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Jay Underwood

Jay Underwood

Actor · Born October 1, 1968 (58) · Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Jay Underwood (born October 1, 1968) is an American actor and pastor. Beginning a prolific career as a teen actor in the mid-1980s, he is perhaps best known for his starring feature film roles, portraying Eric Gibb in The Boy Who Could Fly, Chip Carson in Not Quite Human, Grover Dunn in The Invisible Kid, Sonny Bono in The Sonny and Cher Story, Bug in Uncle Buck, and Ernest Hemingway in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. He also portrayed the Human Torch in the 1994 unreleased film Fantastic Four. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jay Underwood, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 1, 1968 (58)
From
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 57 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 156 days to Oct 27Up 5% in 30 days

What are Jay Underwood's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy 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
30%
Survival
26%
Morality
17%
Self
11%
Society
8%
Ideas
4%
Power
3%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 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 10 · Serious 6 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 14 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 11 · Intense 2

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 6 · 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 14 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

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 9 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 5

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 13 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 13
Ally
3 of 13
Shadow
2 of 13
Shapeshifter
1 of 13
Herald
1 of 13
Trickster
1 of 13
Mentor
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
10
Tense
7
Warm
7
Hopeful
8
Thrilling
4
Other
16

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Jay Underwood's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jay Underwood'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

57 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Fantastic Four: First Steps(2025)

    as Power Plant Worker #1

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel(2016)

    as Cross

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • No Greater Love(2010)

    as Dave

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Where There's a Will(2006)

    as Jimmy Ray

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Annie's Point(2005)

    as Policeman

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!(2004)

    as Policeman Tom

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out(2003)

    as Mr. Entertainment

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Miracles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Mayor Frank Letherton

  • First Monday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Road to Redemption (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Alan Fischer

  • The Legend of the Candy Cane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Chester (voice)

  • Dancing in September (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Michael Daniels

  • The Girls' Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Shepp

  • The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Ernest Hemingway

  • The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Tales of Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Ernest Hemingway

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Christopher Wick

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Fatal Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Ezra Tyler

  • And the Beat Goes On: The Sonny and Cher Story(1999)

    as Sonny Bono

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Dead Dogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Derek

  • Valerie Flake(1999)

    as Tim Darnell

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • V.I.P. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Elliot · as Adam Elliott

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

    as John Clark

  • Afterglow(1997)

    as Donald Duncan

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as John Beecher

  • Millennium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Slattery

  • In the Fold(1996)

    as Kenneth 'Ken' Oort

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Lord Protector(1996)

    as Priamus

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • A Reason to Believe(1995)

    as Jim Curran

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Sleepstalker(1995)

    as Griffin Davis

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Voyager(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Mortimer Harren

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Raffle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Wilson Lowe

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Burke

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Jack Montgomery

  • The Fantastic Four(1994)

    as Johnny Storm

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Stalked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Daryl Gleeson

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeb Dukes

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Still Not Quite Human(1992)

    as Chip Carson

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ernest Hemingway

  • Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story(1992)

    as Kyle Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Son of Darkness: To Die for II(1991)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Ford Fairlane(1990)

    as Club Guy Bob (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Blind Faith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Chris Marshall

  • The Gumshoe Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Jeff Sherman

  • Not Quite Human II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Chip Carson

  • Uncle Buck(1989)

    as Bug

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Superboy(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Walker (Kryptonite Kid)

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Dare to Say No! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • The Invisible Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Grover Dunn

  • Promised Land(1987)

    as Circle K Clerk

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Day My Kid Went Punk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Terry

  • J.J. Starbuck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Year in the Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gus

  • Not Quite Human (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Chip Carson

  • 21 Jump Street(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Rob Daniels

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • The Boy Who Could Fly(1986)

    as Eric

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Desert Bloom(1986)

    as Robin

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Spencer · as Will Rafferty

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles from 1984 to 2025; peak year 1988.

Biggest box office

Uncle Buck (1989)

$79M worldwide

Highest rated

Uncle Buck (1989)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)

Film career

19842025

Peak 1988 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

  • 1986Screen debut· The Boy Who Could Fly
  • 1987First top-billed film· Not Quite Human
  • 1989Career best· Not Quite Human II

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting57 of 57: 57 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score49th

By decade

1980s14 · acting1990s30 · acting2000s10 · acting2010s2 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 21% of 14 roles
8691

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 Jay Underwood's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 29th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 30 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel (2016)

87th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Uncle Buck (1989)

Midcredits 83rd · 74% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 40. 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.

Who does Jay Underwood work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jay Underwood's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rebecca Staab shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles