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Fred Dryer

Fred Dryer

Actor and producer · Born July 6, 1946 (80) · Hawthorne, California, USA

Fred Dryer (born July 6, 1946) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Rick Hunter, a tough police detective in the TV series Hunter (1984 - 1991). He also was a defensive end for the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 6, 1946 (80)
From
Hawthorne, California, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 40 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 35% in 30 days

What are Fred Dryer's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
33%
Morality
30%
Bonds
15%
Survival
13%
Society
5%
Ideas
2%
Power
2%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

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 5 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 4 · Engaged 5 · 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 4 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 2

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 7 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Herald
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
8
Thrilling
3
Hopeful
3
Joyful
2
Warm
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous2

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 Fred Dryer's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Fred Dryer'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

40 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Influence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Howie Goldstein

  • Bumblebee(2018)

    as Sheriff Lock

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Crisis(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Thomas Jefferson Smith

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Wrong Woman(2013)

    as Detective Sanford

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Millers(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarge

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Octavian Bloom

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Accidentally on Purpose(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Edward

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Suits on the Loose(2005)

    as Senator Boxwell

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Thomas Fletcher

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 5 episodes · as Rick Hunter

  • Hunter: Back in Force(2003)

    Executive Producer · as Rick Hunter

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Fire Over Afghanistan(2003)

    as Collins ezredes

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Shakedown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as General Wolf

  • Hunter: Return to Justice(2002)

    Executive Producer · as Rick Hunter

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Justice League(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Rock (voice) · as Sgt. Rock / Flagship Pilot #2 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Independent(2000)

    as Jean Claude

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Highway 395 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · as Rawley Wade

  • Warm Texas Rain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Karl Lorens

  • Wild Grizzly(1999)

    as Ranger Frank Bradford

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Relic Hunter(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Randall Fox

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Stray Bullet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Forest Mason

  • Land's End(1995)

    Show 22 episodes · Creator · as Mike Land

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A.(1995)

    Executive Producer · as Rick Hunter

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Day of Reckoning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Executive Producer · as Jack O'Brien

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Police Chief Masters

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Mickey's 60th Birthday(1988)

    as Det. Sgt. Rick Hunter

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Death Before Dishonor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Gunnery Sgt. Burns

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 152 episodes · Director · Producer · as Rick Hunter

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Cannonball Run II(1984)

    as CHP #3

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins(1984)

    as Barney Daniels

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Something So Right (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Mike Bosnick

  • Cheers(1982)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dave Richards

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Kid from Nowhere(1982)

    as Larry Kandal

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Star Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Milt Cooperman

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. John LeGarre

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Gus(1976)

    as Atoms player (sideline & showers) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Laverne & Shirley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Monday Night Football (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 9 episodes · as Defensive end · as Defensive End

Career shape

Star power in the 83rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 40 titles from 1970 to 2020; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Suits on the Loose (2005)

$79K worldwide

Highest rated

Hunter (1984)

Midcredits 48th

Film career

19702020

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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.

  • 1976Screen debut· Gus

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting40 of 40: 33 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndDirecting2 of 40: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleProducing5 of 40: 0 only producing, 5 with another roleOther crew1 of 40: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

40 titles, 7 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1970s6 · acting1980s9 · 9 acting · 1 crew1990s6 · 6 acting · 3 crew2000s13 · 13 acting · 3 crew2010s5 · acting2020s1 · 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 Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Fred Dryer's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 34th percentile, the median of all 14; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 31st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 26 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Fire Over Afghanistan (2003)

84th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Cheers (1982)

Midcredits 86th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 54/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 33. 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 Fred Dryer work with?

People who share at least 2 of Fred Dryer's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Stephen J. Cannell shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Producers