michael Glaser's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles13–85 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles20–65 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles17–71 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles34–57 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles29–68 · median 53 · 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 Paul Michael Glaser work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Michael Glaser's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael E. Polakow shares the most, 3.

Editors

Producers