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Robert Shaw

Robert Shaw

Actor, also writer · Died August 28, 1978, aged 51 · Westhoughton, Lancashire, England, UK

Robert Archibald Shaw (9 August 1927 – 28 August 1978) was an English stage and film actor and novelist, remembered for his performances in The Sting, From Russia with Love, A Man for All Seasons, the original The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), Black Sunday (1977), The Deep (1977) and Jaws, where he played the shark hunter Quint.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 9, 1927
Died
August 28, 1978 (aged 51)
From
Westhoughton, Lancashire, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
31 on Motif · 56 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 2% in 30 days

What are Robert Shaw's films like?

Across their 24 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action7 titlesTypical Motif score: 56th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Motif score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Motif score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Motif score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Motif score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Motif score: 38th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
Morality
32%
Survival
18%
Power
15%
Self
12%
Bonds
11%
Society
8%
Ideas
5%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 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 3 · Serious 7 · Dark 14

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 5

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 11 · Intense 12

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 0

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 5

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 7 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 9

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 17 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 6

Roles they play

21 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 7 of 21 analyzed roles.

Shadow
7 of 21
Hero
6 of 21
Mentor
4 of 21
Threshold guardian
3 of 21
Herald
1 of 21
Show the 21 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Thrilling
10
Dread
8
Melancholic
9
Contemplative
3
Other
13

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic7
  • 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 Robert Shaw's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 31 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Shaw's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

56 credits, 31 with a Motif page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Godzilla Apex (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    as "TAKE CLEAR OF THE LINE"

  • Discovering Hamlet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Claudius (archive footage)

  • Avalanche Express(1979)

    as General Markenkov

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Horror Show (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    as (archive footage)

  • Force 10 from Navarone(1978)

    as Mallory

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Deep(1977)

    as Romer Treece

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Black Sunday(1977)

    as Kabakov

    Motif score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Swashbuckler(1976)

    as Ned Lynch

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Robin and Marian(1976)

    as Sheriff of Nottingham

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Diamonds (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    as Charles / Earl Hodgson

  • Jaws(1975)

    as Quint

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • End of the Game(1975)

    as Richard Gastmann

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Man in the Glass Booth(1975)

    Theatre Play

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Taking of Pelham One Two Three(1974)

    as Blue

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

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

    as Giles

  • The Sting(1973)

    as Doyle Lonnegan

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Voyage of Sinbad(1973)

    as The Oracle of all knowledge

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Hireling (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Steven Ledbetter

  • A Reflection of Fear(1972)

    as Michael

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Young Winston(1972)

    as Lord Randolph Churchill

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • A Town Called Hell(1971)

    as The Priest

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Figures in a Landscape(1970)

    Writer · as MacConnachie

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Royal Hunt of the Sun(1969)

    as Francisco Pizarro

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Battle of Britain(1969)

    as Squadron Leader Skipper

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Birthday Party (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Stanley Webber

  • Luther (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Martin Luther

  • Custer of the West(1967)

    as General George Armstrong Custer

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • A Man for All Seasons(1966)

    as King Henry VIII

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Battle of the Bulge(1965)

    as Col Hessler

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Situation Hopeless -- But Not Serious(1965)

    Novel

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Carol for Another Christmas(1964)

    as Ghost of Christmas Future

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Luck of Ginger Coffey (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Ginger Coffey

  • Hamlet at Elsinore (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Claudius

  • The Guest(1963)

    as Aston

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • From Russia with Love(1963)

    as Donald 'Red' Grant

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Festival (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Simone

  • Tomorrow at Ten (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Marlowe

  • The Valiant (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Lieutenant Field

  • The Winter's Tale(1962)

    as Leontes

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • North to the Dales (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony Costello

    Motif score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Playhouse 90: The Hiding Place (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Novel

  • Libel(1959)

    as First Photographer

    Motif score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of William Tell (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter von Breck

  • Sea Fury (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Gorman

  • Rupert of Hentzau (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Rupert of Hentzau

  • White Hunter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Holiday (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Buccaneers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 39 episodes · as Capt. Dan Tempest

  • Hell in Korea(1956)

    as LCpl. Hodge

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Doublecross (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Ernest

  • The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Lord Anthony Dewhurst

  • The Dam Busters(1955)

    as Flt / Sgt. J. Pulford, D.F.M.

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Yorkshire Sands (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Lavender Hill Mob(1951)

    as Chemist at Police Exhibition

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Sunday Night Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Herbert

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 56 titles from 1950 to 2021; peak year 1976.

Biggest box office

Jaws (1975)

$491M worldwide

Highest rated

The Sting (1973)

Motif 99th

Most popular right now

Jaws (1975)

Film career

19502021

Peak 1976 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 10 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.

  • 1951Screen debut· The Lavender Hill Mob
  • 1967First top-billed film· Custer of the West
  • 1975Career best· Jaws

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 56: 52 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Motif score68thWriting4 of 56: 3 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s14 · acting1960s20 · 18 acting · 2 crew1970s20 · 19 acting · 2 crew2010s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 30% of 23 roles
516676

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 Motif 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 Robert Shaw's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 68th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Motif score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

The Winter's Tale (1962)

79th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Sting (1973)

Motif 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 82, 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 Motif 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 Robert Shaw's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles32–82 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles6–48 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles23–64 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles18–42 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles29–73 · median 45 · 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 Robert Shaw work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Shaw's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Irving Lerner shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers