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Fred Gwynne

Fred Gwynne

Actor · Died July 2, 1993, aged 66 · New York City, New York, USA

Fred Gwynne (July 10, 1926–July 2, 1993) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles in the 1960s sitcoms “Car 54, Where Are You?” and “The Munsters,” as well as his later roles in the films “The Cotton Club,” “Pet Sematary,” and “My Cousin Vinny.” He passed away from pancreatic cancer at age 66 in 1993.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 10, 1926
Died
July 2, 1993 (aged 66)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 11% in 30 days

What are Fred Gwynne's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Mystery2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Mystery 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
28%
Morality
26%
Self
14%
Society
13%
Survival
13%
Power
4%
Ideas
1%
Deception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

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

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

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 7 · Intense 4

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 0

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 8 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 8

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 11 · 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 12 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 17 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 17
Mentor
5 of 17
Ally
3 of 17
Hero
2 of 17
Trickster
1 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

Tense
10
Absurd
9
Warm
7
Melancholic
8
Joyful
6
Other
15

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4
  • Cyclical1

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 Fred Gwynne's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Fred Gwynne'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

53 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Auto-Tune the Munsters: A Rock Opera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Herman Munster (archive footage)

  • Waking Sleeping Beauty(2009)

    as Herman Munster (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Munsters: Family Portrait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Herman Munster

  • Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Herman Munster (archive footage)

  • Lincoln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Edwin Stanton (voice)

  • My Cousin Vinny(1992)

    as Judge Chamberlain Haller

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Shadows and Fog(1991)

    as Hacker's Follower

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Earthday Birthday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Fred the Moose (voice)

  • Murder in Black and White(1990)

    as Brannigan

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Pet Sematary(1989)

    as Jud Crandall

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Disorganized Crime(1989)

    as Max Green

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Ironweed(1987)

    as Oscar Reo

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Ten-Year Lunch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as George S. Kaufman (voice)

  • Fatal Attraction(1987)

    as Arthur

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Secret of My Success(1987)

    as Donald Davenport

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Murder by the Book(1987)

    as Victor Greville

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Star(1986)

    as Waters

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Boy Who Could Fly(1986)

    as Uncle Hugo

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Vanishing Act(1986)

    as Father Macklin

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Off Beat(1986)

    as The Commissioner

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Kane & Abel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Davis LeRoy

  • Water(1985)

    as Spender

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Cotton Club(1984)

    as Frenchy Demange

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Mysterious Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Balthasar Hoffman

  • Any Friend of Nicholas Nickleby Is a Friend of Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Charles Dickens

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

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Dickens

  • So Fine(1981)

    as Chairman Lincoln

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Munsters' Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Herman Munster

  • The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Rev. Burgess

  • Simon(1980)

    as Maj. Gen. Korey

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Luna(1979)

    as Douglas Winter

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Sanctuary of Fear(1979)

    as Judge Potter

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Captains Courageous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Long Jack

  • Bound for Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • Harvey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Cab Driver

  • Dames at Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Hennesy

  • Paradise Lost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Mr. Pike

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

    Show 1 episode · as Pike

  • The Littlest Angel(1969)

    as Patience, the Guardian Angel

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Arsenic and Old Lace(1969)

    as Jonathan Brewster

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Antkeeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Narrator

  • Munster, Go Home!(1966)

    as Herman Munster

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Salute to Stan Laurel(1965)

    as Herman Munster

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Marineland Carnival: The Munsters Visit Marineland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Herman Munster

  • The Munsters(1964)

    Show 70 episodes · as Herman Munster

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Car 54, Where Are You?(1961)

    Show 60 episodes · as Francis Muldoon

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Hughie

  • The Phil Silvers Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • On the Waterfront(1954)

    as Slim (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • You Are There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Escape From Limbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Tallow Pot Thompson

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Cab Driver

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

    Show 1 episode · as Little Dude

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles from 1948 to 2015; peak year 1988.

Biggest box office

Fatal Attraction (1987)

$320M worldwide

Highest rated

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Pet Sematary (1989)

Film career

19482015

Peak 1988 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 3 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
Acting53 of 53: 53 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s6 · acting1960s8 · acting1970s8 · acting1980s21 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s3 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 13% of 16 roles
5484

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 Fred Gwynne's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 19 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 19

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Salute to Stan Laurel (1965)

83rd percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

On the Waterfront (1954)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 44. 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 Fred Gwynne's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles22–87 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles20–71 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles33–76 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles27–46 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles9–89 · median 71 · intenseheavier 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 Fred Gwynne work with?

People who share at least 2 of Fred Gwynne's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Al Lewis shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers