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Jason Robards

Jason Robards

Actor · Died December 26, 2000, aged 78 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Jason Nelson Robards Jr. (July 26, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an American actor. Known as an interpreter of the works of playwright Eugene O'Neill, Robards received two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. He is one of 24 performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 26, 1922
Died
December 26, 2000 (aged 78)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
64 on MovieCove · 133 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 27Up 25% in 30 days

What are Jason Robards' films like?

Across their 57 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
26%
Morality
20%
Self
15%
Survival
14%
Power
11%
Society
8%
Ideas
6%
Family bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 53 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 15 · Serious 15 · Dark 23

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

Grounded 39 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 11 · Charged 24 · Intense 18

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

Steady 31 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 35 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 32 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 22 · Engaged 25 · Full focus 6

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 17 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 16

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

Resolved 40 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

45 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 18 of 45 analyzed roles.

Mentor
18 of 45
Shadow
8 of 45
Hero
7 of 45
Trickster
4 of 45
Threshold guardian
4 of 45
Ally
3 of 45
Shapeshifter
1 of 45
Show the 45 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
31
Melancholic
32
Contemplative
19
Warm
13
Dread
11
Other
42

How their films linger

Bittersweet27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet39
  • Tragic8
  • 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 Jason Robards' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 64 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jason Robards' 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

133 credits, 64 with a MovieCove page; 26 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone(2016)

    as Ben Bradlee (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Joe's Father (video "One")

  • Going Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Charles Barton

  • Magnolia(1999)

    as Earl Partridge

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Enemy of the State(1998)

    as Congressman Phillip Hammersley (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Beloved(1998)

    as Mr. Bodwin

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Real Macaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Grandpa Girdis

  • Heartwood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Logan Reeser

  • Truman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • A Thousand Acres(1997)

    as Larry Cook

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • T.R.: The Story of Theodore Roosevelt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Narrator

  • Journey(1995)

    as Marcus

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Crimson Tide(1995)

    as Rear Admiral Anderson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • My Antonia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Josea Burden

  • The Great American West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Baseball(1994)

    Show 5 episodes · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Enemy Within(1994)

    as General R. Pendleton Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Little Big League(1994)

    as Thomas Heywood

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Paper(1994)

    as Graham Keighley

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Over Washington D.C.: Our Nation's Capital (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Narrator

  • La classe américaine(1993)

    as The Newspaper Director (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Philadelphia(1993)

    as Charles Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Roots of Roe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Anthony Comstock (voice)

  • Heidi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Großvater

  • Heidi(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Grandfather

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Doctor Huld

  • The Adventures of Huck Finn(1993)

    as The King

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

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

    as President Abraham Lincoln (voice)

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

    as Clifford Fowler

  • When It Was a Game 2(1992)

    as Passage Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

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

    as Clay (voice)

  • Mark Twain and Me(1991)

    as Mark Twain

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Rabbit Ears - Jonah and the Whale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • When It Was a Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as (voice)

  • An Inconvenient Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jules Mendelson

  • Chernobyl: The Final Warning(1991)

    as Dr. Armand Hammer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Tribute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as President Abraham Lincoln

  • The Civil War(1990)

    Show 9 episodes · as Ulysses S. Grant (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Quick Change(1990)

    as Chief Rotzinger

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Black Rainbow(1989)

    as Walter Travis

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Thomas Hart Benton(1989)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Parenthood(1989)

    as Frank Buckman

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Henry Strauss

  • Dream a Little Dream(1989)

    as Coleman Ettinger

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as John Tanner

  • The Good Mother(1988)

    as W. O. Muth

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 7 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Bright Lights, Big City(1988)

    as Mr. Hardy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Inherit the Wind(1988)

    as Harry Drummond

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Breaking Home Ties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Lloyd Wells

  • Laguna Heat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Wade Shephard

  • Square Dance(1987)

    as Dillard

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Last Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ed Stenning

  • Johnny Bull (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Stephan Kovacs

  • The Long Hot Summer(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Will Varner

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Atlanta Child Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Alvin Binder

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor Huld

  • You Can't Take it With You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Grandpa Martin Vanderhof

  • America and Lewis Hine(1984)

    as Voice

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

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

    as Andrei Sakharov

  • The Day After(1983)

    as Dr. Russell Oakes

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Something Wicked This Way Comes(1983)

    as Charles Halloway

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Max Dugan Returns(1983)

    as Max Dugan

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Burden of Dreams(1982)

    as Fitzcarraldo (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of the Lone Ranger(1981)

    as President Ulysses S. Grant

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Melvin and Howard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Howard Hughes

  • Ghosts of Cape Horn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Narrator

  • Raise the Titanic(1980)

    as Admiral James Sandecker

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • F.D.R.: The Last Year(1980)

    as President Franklin D. Roosevelt

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

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

    as Leland Hayward

  • Cabo Blanco(1980)

    as Gunther Beckdorff

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Broadway on Showtime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Erie Smith

  • Hurricane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Capt. Charles Bruckner

  • A Christmas to Remember (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Daniel Larson

  • The Magic of David Copperfield (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Comes a Horseman(1978)

    as Jacob 'J.W.' Ewing

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Julia(1977)

    as Dashiell Hammett

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Washington: Behind Closed Doors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 6 episodes · as President Richard Monckton

  • The Spy Who Never Was (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Inspector Barkan

  • All the President's Men(1976)

    as Ben Bradlee

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Addie and the King of Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as James "Jamie" Mills

  • Mr. Sycamore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as John Gwilt

  • A Moon for the Misbegotten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as James Tyrone Jr.

  • The Easter Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as James "Jamie" Mills

  • A Boy and His Dog(1975)

    as Lou Craddock

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Country Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Frank Elgin

  • The Thanksgiving Treasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as James "Jamie" Mills

  • Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid(1973)

    as Governor Wallace

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Old Faithful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Jason Robards

  • The House Without a Christmas Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as James "Jamie" Mills

  • Ghost Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Elliot Brent

  • The War Between Men and Women(1972)

    as Stephen Kozlenko

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Got His Gun(1971)

    as Joe's Father

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Murders in the Rue Morgue(1971)

    as Cesar Charron

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Fools (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Matthew South

  • Julius Caesar(1970)

    as Marcus Brutus

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Ballad of Cable Hogue(1970)

    as Cable Hogue

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Operation Snafu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Sam Armstrong

  • Tora! Tora! Tora!(1970)

    as General Walter C. Short

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time in the West(1968)

    as 'Cheyenne'

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Night They Raided Minsky's(1968)

    as Raymond Paine

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Isadora(1968)

    as Paris Singer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Hour of the Gun(1967)

    as Doc Holliday

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Belle of 14th Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Performer

  • The St. Valentine's Day Massacre(1967)

    as Al Capone

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Divorce American Style(1967)

    as Nelson Downes

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde

  • Noon Wine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Royal Earle Thompson

  • Any Wednesday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as John Cleves

  • ABC Stage 67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Royal Earle Thompson

  • A Big Hand for the Little Lady(1966)

    as Henry Drummond

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • A Thousand Clowns(1965)

    as Murray

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Abe Lincoln in Illinois (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Abraham Lincoln

  • Act One(1963)

    as George S. Kaufman

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Long Day's Journey Into Night(1962)

    as Jamie Tyrone

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Tender Is the Night(1962)

    as Dick Diver

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • By Love Possessed(1961)

    as Julius Penrose

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Iceman Cometh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 2 episodes · as Theodore "Hickey" Hickman

  • The Dow Hour of Great Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Anderson

  • The Bat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Detective Anderson

  • A Doll's House(1959)

    as Dr. Rank

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • For Whom the Bell Tolls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Robert Jordan

  • The Journey(1959)

    as Paul Kedes

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Playhouse 90 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 2 episodes · as Robert Jordan

  • The Alcoa Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Bert Palmer

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Col. Carter

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Abe Lincoln · as Dr. Rank · as Frank Elgin · as Marcus

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

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Cameron · as Leonard O'Brien · as Prisoner · as Walter Osgood

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Grant · as Mason

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 133 titles from 1948 to 2016; peak year 1969.

Biggest box office

Philadelphia (1993)

$207M worldwide

Highest rated

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19482016

Peak 1969 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 27 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.

  • 1959Screen debut· The Journey
  • 1965First top-billed film· A Thousand Clowns
  • 1983Career best· The Day After
  • 1990Career best· The Civil War

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting133 of 133: 133 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score69th

By decade

1940s2 · acting1950s9 · acting1960s22 · acting1970s28 · acting1980s32 · acting1990s37 · acting2000s2 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 21% of 42 roles
5969748494

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 Jason Robards' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 68th percentile, the median of all 59; across their 53 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Midcredits score across 64 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 64 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

F.D.R.: The Last Year (1980)

84th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 46 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 46. 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 Jason Robards' work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore17 titles4–71 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles6–63 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles26–71 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs16 titles22–47 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense16 titles22–77 · median 49 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Jason Robards work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jason Robards' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jerry Goldsmith shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles