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Mel Welles

Mel Welles

Actor and director, also writer and producer · Died August 19, 2005, aged 81 · New York City, New York, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mel Welles (February 17, 1924 - August 18, 2005) was an American film actor. His best-remembered role may be that of hapless flower shop owner Gravis Mushnik in the 1960 low-budget Roger Corman dark comedy, The Little Shop of Horrors (which featured Jack Nicholson as a masochistic dental patient). Not much is known of Welles' early life, except that he was born Ira Meltcher in New York City. He graduated from Mt. Carmel High School, in 1940. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State University, a Master of Arts degree from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University. Welles held a number of jobs during his lifetime; at one time or another he worked as a clinical psychologist, radio DJ, television actor, writer and film director. He did some stage work before traveling to Hollywood, where in 1953 he appeared in his first film, Appointment in Honduras. His favorite role (The Little Shop of Horrors) was also his last in the U.S. for many years. In the early 1960s, he left the United States to act, produce and direct primarily in European film productions including the cult horror films Maneater of Hydra (1967) and Lady Frankenstein (1971). His fluency in five languages proved to be most helpful. He also served as a film consultant. Later he returned to the U.S., appearing in a number of films, doing voice work, and teaching voice acting. Probably his most widely seen work in the late 1970's was his English adaptation of the Japanese television show, "Spectreman" which was seen on UHF and cable across the United States. While he shares writing credit with two other people, it's clear that most of the English voice work, and the offbeat humor, is his. In 1998, Welles took to the stage in a community theater production of Little Shop of Horrors (musical) as Mushnik, the role he created in the original Roger Corman film. Welles had never performed in the musical and was happy to be asked to do the role, which he described as a "mitzvah" for Scotts Valley Performing Arts. Jonathan Haze, who played Seymour in the original film, attended the opening, and Welles also received a visit from Martin P. Robinson, the designer of the Audrey II plant puppets used in the off-Broadway production (Robinson is also famous for his puppetry on Sesame Street). Welles was working on a horror screenplay, tentatively titled House of a Hundred Horrors, at the time of his death. Description above from the Wikipedia article Mel Welles, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 17, 1924
Died
August 19, 2005 (aged 81)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and director, also writer and producer
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 72 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 28Up 26% in 30 days

What are Mel Welles' films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 4th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Self
32%
Bonds
21%
Morality
14%
Power
12%
Survival
11%
Society
5%
Ideas
4%
Ambition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 5 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 6 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 11 · Intense 1

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 3

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 10 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Trickster
3 of 7
Mentor
2 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Absurd
9
Thrilling
6
Joyful
5
Dread
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

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 Mel Welles' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mel Welles' 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

72 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Piecing Together Lady Frankenstein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Howard(2018)

    as Gravis Mushnick (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Secret Agent OO Soul(1990)

    Production Manager

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II(1989)

    as Caedmon

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here(1988)

    as Mr. Davar

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Rented Lips (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Milo

  • Commando Squad(1987)

    as Quintano

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Medium Rare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Doctor

  • Chopping Mall(1986)

    as Cook

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Spectreman versus Hedron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Various

  • Homework(1982)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Last American Virgin(1982)

    as Druggist

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Body and Soul(1981)

    as Joe Gillardi

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Smokey Bites the Dust(1981)

    as Abu Habib Bibubu

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Wolfen(1981)

    as ESS Voice (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype(1980)

    as Dr. Vince Hinkle

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Joyride to Nowhere(1977)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Tank McCall

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Lady Frankenstein(1971)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Last Mercenary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • Hello Glen Ward, House Dick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • The Day the Hot Line Got Hot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • Island of the Doomed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

  • The She Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Ladislav Groper

  • Our Man in Jamaica(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Keeler Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Yevgeni Ivanovich

  • The Reluctant Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Red Sheik (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Hassan

  • Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man(1962)

    as Italian Sergeant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Code of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • The Little Shop of Horrors(1960)

    Second Unit Director · as Gravis Mushnick

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Mr. Lucky(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Hoodlum

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Texan(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Matt Lane

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • High School Confidential!(1958)

    as Charlie O'Flair

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Brothers Karamazov(1958)

    as Trifon Borissovitch

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Walter Winchell File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Carlos

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hell on Devil's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Felix Molyneaux

  • Rock All Night(1957)

    as Sir Bop

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Shadow on the Window(1957)

    as Polikoff (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Undead(1957)

    as Gravedigger Smolkin

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Attack of the Crab Monsters(1957)

    as Jules Deveroux

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The 27th Day(1957)

    as Russian Marshal

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Flight to Hong Kong(1956)

    as Boris

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Calling Homicide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Valensi (uncredited)

  • Outside the Law(1956)

    as Milo

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Fighting Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Al Moreno

  • Hold Back Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as First Guard

  • The Big Knife(1955)

    as Mustached Party Guest

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Kismet(1955)

    as Beggar (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Inspector Kafir

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Jungle Jim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Duel on the Mississippi(1955)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Spy Chasers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Nick

  • Soldier of Fortune(1955)

    as Fernand Rocha

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy(1955)

    as Iben

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Racers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Fiori (uncredited)

  • The Silver Chalice(1954)

    as Marcos (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Pushover(1954)

    as Detective (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Massacre Canyon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Gonzales

  • Jesse James vs. the Daltons(1954)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Wyoming Renegades(1955)

    as 'Whiskey' Pearson

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Captain Midnight(1954)

    Show as Dr. Morelli

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Appointment in Honduras(1953)

    as Hidalgo (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Gun Fury(1953)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Private Secretary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • I Led Three Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Fat Man

  • The Lone Ranger(1949)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Pender

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 71 titles from 1949 to 2018; peak year 1960.

Highest rated

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955)

Midcredits 54th

Most popular right now

Captain Midnight (1954)

Film career

19492018

Peak 1960 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. 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
Acting65 of 71: 62 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score45thDirecting7 of 71: 3 only directing, 4 with another roleWriting3 of 71: 0 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing2 of 71: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew2 of 71: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

71 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s40 · acting1960s12 · 8 acting · 6 crew1970s2 · 1 acting · 2 crew1980s13 · acting1990s1 · crew2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 7% of 14 roles
5358

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 Mel Welles' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 29th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 25th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

17thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th15

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 44 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned2
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype (1980)

81st percentile spread · 51% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Howard (2018)

Midcredits 93rd · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 47/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 64, detractors 31. 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 Mel Welles work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mel Welles' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Roger Corman shares the most, 8.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors