Stephen J. Cannell

Producer, writer and actor · Died September 30, 2010, aged 69 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · 1 other major award body

Actor / Producer / Writer.

Biography from TMDB.

Born: February 5, 1941
Died: September 30, 2010 (aged 69)
From: Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as: Producer, writer and actor
Titles: 45 on MovieCove · 100 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 157 days to Oct 28Up 21% in 30 days

What are Stephen J. Cannell's films like?

Across their 24 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

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

37%

Bonds

23%

Survival

17%

Society

Self

Ideas

Power

Justice13 Survival4 Loyalty6 Family bonds5 Identity4 Friendship4 Deception4 Faith3

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 films

ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Earnest

Tone · Sincerity

ironicearnest

Ironic 2 · Wry 1 · Earnest 20

Serious

Tone · Weight

lightdark

Light 8 · Serious 10 · Dark 5

Grounded

Tone · Style

naturalisticheightened

Grounded 17 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 2

Charged

Feel · Intensity

gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 14 · Intense 5

Shifting

Feel · Swings

steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs

Feel · Humor

noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 5

Even-paced

Demand · Pace

slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 2

Engaged

Demand · Attention

casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 1

Affecting

Demand · Emotional cost

easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 11 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 4

Resolved

Demand · Resolution

resolvedambiguous

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense

Warm

Dread

Melancholic

Thrilling

Other

How their films linger

Feel-good10 Bittersweet9 Fun7 Thought-provoking6 Unsettling4 Devastating2

How their films end · 4 with a twist

Happy10
Bittersweet5
Tragic2
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 Stephen J. Cannell's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (24).

Also on these channels

Shout! TV15 titles
Sony Pictures Core1 title, show their title on Sony Pictures Core
UP Faith & Family1 title, show their title on UP Faith & Family

Subscription and free streaming for Stephen J. Cannell'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

100 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

22 Jump Street(2014)
Executive Producer · Original Series Creator
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
21 Jump Street(2012)
Original Series Creator · Producer
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
The A-Team(2010)
Characters · Producer
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Castle(2009)
Show 3 episodes · as Stephen J. Cannell
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
The Poker House(2008)
Producer
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Ice Spiders(2007)
as Frank Stone
Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
Army Wives(2007)
Show 1 episode · as Radio Executive
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
Left in Darkness(2006)
Producer
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
The Garden(2006)
Producer
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
The Tooth Fairy(2006)
Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
It Waits(2005)
Producer · Teleplay
Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
Demon Hunter(2005)
Producer
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
Hunter: Back in Force(2003)
Executive Producer · Story
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Threshold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
as Pacheco Laval
Half Past Dead(2002)
as Frank Hubbard
Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
Dead Above Ground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Producer · Writer · as Carl Hadden
Hunter: Return to Justice(2002)
Executive Producer · Story
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Dawg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Producer
The Contract (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
as William Goodwin
The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads(1999)
Writer
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
CHiPs '99 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
as Bendix
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda(1997)
Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Them (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Executive Producer
The Rockford Files: Punishment and Crime(1996)
Creator · Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Show 1 episode · Actor
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play(1996)
Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Profit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Show 8 episodes · Producer
Pacific Blue(1996)
Show 2 episodes · as J. Gunnar Halloran
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...(1996)
Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise(1995)
Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A.(1995)
Executive Producer
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Marker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Show 13 episodes · Producer
Jake Lassiter: Justice on the Bayou(1995)
Executive Producer
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
A Child Is Missing(1995)
Producer
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A.(1994)
Creator · Supervising Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Hawkeye(1994)
Show 22 episodes · Producer
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows
Greyhounds(1994)
Screenplay · Story
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
Traps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Show Creator
Diagnosis Murder(1993)
Show 3 episodes · as Jackson Burley
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows
Cobra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Show Creator
Missing Persons(1993)
Show 18 episodes · Producer
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)
Posse(1993)
as Jimmy Love
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Renegade(1992)
Show 32 episodes · Creator · Writer · as Donald 'Dutch' Dixon
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows
The Hat Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Show 11 episodes · Creator · Producer
Silk Stalkings(1991)
Show 5 episodes · Creator · Writer
Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows
Palace Guard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Show Creator
The Commish(1991)
Show 94 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows
The Great Pretender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Executive Producer · Writer
Scene of the Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Show 23 episodes · Actor
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Show 7 episodes · Creator · Producer
Broken Badges (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Show 8 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer
Booker(1989)
Show 22 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows
Top of the Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Show 13 episodes · Producer
Identity Crisis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
as The Coroner
Unsub (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Show 1 episode · Creator · Writer
Sonny Spoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Show 15 episodes · Creator · Producer
J.J. Starbuck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Show 6 episodes · Creator · Writer
Wiseguy(1987)
Show 75 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows
Wiseguy: Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Executive Producer · Writer
21 Jump Street(1987)
Show 103 episodes · Creator · Producer
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows
Destination: America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Executive Producer
The Last Precinct (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Show 8 episodes · Creator · Producer
The Last Precinct (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Executive Producer · Writer
Stingray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Writer
Stingray(1986)
Show 24 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
Brothers-in-Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Executive Producer · Writer
Hunter(1984)
Show 152 episodes · Executive Producer · Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows
Riptide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Show 35 episodes · Co-Executive Producer · Creator · Executive Producer
The Rousters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Show 13 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer
Hardcastle and McCormick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Show 67 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer
The A-Team(1983)
Show 94 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
The Quest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Show 10 episodes · Producer
The Greatest American Hero(1981)
Show 43 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows
Midnight Offerings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Executive Producer
Magnum, P.I.(1980)
Show 1 episode · as Security Chief Ray Lemon
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
Nightside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Executive Producer · Teleplay
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe(1980)
Show 14 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
Stone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Show 9 episodes · Director · Producer · Writer
Stone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Executive Producer · Writer
The Night Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Executive Producer · Writer
The Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Show 6 episodes · Creator · Producer
The Chinese Typewriter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Executive Producer · Writer
The Jordan Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Screenplay · Story
The Gypsy Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Executive Producer · Writer
Dr. Scorpion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Creator · Executive Producer · Writer
Confessions of the D.A. Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Writer
The November Plan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
Writer
Richie Brockelman: The Missing 24 Hours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Executive Producer · Writer
Scott Free (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Executive Producer · Writer
Baa Baa Black Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Show 36 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Teleplay
City of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Show 3 episodes · Creator · Writer
Baretta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Show 1 episode · Creator · Writer
The Rockford Files(1974)
Show 34 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · Story · Writer
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
The Rockford Files: Backlash of the Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Producer · Teleplay
Toma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Show 22 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer
Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Show Creator
Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Associate Producer · Writer
Toma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Producer
Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Show 1 episode · Writer
Adam-12(1968)
Show 24 episodes · Executive Story Editor · Story Editor · Writer
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

Career shape

A full career of 95 titles from 1968 to 2014.

Biggest box office

22 Jump Street (2014)

$331M worldwide

Highest rated

21 Jump Street (2012)

Midcredits 87^th

Film career

19682014

1992Screen debut· Renegade
1993First film· Posse

By role

only this rolewith another role

Acting16 of 95 · 33^rdDirecting3 of 95Writing51 of 95 · 66^thProducing61 of 95 · 64^thOther crew33 of 95 · 66^th

95 titles, 50 with more than one role — producing and writing overlap on 36 of them.

By decade

1960s1 · crew1970s21 · crew1980s27 · 2 acting · 25 crew1990s29 · 8 acting · 22 crew2000s14 · 6 acting · 9 crew2010s3 · crew

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.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy and 2 other major awards from 13 major nominations, 1977–2006.

WinNomination

2006
- Writers Guild Award, won
1989
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
1982
- Writers Guild Award, nominated · Episodic Comedy
1981
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
- +1 other major body · 1 win
  - Writers Guild Award, won · Episodic Drama
1980
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
1979
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
- +1 other major body · 1 nomination
  - Writers Guild Award, nominated · Episodic Drama
1978
- Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Drama Series
- +1 other major body · 1 nomination
  - Writers Guild Award, nominated · Episodic Drama
1977
- Writers Guild Award, nominated ×2 · Episodic Drama

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Stephen J. Cannell's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59^th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56^th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

66^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

43^rdpercentile

Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

75^th and up16
50^th to 74^th11
25^th to 49^th8
Below 25^th10

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

Universally Loved5
Universally Panned1
Cult Classic1
Crowd Pleaser21
Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Ice Spiders (2007)

70^th percentile spread · 71% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer, producer

The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits... (1996)

Midcredits 94^th · 81% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 51/100 and the plot and story 39/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Stephen J. Cannell's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles

Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 60 · moderate

Sex & Nudity5 titles22–58 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most films

Profanity4 titlesmedian 89 · severe

Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 76 · intense

Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 40 · moderate

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.