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Donald Cook

Donald Cook

Actor · Died October 1, 1961, aged 60 · Portland, Oregon

Donald Cook (September 26, 1901 – October 1, 1961) was an American stage and film actor. Born in Portland, Oregon, he originally studied farming but later started business with a lumber company. He joined the Kansas Community Players and through this received an offer of stage work. He started screen work in "shorts" before going on to films. Cook was known for his portrayal of Mike Powers in the film The Public Enemy. He also was one of the first film actors to portray Ellery Queen, in The Spanish Cape Mystery. He played opposite Helen Morgan in the 1936 film adaptation of Show Boat was one of the suspects in the Philo Vance mystery The Casino Murder Case, starred as an heroic immigration inspector in Ellis Island. Other film credits include The Man Who Played God, Our Very Own and The Penguin Pool Murder (1932). Cook made his Broadway debut in 1926 as Donn Cook, and his New York theatrical career continued until 1959. His credits included a 1948 revival of Private Lives. Cook was married to Princess Gioia Tasca di Cuto from 1937 until his death from a heart attack in New Haven. Description above from the Wikipedia article Donald Cook, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 26, 1901
Died
October 1, 1961 (aged 60)
From
Portland, Oregon
Works as
Actor
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 66 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 21% in 30 days

What are Donald Cook's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
Bonds
40%
Morality
22%
Power
18%
Society
9%
Self
8%
Survival
3%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeParenthood2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 8 · Serious 4 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 10 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

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 7 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 11 · 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 8 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 7 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 7
Hero
2 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

Warm
9
Tense
7
Romantic
6
Melancholic
5
Joyful
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Donald Cook's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Subscription and free streaming for Donald Cook'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

66 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas(1996)

    as Hunchback of Notre Dame

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Too Young to Go Steady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 7 episodes · as Tom Blake

  • ABC Album (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Cassidy

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Bruce Wallace · as Roger · as Tad Bryson

  • Our Very Own (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Fred Macaulay

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Oysters and Muscles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Actor

  • Patrick the Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Pat Donahue Sr.

  • Blonde Ransom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Duke Randall

  • Here Come the Co-eds(1945)

    as Dean Larry Benson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Bowery to Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Dennis Dugan

  • Murder in the Blue Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Steve

  • Freedom Comes High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Actor

  • Circus Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Charles Jerome

  • Two Wise Maids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Bruce Arnold

  • Beware of Ladies(1936)

    as George Martin

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Can This Be Dixie? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Longstreet Butler

  • Ellis Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Gary Curtis

  • Show Boat(1936)

    as Steve Baker

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Girl from Mandalay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Kenneth Grainger

  • Ring Around the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Ross Graham

  • The Leavenworth Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dr. Truman Harwell

  • The Calling of Dan Matthews (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Frank Blair

  • Confidential (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as FBI Agent Dave Elliott

  • The Spanish Cape Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Ellery Queen

  • Here Comes the Band(1935)

    as Don Trevor

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Murder in the Fleet(1935)

    as Lieutenant Commander David Tucker

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Motive for Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Barry Webster

  • Ladies Love Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Actor

  • The Casino Murder Case(1935)

    as Lynn Llewellyn

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Gigolette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Gregg Emerson

  • The Night Is Young(1935)

    as Toni Berngruber

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Behind the Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Ward Cameron

  • Fugitive Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Jack Howard

  • Jealousy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Mark Lambert

  • Most Precious Thing in Life(1934)

    as Bob Kelsey

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Viva Villa! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Don Felipe de Castillo

  • Whirlpool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Bob

  • The 9th Guest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Jim Daley

  • Long Lost Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Bill Strong

  • The World Changes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Richard Nordholm

  • Fog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Wentworth Brown

  • Fury of the Jungle(1933)

    as 'Lucky' Allen

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Brief Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Franklin Deane

  • Baby Face(1933)

    as Ned Stevens

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Woman I Stole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Corew

  • Jennie Gerhardt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Lester Kane

  • The Kiss Before the Mirror(1933)

    as Maria's Lover

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Circus Queen Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as The Great Sebastian

  • Private Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Lt. John Gregg

  • Frisco Jenny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Dan Reynolds

  • The Penguin Pool Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Philip Seymour

  • The Conquerors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Warren Lennox

  • The Trial of Vivienne Ware (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as John Sutherland

  • The Heart of New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Milton

  • The Man Who Played God(1932)

    as Harold Van Adam

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Taxi(1931)

    as Actor in Movie Clip (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Safe in Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Carl Bergen

  • The Mad Genius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Fedor Ivanoff

  • How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 11: 'Practice Shots' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Actor

  • Side Show(1931)

    as Joe Palmer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Party Husband(1931)

    as Horace Purcell

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Public Enemy(1931)

    as Mike Powers

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Unfaithful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Terry Houston

  • Roseland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Jack

Career shape

Star power in the 89th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 66 titles from 1930 to 1996.

Biggest box office

The Public Enemy (1931)

$1.2M worldwide

Highest rated

The Public Enemy (1931)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Baby Face (1933)

Film career

  • 1931Screen debut· The Public Enemy

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting66 of 66: 66 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score43rd

By decade

1930s52 · acting1940s8 · acting1950s5 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 8 roles

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.

How do Donald Cook's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 43rd percentile, the median of all 17; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 17 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Fury of the Jungle (1933)

71st percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Public Enemy (1931)

Midcredits 93rd · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 46. 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 Donald Cook work with?

People who share at least 2 of Donald Cook's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ted Healy shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers