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Tate Donovan

Tate Donovan

Actor, also producer · Born September 25, 1963 (63) · Tenafly, New Jersey, USA

Tate Buckley Donovan (born September 25, 1963) is an American actor. He is most recently known for his role in the FX drama Damages, as Tom Shayes. He is also known for his role as Jimmy Cooper in the American teen drama television series The O.C., and as the voice of the title character Hercules in Disney's animated feature film of the same name, in the animated television series and in the video game Kingdom Hearts II. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tate Donovan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 25, 1963 (63)
From
Tenafly, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
82 on MovieCove · 116 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 33% in 30 days

What are Tate Donovan's films like?

Across their 46 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
Bonds
29%
Self
25%
Morality
24%
Society
7%
Survival
6%
Power
5%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 42 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 20 · Serious 11 · Dark 11

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 26 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 22 · Intense 10

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

A split, not a type: Steady 20 · Shifting 19 · 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 21 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 13

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

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 6

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

A split, not a type: Casual 21 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 3

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 18 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

23 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 6 of 23 analyzed roles.

Ally
6 of 23
Hero
6 of 23
Mentor
5 of 23
Trickster
3 of 23
Shadow
2 of 23
Threshold guardian
1 of 23
Show the 23 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Melancholic
17
Warm
13
Thrilling
11
Contemplative
12
Other
53

How their films linger

Hopeful21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet20
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous6

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 Tate Donovan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 62 of their 82 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tate Donovan'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

116 credits, 82 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Crime 101(2026)

    as Monroe

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Rhythm Is a Dancer(2025)

    as Gregory

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Steady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Kasey

  • Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Calvin Whitney

  • The Holdovers(2023)

    as Stanley Clotfelter

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Ghosted(2023)

    as Dad

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Respect(2021)

    as John Hammond

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Worth(2020)

    as Lee Quinn

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • When New York Was One: The Yankees, the Mets & The 2000 Subway Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Narrator

  • Expedition Everest(2020)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Tuscaloosa(2019)

    Producer · as Dr. Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Nomads(2019)

    as Mark Nolin

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Rocketman(2019)

    as Doug Weston

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Love You To Death(2019)

    as Travis Stoller

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Upside(2017)

    as Carter Locke

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • FBI(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Jake Reed

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Grace(2018)

    as Charlie Elliston

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Blood Fest(2018)

    as Dr. Conway

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • For the Love of George(2018)

    as Alvin

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Blame(2017)

    as Robert

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • It Happened In L.A.(2017)

    as Tom

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Only Living Boy in New York(2017)

    as George

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Crowbar Smile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Dad

  • Manchester by the Sea(2016)

    as Hockey Coach

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • 3 Generations(2015)

    as Craig

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • MacGyver(2016)

    Show 12 episodes · as Oversight

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Elvis & Nixon(2016)

    as H.R. Haldeman

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • America’s Game & The Iran Hostage Crisis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director

  • Sun Belt Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Allen King

  • Bloodline(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • The Man in the High Castle(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as George Dixon

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Mysteries of Laura(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Malcolm Harris

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Red Oaks(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin van Diem

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Masters of Sex(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Graham Pennington

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Hostages(2013)

    Show 15 episodes · as Brian Sanders

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Arthur & Johnnie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • The Fosters(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Deception (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 11 episodes · as Edward Bowers

  • Argo(2012)

    as Bob Anders

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Wilson Trager

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Good Guys(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Below the Beltway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Paul Gibson

  • American Primitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Harry

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • By the People: The Election of Barack Obama(2009)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Gossip Girl(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Damages(2007)

    Show 39 episodes · Director · as Tom Shayes

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Nancy Drew(2007)

    as Carson Drew

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Shooter(2007)

    as Russ Turner

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Lather Effect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Will

  • Painkiller Jane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Dr. Graham Knight / Lucas Insley

  • Silver Bells(2005)

    as Christy Byrne

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Good Night, and Good Luck.(2005)

    as Jesse Zousmer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Weeds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Disney Heroes Volume 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Hercules / Additional Voices (voice)

  • The Pacifier(2005)

    as Howard Plummer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Exposed(2003)

    as Bob Smith

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The O.C.(2003)

    Show 39 episodes · Director · as Jimmy Cooper

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Nip/Tuck(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Mister Sterling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · as Barry Reed

  • West of Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Dexter Anderson

  • Get Well Soon(2001)

    as Mark

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • 24(2001)

    Show 12 episodes · as Mark Boudreau

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Luke Nelson

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Guardian(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Lou Caffey

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Legend of Tarzan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Gobu (voice)

  • Disney's House of Mouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Hercules (voice)

  • G-Men from Hell(2000)

    as Mike Mattress

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Drop Back Ten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Wally Bixer

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Eli Colton

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Hercules: Zero to Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Hercules (voice) (archive sound)

  • October 22 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Peter

  • Trinity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 9 episodes · as Kevin McCallister

  • The Thin Pink Line(1998)

    as Simon

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Hercules(1998)

    Show 65 episodes · as Hercules (voice)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Tempting Fate(1998)

    as Dr. Ben Creed

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Waiting for Woody Allen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as David

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ronald Cheanie

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Hercules(1997)

    as Hercules (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Murder at 1600(1997)

    as Kyle Neil

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Only Thrill(1997)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • America's Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as David (segment "Long Black Song")

  • Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 22 episodes · Actor

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Seymour

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Friends(1994)

    Show 5 episodes · as Joshua Burgin

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Holy Matrimony(1994)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Ethan Frome(1993)

    as Reverend Smith

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Greg Kellerman

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Love Potion No. 9(1992)

    as Paul Matthews

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Equinox(1992)

    as Richie Nunn

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Inside Monkey Zetterland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Brent Zetterland

  • Little Noises (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Elliott Ardsley

  • Memphis Belle(1990)

    as Luke Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rising Son(1990)

    as Des

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Nelson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Dead Bang(1989)

    as John Burns

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Curves(1988)

    as Chuck Upton

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Clean and Sober(1988)

    as Donald Towle

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Marc

  • SpaceCamp(1986)

    as Kevin

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • A Case of Deadly Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.

  • North Beach and Rawhide(1985)

    as Sean Connelly

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Into Thin Air(1985)

    as Brian Walker

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Not My Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Ricky

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Smith

  • No Small Affair(1984)

    as Bob

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Family Ties(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Clancy

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Smith

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as R.J. Masters

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Christy Byrne

  • Bonding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as James

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 115 titles, 114 of them dated from 1951 to 2026; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

Hercules (1997)

$253M worldwide

Highest rated

Argo (2012)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Damages (2007)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19512026

Peak 1998 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 7 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
Acting103 of 115: 101 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thDirecting14 of 115: 12 only directing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score79th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s26 · acting2000s27 · 22 acting · 7 crew2010s33 · 26 acting · 7 crew2020s11 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 6% of 32 roles
84940919

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 Tate Donovan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 49; across their 42 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Approval · how many liked their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Midcredits score across 82 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up35
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th27
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

35 of their 82 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser35
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed22

Most divisive · producer

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama (2009)

95th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Holdovers (2023)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 40 reviewed titles; fans 77, 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 Tate Donovan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 22 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles8–86 · median 52 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity22 titles9–50 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles26–74 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles12–66 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles25–66 · median 39 · 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 Tate Donovan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tate Donovan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bobcat Goldthwait shares the most, 3.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles