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Tim McCoy

Tim McCoy

Actor · Died January 29, 1978, aged 86 · Saginaw, Michigan, USA

One of the great stars of early American Westerns. McCoy was the son of an Irish soldier who later became police chief of Saginaw, Michigan, where McCoy was born. He attended St. Ignatius College in Chicago and after seeing a Wild West show there, left school and found work on a Wyoming ranch. He became an expert horseman and roper and developed a keen knowledge of the ways and languages of the Indian tribes in the area. He competed in numerous rodeos, then enlisted in the U.S. Army when America entered the First World War. He was commissioned and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the end of World War I, he returned to his ranch in Wyoming, only to be called by Governor Bob Carry to the post of Adjutant General of Wyoming, a position he held until 1921. The position carried with it the rank of Brigadier General (a brevet promotion) and it has been reported that this made him the youngest general officer in the U.S. Army. His reputation as a friend to the Wind River Reservation Indians, both Arapahoe and Shoshone, preceded him and in 1922, he was asked by the head of Famous Players-Lasky, Jesse L. Lasky, to provide Indian extras for the Western extravaganza, The Covered Wagon (1923). He resigned from the state position and recruited several hundred Indians to the Utah movie location. When the film wrapped, he was asked to choose several Indians to accompany him to Hollywood. There the production company developed a live 'prologue' to be presented just prior to the movie showing. The idea was a success and McCoy and his Indian group toured the U.S. and eventually, Europe as well. After touring this country and Europe with the Indians as publicity, McCoy returned to Hollywood and used his connections to obtain further work in the movies, both as a technical advisor and eventually as an actor. MGM speedily signed him to a contract to star in a series of Westerns and McCoy rapidly rose to stardom, making scores of Westerns and occasional non-Westerns. He retired from the army and from films after the war, but emerged in the late 1940s for a few more films and some television work. In 1942 he ran for the Republican Nomination for the U.S. Senate in Wyoming. He was defeated and returned to Hollywood and an uncertain future. In 1946 he sold his Wyoming ranch and moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania and the life of the gentleman farmer. While living there, he met and married Danish writer Inga Arvad. He later built a home in Nogales, Arizona where Inga subsequently died in 1973. He spent his later years as a retired rancher. He died at the U.A. Army hospital at Ft. Hauchuca, Arizona on January 29 1978 at the age of 86. Inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1974. During World War I, he served as an artillery officer in the US Army in France. Spouse Inga Arvad (1945 - 1973) (her death) Alice Miller (? - 1931) (divorced) (3 children)

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 10, 1891
Died
January 29, 1978 (aged 86)
From
Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
20 on Motif · 95 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 52% in 30 days

What are Tim McCoy's films like?

Across their 18 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
73%
Bonds
12%
Power
7%
Society
6%
Survival
2%
Justice18 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 16 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

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

Grounded 11 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 13 · Intense 1

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

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 0

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 12 · 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 17 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

19 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 14 of 19 analyzed roles.

Hero
14 of 19
Ally
2 of 19
Shapeshifter
1 of 19
Trickster
1 of 19
Shadow
1 of 19
Show the 19 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
12
Tense
11
Hopeful
9
Warm
4
Triumphant
3
Other
4

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet1

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 Tim McCoy's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 20 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tim McCoy'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

95 credits, 20 with a Motif page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as (archive footage)

  • Requiem for a Gunfighter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Judge Irving Short

  • Run of the Arrow(1957)

    as Gen. Allen (as Colonel Tim McCoy)

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Around the World in 80 Days(1956)

    as Colonel

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

  • West of the Law(1942)

    as Marshal Tim McCall

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Riders of the West(1942)

    as Marshal Tim McCall

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Down Texas Way(1942)

    as U. S. Marshal Tim McCall

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Ghost Town Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Marshal Tim McCall

  • Below the Border(1942)

    as Marshal Tim McCall

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Forbidden Trails(1941)

    as Marshal Tim McCall

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Gunman from Bodie(1941)

    as Marshal Tim McCall

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Arizona Bound(1941)

    as Tim McCall

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Texas Marshal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Marshal Trigger Tim Rand

  • Outlaws of the Rio Grande (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Tim Barton

  • Riders of Black Mountain (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Marshal Tim Donovan

  • Arizona Gang Busters (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Trigger Tim Rand

  • Gun Code (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Marshal Tim Hammond posing as Tim Hays

  • Frontier Crusader (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Trigger Tim Rand

  • Texas Renegades (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as 'Silent' Tim Smith

  • Trigger Fingers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as 'Lightning' Bill Carson

  • The Fighting Renegade(1939)

    as Bill Carson posing as El Puma

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Straight Shooter(1939)

    as "Lightning" Bill Carson

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Outlaws' Paradise (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as William Carson / Trigger Mallory

  • Texas Wildcats(1939)

    as 'Lightning' Bill Carson

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Code of the Cactus (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Bill Carson

  • Six-Gun Trail(1938)

    as Captain William Carson

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Lightning Carson Rides Again (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Lightning Bill Carson / Jose

  • Phantom Ranger(1938)

    as Tim Hayes

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Two Gun Justice (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Tim

  • Code of the Rangers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Tim Strong

  • West of Rainbow's End (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Tim Hart

  • The Traitor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Tim McCoy: Sergeant Tim Vallance - Texas Ranger

  • Ghost Patrol(1936)

    as Tim Caverly

    Motif score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Lion's Den (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Tim Barton

  • Aces and Eights(1936)

    as Tim Madigan

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Lightnin' Bill Carson (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Marshal Lightnin' Bill Carson

  • Border Caballero(1936)

    as Tim Ross

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Roarin' Guns(1936)

    as Tim Corwin

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bulldog Courage(1935)

    as Slim Braddock / Tim Braddock

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Man from Guntown (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Tim Hanlon

  • Riding Wild (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Tim Malloy / Tex Ravelle

  • The Outlaw Deputy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Tim Mallory

  • Justice of the Range (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Tim Condon

  • Fighting Shadows (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Constable Tim O'Hara

  • The Revenge Rider (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Tim O'Neil

  • Law Beyond the Range (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Tim McDonald

  • Square Shooter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Tim Baxter

  • The Westerner (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tim Addison

  • The Prescott Kid (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tim Hamlin

  • Beyond the Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tim Weston

  • A Man's Game (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tim Bradley

  • Hell Bent for Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Police Captain Tim Daley

  • Voice in the Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tim Dale

  • Speed Wings (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tim

  • Straightaway (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Tim Dawson

  • Hold the Press (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Tim Collins

  • Police Car 17 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Tim Conlon

  • Rusty Rides Alone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Tim Burke

  • The Whirlwind (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Tim Reynolds

  • Silent Men (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Tim Richards

  • Man Of Action (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Ranger Tim Barlow

  • End of the Trail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Captain Tim Travers

  • The Western Code (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Tim Barrett

  • Fighting for Justice (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Tim Keene

  • Cornered (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Sheriff Tim Laramie

  • Daring Danger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Tim Madigan

  • Two-Fisted Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Tim Clark

  • The Riding Tornado (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Tim Torrant

  • Texas Cyclone(1932)

    as Texas Grant

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Fighting Fool (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as Sheriff Tim Collins

  • The Fighting Marshal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Tim Benton

  • Shotgun Pass (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Tim Walker

  • The One Way Trail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Tim Allen

  • Heroes of the Flames (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    as Bob Darrow

  • The Indians Are Coming (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    as Jack Manning

  • The Desert Rider (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1929)

    as Jed Tyler

  • Sioux Blood (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1929)

    as Flood

  • The Overland Telegraph (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1929)

    as Captain Allen

  • Morgan's Last Raid (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1929)

    as Capt. Daniel Clairbourne

  • The Bushranger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Edward

  • Beyond the Sierras (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as The Masked Stranger

  • The Adventurer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Jim McClellan

  • Riders of the Dark (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Lt. Crane

  • Wyoming (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Lt. Jack Colton

  • The Law of the Range (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    as Jim Lockhart

  • Spoilers of the West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Lieutenant Lang

  • Foreign Devils (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Capt. Robert Kelly

  • The Frontiersman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as John Dale

  • California (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Capt. Archibald Gillespie

  • Winners of the Wilderness (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Col. Sir Dennis O'Hara

  • War Paint (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    as Lt. Tim Marshall

  • The Vanishing American (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1925)

    Technical Advisor

  • The Thundering Herd (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1925)

    Production Coordinator · as Burn Hudnall

  • The Man Who Would Not Die (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1924)

    Actor

  • The Covered Wagon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    Technical Advisor

Career shape

Star power in the 54th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 95 titles from 1923 to 1976.

Most popular right now

Forbidden Trails (1941)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting93 of 95: 92 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Motif score33rdOther crew3 of 95: 2 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1920s20 · 18 acting · 3 crew1930s56 · acting1940s15 · acting1950s2 · acting1960s1 · acting1970s1 · acting

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.

How do Tim McCoy's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 33rd percentile, the median of all 20; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 36th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

10thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Motif score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 20 titles are Mixed.

  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Texas Wildcats (1939)

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

Most loved · actor

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

Motif 69th · 63% liked

Reviewers score the acting 57/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 41. 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.

Who does Tim McCoy work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tim McCoy's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sam Newfield shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers