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Peter Horton

Peter Horton

Actor, director and producer, also writer · Born August 20, 1953 (73) · Bellevue, Washington, USA

Peter Horton (born August 20, 1953) is an American actor and director. He played the role of Prof. Gary Shepherd on the popular television series Thirtysomething until 1991.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 20, 1953 (73)
From
Bellevue, Washington, USA
Works as
Actor, director and producer, also writer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 63 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 3% in 30 days

What are Peter Horton's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action 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
31%
Bonds
17%
Survival
14%
Society
14%
Morality
10%
Ideas
9%
Power
4%
Identity3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 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 4 · Serious 4 · Dark 8

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 10 · Intense 3

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 2

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 8 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 1

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 6 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 8
Hero
2 of 8
Ally
2 of 8
Shapeshifter
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
9
Warm
4
Hopeful
4
Absurd
3
Other
15

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous4

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 Peter Horton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Peter Horton'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

63 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • New Amsterdam(2018)

    Show 89 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Family(2018)

    as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Electric Dreams(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Runner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • American Odyssey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Story · Teleplay

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

    Show 11 episodes · Producer

  • Lone Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Life Unexpected(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Grant Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Philanthropist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • In Treatment(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Zach

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Dirty Sexy Money(2007)

    Show 23 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie(2005)

    as Peter Horton

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 32 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Happy Endings(2005)

    as Ted the Urologist (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Dust Factory(2004)

    as Lionel

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • While I Was Gone(2004)

    as Eli Mayhew

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Harvesting Horror: Children of the Corn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as (archival footage)

  • Line of Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Karen Sisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Thoughtcrimes(2003)

    as Dr. Michael Welles

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Shield(2002)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Geena Davis Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 22 episodes · as Max Ryan

  • Once and Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

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

    Show 13 episodes · Producer · as Ezekiel Stone

  • T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous(1998)

    as Dr. Donald Hayden

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • From the Earth to the Moon(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as documentary director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Into Thin Air: Death on Everest(1997)

    as Scott Fischer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The End of Violence(1997)

    as Brian

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Jack

  • Murder Live!(1997)

    Executive Producer · Story · as Lt. Clay Maloney

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • 2 Days in the Valley(1996)

    as Roy Foxx

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Crazy Horse(1996)

    as General George Armstrong Custer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Death Benefit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Steven Keeney

  • The Baby-Sitters Club(1995)

    as Patrick

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Cure(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Children of the Dark(1994)

    as Jim Harrison

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Birdland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Class of '96 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · as Professor Hartman

  • Singles(1992)

    as Jamie

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Extreme Close-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Side Out(1990)

    as Zack Barnes

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Wonder Years(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • thirtysomething (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 85 episodes · Director · as Gary Shepherd

  • Amazon Women on the Moon(1987)

    Director · as Harry (segment "Hospital")

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Where the River Runs Black(1986)

    as Father Mahoney

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • One Too Many (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director

  • Children of the Corn(1984)

    as Burton Stanton

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Choices of the Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Doug

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Barry Dorn

  • Split Image(1982)

    as Jacob

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 22 episodes · as Crane McFadden

  • Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Bill

  • Miracle on Ice(1981)

    as Jack O'Callahan

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Flamingo Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Fade to Black(1980)

    as Joey

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Serial(1980)

    as Cult Member 4

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • She's Dressed to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Tony Smith

  • The White Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Raymond Collins

  • Kaz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dallas(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Wayne

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • ABC Afterschool Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Director

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 63 titles from 1972 to 2018; peak year 1983.

Biggest box office

T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous (1998)

$104M worldwide

Highest rated

The Cure (1995)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Children of the Corn (1984)

Film career

19722018

Peak 1983 · 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
Acting44 of 63: 38 only acting, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thDirecting21 of 63: 13 only directing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score83rdWriting2 of 63: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing8 of 63: 2 only producing, 6 with another roleOther crew1 of 63: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

63 titles, 10 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1970s6 · 5 acting · 1 crew1980s15 · 13 acting · 4 crew1990s19 · 15 acting · 8 crew2000s15 · 9 acting · 6 crew2010s8 · 2 acting · 6 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 17% of 12 roles
8095

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 Peter Horton's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 24; across their 16 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 16

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie (2005)

99th percentile spread · 51% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Shield (2002)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 44. 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 Peter Horton's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 70 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles14–60 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 53 · moderateMedian 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 Peter Horton work with?

People who share at least 2 of Peter Horton's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Frank von Zerneck shares the most, 3.

Actors

Producers