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Gloria Grahame

Gloria Grahame

Actor · Died October 5, 1981, aged 57 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Gloria Grahame (November 28, 1923 – October 5, 1981) was an American actress. Grahame began her acting career in theatre, and in 1944 she made her first film for MGM. Despite a featured role in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), MGM did not believe she had the potential for major success, and sold her contract to RKO Studios. Often cast in film noir projects, Grahame received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Crossfire (1947), and she won this award for her work in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952). She achieved her highest profile with Sudden Fear (1952), Human Desire (1953),The Big Heat (1953), and Oklahoma! (1955), but her film career began to wane soon afterwards. She returned to work on the stage, but continued to appear in films and television productions, usually in supporting roles. Diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1980, Grahame refused to accept the diagnosis and travelled to England to work in a play. Her health rapidly failed and she returned to New York City, where she died in 1981.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 28, 1923
Died
October 5, 1981 (aged 57)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 61 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 48% in 30 days

What are Gloria Grahame's films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: 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
Morality
28%
Self
25%
Bonds
20%
Society
10%
Power
10%
Survival
6%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 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 6 · Serious 10 · Dark 15

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 14 · Intense 11

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 11 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 1

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 10 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 13

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

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Shapeshifter: 3 of 10 analyzed roles.

Shapeshifter
3 of 10
Ally
2 of 10
Trickster
2 of 10
Hero
1 of 10
Threshold guardian
1 of 10
Shadow
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
25
Melancholic
16
Dread
7
Joyful
6
Thrilling
6
Other
21

How their films linger

Bittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous7

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 Gloria Grahame's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gloria Grahame'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

61 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Akai Ito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • The Nesting(1981)

    as Florinda Costello

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Griffin and Me(1981)

    as Mara Emerson

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

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

    as Mrs. Sisk

  • A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square(1980)

    as Ma

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Merry Wives of Windsor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Mistress Page

  • Chilly Scenes of Winter(1979)

    as Clara

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Olivia

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Dancing Princesses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as The Witch

  • Seventh Avenue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · as Moll

  • Mansion of the Doomed(1976)

    as Katherine

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Rich Man, Poor Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 12 episodes · as Sue Prescott

  • Mama's Dirty Girls(1974)

    as Mama Love

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Girl on the Late, Late Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Carolyn Porter

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Helen

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

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

    as Natalie

  • The Loners(1972)

    as Annabelle

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Chandler(1971)

    as Selma

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Black Noon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Bethia

  • The Todd Killings(1971)

    as Mrs. Roy

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Evelyn Harrison

  • Blood and Lace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Mrs. Deere

  • Then Came Bronson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlene Braden

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Madame Noh

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Mae Darling

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Ride Beyond Vengeance(1966)

    as Bonnie Shelley

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Molly Hogan

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Doris Landers · as Helen Dekker

  • The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorina Pruitt

  • The Outer Limits(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Florida Patton

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Sam Benedict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Rita Bain

  • The New Breed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse Nora Springer

  • Harrigan and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Odds Against Tomorrow(1959)

    as Helen

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Ride Out for Revenge(1957)

    as Amy Porter

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Never Was(1956)

    as Lucy Sherwood

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Oklahoma!(1955)

    as Ado Annie Carnes

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Not as a Stranger(1955)

    as Harriet Lang

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Cobweb(1955)

    as Karen McIver

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Naked Alibi(1954)

    as Marianna

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Human Desire(1954)

    as Vicki Buckley

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Good Die Young(1954)

    as Denise Blaine

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Prisoners of the Casbah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Princess Nadja

  • The Big Heat(1953)

    as Debby Marsh

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Man on a Tightrope(1953)

    as Zama Cernik

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Glass Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Maggie Summers

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

    Show 1 episode · as Elena Carlisle

  • The Bad and the Beautiful(1952)

    as Rosemary Bartlow

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Sudden Fear(1952)

    as Irene Neves

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Macao(1952)

    as Margie

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Greatest Show on Earth(1952)

    as Angel

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • In a Lonely Place(1950)

    as Laurel Gray

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Roughshod (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Mary Wells

  • A Woman's Secret(1949)

    as Susan Caldwell / Estrellita

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Merton of the Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Beulah Baxter

  • Song of the Thin Man(1947)

    as Fran Page

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Crossfire(1947)

    as Virginia "Ginny" Tremayne

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • It Happened in Brooklyn(1947)

    as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • It's a Wonderful Life(1946)

    as Violet

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Without Love(1945)

    as Flower Girl

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Blonde Fever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Sally Murfin

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 61 titles from 1944 to 2025; peak year 1971.

Biggest box office

The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

$36M worldwide

Highest rated

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19442025

Peak 1971 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 6 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
Acting61 of 61: 61 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1940s9 · acting1950s19 · acting1960s11 · acting1970s16 · acting1980s5 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 4% of 26 roles
45505570

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 Gloria Grahame's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Mr. Griffin and Me (1981)

73rd percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 47. 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 Gloria Grahame's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles29–58 · median 31 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles4–19 · median 14 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles2–8 · median 5 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles12–41 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles31–53 · median 40 · 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 Gloria Grahame work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gloria Grahame's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Mitchum shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles