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Buddy Hackett

Buddy Hackett

Actor · Died June 30, 2003, aged 78 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Buddy Hackett  (August 31, 1924 - June 30, 2003) was an American comedian and comic actor. Known for his raunchy material, heavy appearance and thick New York City accent, his notable roles include Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man (1962), Benjy Benjamin in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Tennessee Steinmetz in The Love Bug (1968) and the voice of Scuttle in The Little Mermaid (1989).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 31, 1924
Died
June 30, 2003 (aged 78)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 58 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 25% in 30 days

What are Buddy Hackett's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation 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
41%
Self
21%
Power
18%
Society
11%
Morality
9%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 11 · Serious 1 · Dark 0

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

Grounded 2 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 4

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 5 · Intense 1

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

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 5 · 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 2 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

9 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 4 of 9 analyzed roles.

Trickster
4 of 9
Ally
3 of 9
Herald
1 of 9
Shapeshifter
1 of 9
Show the 9 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
6
Warm
6
Absurd
4
Romantic
5
Hopeful
3
Other
16

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1

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 Buddy Hackett's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Buddy Hackett'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

58 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 28 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • It's a Zabriskie, Zabriskie, Zabriskie, Zabriskie Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Benjy Benjamin (archive footage)

  • The Little Mermaid Live!(2019)

    as Scuttle (archive footage) (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • I'm a Porn Star(2013)

    as Benjy Benjamin

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Ultimate Collection Starring Johnny Carson - The Best of the 60s and 70s (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Man and Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator

  • The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea(2000)

    as Scuttle (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Action(1999)

    Show 13 episodes · as Uncle Lonnie

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Paulie(1998)

    as Artie

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Just Shoot Me!(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Buddy Hackett

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Car (voice)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Fontaine

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Animaniacs(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as CEO (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Mouse Soup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Mouse

  • Fish Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 6 episodes · as Crabby (voice)

  • Dinosaurs(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Louie (voice)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Little Mermaid's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Scuttle (voice)

  • Ferris Bueller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Emcee

  • The Little Mermaid(1989)

    as Scuttle (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Buddy Hackett II: On Stage At Caesars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Writer · as Himself

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Murray Gruen

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Buddy Hackett: Live and Uncensored (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor's Assistant · Writer · as Himself

  • Hey Babe! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Sammy Cohen

  • The Fall Guy(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Jack Frost(1979)

    as Pardon-Me-Pete (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Bud and Lou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Lou Costello

  • Sword of Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Coming Attractions(1978)

    as Buddy Hackett - S.T.O.P.-I.T. Spokesman

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Julian Garfield · as Mickey Greenbaum

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ronnie Fletcher

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Joey Germaine

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Good Guys and the Bad Guys(1969)

    as Ed - Townsman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Love Bug(1968)

    as Tennessee Steinmetz

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Danny Thomas Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Zeus

  • Get Smart(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Wilbur (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Dean Martin Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Big Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Sawyer

  • Once Upon a Tractor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Garage Owner

  • The Golden Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Lionel Pack

  • Muscle Beach Party(1964)

    as The Rich Business Manager

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World(1963)

    as Benjy Benjamin

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Lucy Show(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Barton

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm(1962)

    as Hans (segment "The Singing Bone")

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Music Man(1962)

    as Marcellus Washburn

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Everything's Ducky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Seaman Admiral John Paul 'Ad' Jones

  • All Hands on Deck(1961)

    as Shrieking Eagle Garfield

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • God's Little Acre(1958)

    as Pluto Swint, Sheriff Candidate

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Stanley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Tennessee Steinmetz

  • Tonight Starring Steve Allen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Max Liebman Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Fireman Save My Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Smokey Hinkle

  • Walking My Baby Back Home(1953)

    as Blimp Edwards

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Jackie Gleason Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show Actor

  • King of the Pins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Inept Bowler

  • Saturday Night Swing Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Orchestra Leader

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles from 1938 to 2023; peak year 1999.

Biggest box office

The Little Mermaid (1989)

$211M worldwide

Highest rated

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Midcredits 94th

Film career

19382023

Peak 1999 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 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
Acting55 of 57: 55 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdWriting2 of 57: 1 only writing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 57: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1930s1 · acting1950s10 · acting1960s15 · acting1970s7 · acting1980s6 · 4 acting · 2 crew1990s13 · acting2000s3 · acting2010s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 10% of 10 roles
5878

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 Buddy Hackett's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

I'm a Porn Star (2013)

80th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Midcredits 94th · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 40. 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 Buddy Hackett's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 29 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles2–21 · median 10 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles7–21 · median 10 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles7–35 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 28 · mildMedian 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 Buddy Hackett work with?

People who share at least 2 of Buddy Hackett's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jodi Benson shares the most, 2.

Actors

Mixed roles