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David Sutcliffe

David Sutcliffe

Actor · Born June 8, 1969 (57) · Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

David Sutcliffe (born June 8, 1969) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for playing Christopher Hayden, Rory Gilmore's father and Lorelai Gilmore's on-and-off boyfriend, on the CW show Gilmore Girls. A 1990 graduate of Victoria College at the University of Toronto where he studied English literature, he played varsity basketball before succumbing to a career-ending knee injury. While in college, he waited tables at local greasy spoon Michael's on Bay. Before heading to Hollywood, he starred in the independent feature film Two or Three Words, directed by Toronto-local Evan Georgiades. He subsequently appeared in the straight to DVD film Cake with Heather Graham, Taye Diggs, Sandra Oh and Sarah Chalke, and the film Testosterone opposite Antonio Sabato Jr. and Sônia Braga. In 2003, he appeared at the very end of Under the Tuscan Sun with Diane Lane and Sandra Oh. He played the character Ed, a writer who falls in love with Frances in the last scenes of the movie. He played financier Ted Ammon in the made-for-TV movie Murder in the Hamptons. He has appeared in numerous TV shows such as I'm with Her (where he had the lead male role, along with Teri Polo), Friends, Will and Grace, Accidentally on Purpose, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Cold Feet. He also had a recurring role on Private Practice where was signed for 13 episodes during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons. He played a police officer smitten with the lead character Dr. Addison Montgomery. He also starred in the 2009 film Before You Say I Do. He played on the World Poker Tour in the Hollywood Home games, for the Hollygrove House charity. He is divorced from actress Julie McCullough. Description above from the Wikipedia article David Sutcliffe,licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 8, 1969 (57)
From
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Works as
Actor
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 50 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 34% in 30 days

What are David Sutcliffe's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 6th percentile
: 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
Bonds
37%
Self
30%
Survival
12%
Morality
10%
Society
8%
Power
2%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 3 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 15 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 7 · Intense 1

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · 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

Casual 10 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 15 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 15
Ally
3 of 15
Mentor
3 of 15
Shapeshifter
1 of 15
Trickster
1 of 15
Threshold guardian
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Warm
8
Romantic
6
Hopeful
6
Joyful
4
Other
20

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet5
  • 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 David Sutcliffe's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Sutcliffe'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

50 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Romanoffs(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Philip Hayward

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • A Man for Every Month(2017)

    as Ben

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Christopher Hayden

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Deadly Inferno(2016)

    as Colin

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Insecure(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Isaac

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Timeless(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucy's Boss

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Milton's Secret(2016)

    as Bill Adams

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Convenient Groom(2016)

    as Lucas Wright

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Charming Christmas(2015)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Proof(2015)

    Show as Dr. Len Barliss

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Hunting Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Mike Davis

  • Cracked(2013)

    Show 21 episodes · as Detective Aidan Black

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Super Storm(2011)

    as Jason Newmar

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • On Strike for Christmas(2010)

    as Stephen Robertson

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Wish List(2010)

    as Fred Jones

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Rookie Blue(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Lloyd Hill

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Misconceptions(2008)

    as Parker Bliss, Sr.

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Wright vs. Wrong(2010)

    as Baker McKay

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Accidentally on Purpose(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Brian

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Drop Dead Diva(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Ellis

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Before You Say 'I Do'(2009)

    as George Murray

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as John Stafford

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Inconceivable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Jon Du Bose

  • Sticks & Stones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Neil Martin

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 13 episodes · as Kevin Nelson

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Towards Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Charlie Bain

  • His and Her Christmas(2005)

    as Tom Lane

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Snow Wonder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Jim

  • Million Dollar Murder(2005)

    as Ted Ammon

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Cake(2005)

    as Ian

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Break a Leg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Happy Actor

  • Happy Endings(2005)

    as Gil

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • I'm with Her (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 22 episodes · as Patrick Owen

  • Under the Tuscan Sun(2003)

    as Ed

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Testosterone(2003)

    as Dean Seagrave

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick Breck

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Mutant X(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Kearney

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • The Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 5 episodes · as Dr. Michaelson · as Jonah

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Ian Wolf

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Gilmore Girls(2000)

    Show 37 episodes · as Christopher Hayden

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Grapevine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 6 episodes · as Matt Brewer

  • Cold Feet(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Adam Williams

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Providence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Russell Banks

  • Two of a Kind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Campbell

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Half Baked(1998)

    as After School Dad

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Holiday Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Night of the Twisters(1996)

    as Farm Dad

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Friends(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Kyle

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Forever Knight(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 48 titles from 1992 to 2018; peak year 2010.

Biggest box office

Happy Endings (2005)

$1.7M worldwide

Highest rated

Happy Endings (2005)

Midcredits 54th

Most popular right now

Cracked (2013)

Film career

19922018

Peak 2010 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 6 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
Acting48 of 48: 48 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score48th

By decade

1990s9 · acting2000s23 · acting2010s16 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 30% of 10 roles
9606

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 David Sutcliffe's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Wright vs. Wrong (2010)

98th percentile spread · 60% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Gilmore Girls (2000)

Midcredits 92nd · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 35. 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 David Sutcliffe work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Sutcliffe's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bruce Gray shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers