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Lorne Greene

Lorne Greene

Actor · Died September 11, 1987, aged 72 · Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Lorne Hyman Greene (born Lyon Himan Green; February 12, 1915 – September 11, 1987) was a Canadian actor, singer, and radio personality. His notable television roles include Ben Cartwright on the Western Bonanza and Commander Adama in the original science-fiction television series Battlestar Galactica and Galactica 1980. He also worked on the Canadian television nature documentary series Lorne Greene's New Wilderness and in television commercials. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lorne Greene, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 12, 1915
Died
September 11, 1987 (aged 72)
From
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Actor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 114 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 7% in 30 days

What are Lorne Greene's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th 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
Survival
26%
Morality
22%
Society
21%
Bonds
16%
Self
11%
Ideas
3%
Power
2%
Survival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 10 · Intense 4

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

A split, not a type: Steady 10 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 0

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 6 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 5 of 12 analyzed roles.

Mentor
5 of 12
Hero
3 of 12
Shadow
2 of 12
Ally
2 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Thrilling
7
Hopeful
7
Melancholic
7
Warm
5
Other
10

How their films linger

Hopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet11
  • 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 Lorne Greene's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lorne Greene'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

114 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 29 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory(1987)

    as Gen. Sam Houston

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Noah's Ark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Noah (voice)

  • Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Theo

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Fusco

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Heidi's Song(1982)

    as Grandfather (voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Lorne Greene's New Wilderness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 104 episodes · as Narrator

  • Police Squad! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Stabbed Man

  • Code Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 21 episodes · as Battalion Chief Joe Rorchek

  • Aloha Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Conquest of the Earth(1980)

    as Cmdr. Adama

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • A Time for Miracles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bishop John Carroll

  • The Alan Thicke Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Klondike Fever(1979)

    as Inspector Sam Steele

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Siegfried and Roy - Superstars Of Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Galactica 1980(1980)

    Show 10 episodes · as Commander Adama

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack(1979)

    as Cmdr. Adama

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • A Walking Tour of Sesame Street(1979)

    as Ben Cartwright (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Little Brown Burro(1978)

    as Storyteller (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Battlestar Galactica(1978)

    as Cmdr. Adama

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Battlestar Galactica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 21 episodes · as Commander Adama

  • The Bastard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Bishop Francis

  • SST: Death Flight(1977)

    as Marshall Cole

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Case of the Baltimore Girls(1978)

    as Wade Griffin

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Matthew Arnold Watson

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · as Buck Hamilton

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Roots(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 4 episodes · as George Quartermain

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

    as Wade Griffin

  • Tidal Wave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Ambassador Warren Richards

  • Nevada Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Jonas Cord

  • High Country Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Earthquake(1974)

    as Sam Royce

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love(1974)

    as Hercule

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

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

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • To the Wild Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Host

  • The Legend of Amaluk: An Arctic Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Narrator

  • Death Follows a Psycho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • The Special London Bridge Special(1972)

    as Fiddler on the Roof

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Appointment With Destiny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

  • The Harness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Peter Randall

  • A Place in History (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Narrator

  • A Man for Loving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as James Beal

  • Swing Out, Sweet Land(1970)

    as George Washington

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Gifts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Narrator

  • Destiny of a Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Peter Vanin

  • A Way Out of the Wilderness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Narrator

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as James Beal

  • Christmas with Lorne Greene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Bonanza: Ride the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Ben Cartwright

  • The Dean Martin Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Third Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 431 episodes · as Ben Cartwright

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Hangman(1959)

    as Clem J. Cummings

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Trap(1959)

    as Davis

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Buccaneer(1958)

    as Mercier

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Bronco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Last of the Fast Guns(1958)

    as Michael O'Reilly

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Gift of Love(1958)

    as Grant Allan

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Shirley Temple's Storybook(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as King Bertrand

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Peyton Place(1957)

    as District Attorney

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Hard Man(1957)

    as Rice Martin

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Edge of Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Lowell Williams

  • Suspicion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Monty

  • Sailor of Fortune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 26 episodes · as Capt. Grant 'Mitch' Mitchell

  • Mayerling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Emperor's Aide

  • Autumn Leaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Mr. Hanson

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. X

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Folio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 2 episodes · as Beethoven · as Patiomkin

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Bell

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Tight Spot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Benjamin Costain

  • The Silver Chalice(1954)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Charles Saunders

  • Social-Sex Attitudes in Adolescence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as narrator

  • 1984 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as O'Brien

  • Farewell Oak Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Narrator

  • Age of Turmoil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Narrator

  • Meaning of Adolescence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Narrator

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Date of Birth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Narration (voice)

  • A Capital Plan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Narrator

  • What's on Your Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Narrator

  • Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show Actor

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Alexander Ferrando · as Dr. Madison West · as Frank Leslie · as Minister of the Interior · as Minister of Truth O'Brien

  • Johnny at the Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Actor

  • Tomorrow's Citizens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Narrator

  • Headline Hunters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Gateway to Asia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The War Is Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Narrator

  • Now—The Peace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Narrator (uncredited)

  • Ordeal by Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Wounded in Action (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Global Air Routes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Look to the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Our Northern Neighbour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Pincers on Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Narrator

  • Train Busters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Trans-Canada Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Fighting Sea-Fleas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Wings on Her Shoulder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Fighting Norway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Mask of Nippon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Battle for Oil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Narrator

  • Inside Fighting China (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Narrator

  • Warclouds in the Pacific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Churchill's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Heroes of the Atlantic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Battle of Brains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Wings of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Children from Overseas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Narrator

  • Atlantic Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Narrator

  • Front of Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Narrator

  • Home Front (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Narrator

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 114 titles from 1940 to 1987; peak year 1979.

Biggest box office

Earthquake (1974)

$80M worldwide

Highest rated

Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (1979)

Midcredits 75th

Most popular right now

Bonanza (1959)

Film career

19401987

Peak 1979 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 2 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
Acting114 of 114: 114 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56th

By decade

1940s33 · acting1950s29 · acting1960s6 · acting1970s31 · acting1980s15 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 10 roles
5459

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 Lorne Greene's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 22; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 30 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

The Special London Bridge Special (1972)

92nd percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love (1974)

Midcredits 90th · 76% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 33. 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 Lorne Greene's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 23 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Lorne Greene work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lorne Greene's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Glen A. Larson shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers