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Rex Ingram

Rex Ingram

Actor · Died September 19, 1969, aged 73 · Cairo, Illinois, USA

Rex Ingram (October 20, 1895 – September 19, 1969) was an American stage, film, and television actor. Ingram graduated from the Northwestern University medical school in 1919 and was the first African-American man to receive a Phi Beta Kappa key from there. He went to Hollywood as a young man where he was literally discovered on a street corner by the casting director for Tarzan of the Apes (1918), starring Elmo Lincoln. He made his (uncredited) screen debut in that film and had many other small roles, usually as a generic black native, such as in the Tarzan films. With the arrival of sound, his presence and powerful voice became an asset and he went on to memorable roles in The Green Pastures (1936), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (the 1939 MGM version), The Thief of Bagdad (1940—perhaps his best-known film appearance—as the genie), The Talk of the Town (1942), and Sahara (1943). From 1929, he also appeared on stage, making his debut on Broadway. He appeared in more than a dozen Broadway productions, with his final role coming in Kwamina in 1961. He was in the original cast of Haiti (1938), Cabin in the Sky (1940), and St. Louis Woman (1946). He is one of the few actors to have played both God (in The Green Pastures) and the Devil (in Cabin in the Sky). In 1966 he played Tee-Tot in the movie Your Cheatin' Heart. Ingram was arrested for violating the Mann Act in 1948. Pleading guilty to the charge of transporting a teenage girl to New York for immoral purposes, he was sentenced to eighteen months in jail. He served just ten months of his sentence, but the incident had a serious effect on his career for the next six years. In 1962, he became the first African-American actor to be hired for a contract role on a soap opera, when he appeared on The Brighter Day. He had other work in television in the 1950s and 1960s. Rex Ingram died of a heart attack at the age of 73. [biography (excerpted) from Wikipedia]

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 20, 1895
Died
September 19, 1969 (aged 73)
From
Cairo, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 46 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 28% in 30 days

What are Rex Ingram's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Crime 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
38%
Bonds
24%
Power
12%
Self
10%
Survival
7%
Society
6%
Ideas
2%
Redemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 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 5 · Serious 4 · Dark 5

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 9 · Intense 2

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 7 · 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 7 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 2

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

9 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 9 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 9
Ally
3 of 9
Threshold guardian
1 of 9
Trickster
1 of 9
Shadow
1 of 9
Show the 9 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
7
Thrilling
3
Joyful
3
Warm
3
Other
11

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Rex Ingram's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Rex Ingram'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

46 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Visual Effects: The Thief of Bagdad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Djinn (archival footage)

  • The Bill Cosby Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as George

  • Journey to Shiloh(1968)

    as Jacob

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Cowboy in Africa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Tom Merar · as Nhinga

  • Hurry Sundown(1967)

    as Prof. Thurlow

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Chief Makubu · as Natoma

  • Branded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Hannibal - Valet

  • Your Cheatin' Heart(1964)

    as Teetot

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Larkin

  • Desire in the Dust(1960)

    as Burt Crane

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Elmer Gantry(1960)

    as Preacher of Black Congregation (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Watusi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Umbopa

  • Escort West(1959)

    as Nelson Walker

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Black Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Alex Booth

  • Anna Lucasta(1958)

    as Joe Lucasta

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Thaddeus

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • God's Little Acre(1958)

    as Uncle Felix

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Ten Commandments(1956)

    as Bit Part (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Congo Crossing(1956)

    as Dr. Leopold Gorman

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Juba

  • Tarzan's Hidden Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Sukulu Chieftain

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Petraca

  • Moonrise(1948)

    as Mose

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Kraft Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Show 1 episode · as Lem

  • Shoe Shine Jasper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as (voice)

  • John Henry and the Inky-Poo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Narrator / John Henry (voice)

  • Adventure(1945)

    as Preacher (unconfirmed)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • A Thousand and One Nights(1945)

    as Giant

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Dark Waters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Pearson Jackson

  • Jasper's Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as (voice)

  • Sahara(1943)

    as Sgt. Maj. Tambul

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Fired Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Charles

  • Cabin in the Sky(1943)

    as Lucius / Lucifer Jr.

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Talk of the Town(1942)

    as Tilney

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Gay Knighties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Hoola Boola (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Thief of Bagdad(1940)

    as Djinn

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Let My People Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Dr. Gordon

  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn(1939)

    as Jim

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Green Pastures(1936)

    as De Lawd / Adam / Hezdrel

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Harlem After Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Actor

  • The Emperor Jones(1933)

    as Court Crier

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Four Feathers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Fuzzy Wuzzy Native

  • The King of Kings(1927)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Ten Commandments(1923)

    as Israelite Slave (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Tarzan of the Apes(1918)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 46 titles from 1918 to 2008; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

Sahara (1943)

$9.1K worldwide

Highest rated

Sahara (1943)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

Film career

19182008

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting46 of 46: 46 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score71st

By decade

1910s1 · acting1920s3 · acting1930s5 · acting1940s15 · acting1950s11 · acting1960s10 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
2343

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 Rex Ingram's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

None of their 24 titles divides audiences: 10 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed6

Most loved · actor

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 45. 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 Rex Ingram work with?

People who share at least 2 of Rex Ingram's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sidney Harmon shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers