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David Ackroyd

David Ackroyd

Actor · Born May 30, 1940 (86) · Orange, New Jersey, USA

Veteran stage and TV actor David Ackroyd was born on May 30, 1940 in Orange, New Jersey, the son of Arthur, an insurance adjuster, and Charlotte (nee Henderson) Ackroyd. He studied at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania where he received his BA in 1962 as a ROTC student. Following his graduation he appeared in community theater productions while serving in Arizona with the military. He then focused on the arts as a career after enrolling at the Yale Drama School where he earned his Masters of Fine Arts in 1968.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 30, 1940 (86)
From
Orange, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 81 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 42% in 30 days

What are David Ackroyd's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Mystery2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Mystery 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
Survival
26%
Morality
23%
Bonds
18%
Self
16%
Power
10%
Society
5%
Ideas
2%
Survival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 11 · Intense 3

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 9 · 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 11 · 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 8 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 6 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 6
Shadow
2 of 6
Herald
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Dread
6
Warm
5
Melancholic
6
Thrilling
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Unsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet9
  • 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 Ackroyd's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Ackroyd'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

81 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Best Bar in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Northway

  • The Universe(2007)

    Show 88 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • History's Mysteries: The True Story of Gladiators (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator

  • Circus Freaks and Sideshows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Narrator

  • Amityville: Horror or Hoax (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Narrator (Voice)

  • Amityville: The Haunting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Narrator (Voice)

  • Mr. Ponzi and His Scheme (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator

  • History's Mysteries: The Enduring Mysteries of Stonehenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Narrator

  • History's Mysteries(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Producer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • In Search of History: Salem Witch Trials (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Narrator

  • Raven(1996)

    as Bill Gilley

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • No Strings Attached(1997)

    as Dr. Singer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ezekiel Rage (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • In Search of History (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 110 episodes · as Narrator

  • Xena: Warrior Princess(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Anteus

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Dead On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Dexter Davenport

  • Against the Wall(1994)

    as William Kuntsler

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Love, Cheat & Steal(1993)

    as Tom Kerry

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Newscaster (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Jess Morell

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The Round Table (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • The Fear Inside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Brandon Cole

  • Breaking the Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Dr. Irving Berringer

  • Stop at Nothing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Agent Conroy

  • Hell Hath No Fury(1991)

    as Stanley

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Captain Planet and the Planeteers(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Owner / Bus Driver (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • I Come in Peace(1990)

    as Inspector Switzer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Wrestling with God (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Robert Owen

  • A Peaceable Kingdom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Doogie Howser, M.D.(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Marcus

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · as Graham Mattison

  • Studio 5-B (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Memories of Me(1988)

    as 1st Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jones

  • A Smoky Mountain Christmas(1986)

    as Video Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Wildfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Stark: Mirror Image (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Kenneth Clayton

  • The Children of Times Square(1986)

    as Peter Roberts

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Nativity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Angel of the Lord (voice)

  • Blacke's Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Picking Up the Pieces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Dr. Eric Harding

  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lucien Trumbo

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Bert Lown · as Nate Parsons · as Prosecutor Tom Casselli

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Cover Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Commander Matthew Rogers

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Gus Trancus

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Sky's No Limit(1984)

    as Col. Charlie King

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • When Your Lover Leaves(1983)

    as Joe Masterson

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Whiz Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • AfterMASH (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 31 episodes · as Dr. Boyer

  • Hardcastle and McCormick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Eddie Dawson

  • Deadly Lessons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as John Ferrar

  • Cocaine: One Man's Seduction(1983)

    as Bruce Neumann

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Laskov

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Sound of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Peter Marriott

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

    Show 3 episodes · as Chuck Cochrane

  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Teachers Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Brian Cagney

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • A Gun in the House(1981)

    as Joe Cates

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

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

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • The Mountain Men(1980)

    as Medicine Wolf

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Yeagers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Medford

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Mind Over Murder(1979)

    as Ben Kushing

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Facts of Life(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Women in White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Mike Rayburn

  • And I Alone Survived(1978)

    as Jay Fuller

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Tom Carey

  • The Paper Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Tom and Joann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Gabe

  • Dallas(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gary Ewing

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The Dark Secret of Harvest Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Nick Constantine

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Kessler

  • Exo-Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Dr. Nicholas Conrad

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Vincent Hackley

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story(1972)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Reginald Broderick

  • Story Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Ensemble Member

  • Another World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1,547 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 89th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 81 titles from 1964 to 2013; peak year 1989.

Biggest box office

I Come in Peace (1990)

$4.3M worldwide

Highest rated

A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

I Come in Peace (1990)

Film career

19642013

Peak 1989 · at the high point of their film career. 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.

  • 1971Screen debut· Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story
  • 2007Career best· The Universe

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting81 of 81: 80 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thProducing1 of 81: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1960s2 · acting1970s16 · acting1980s35 · acting1990s22 · 22 acting · 1 crew2000s5 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 5 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 David Ackroyd's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

When Your Lover Leaves (1983)

92nd percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Universe (2007)

Midcredits 96th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 73, 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.

Is David Ackroyd's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 41 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does David Ackroyd work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Ackroyd's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Henry Winkler shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers