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Ted Adams

Ted Adams

Actor · Died September 24, 1973, aged 83 · New York City, New York, USA

The son of vaudeville performers, Richard Theodore "Ted" Adams was part of his parents' troupe before attending Cornell University at the age of 18. After college he did stock work for three years before going on to New York City and stage work there. For more than half his life he performed on the stage before coming to films around 1926. He and his good friend Leo Carrillo performed together in Porter Emerson Browne's play "The Bad Man" in 1920, and Adams was also in the Broadway production of "Kongo", which starred Walter Huston, in 1926. His earliest documented film role was as the doctor in Rayart's The Road Agent (1926), starring Al Hoxie, and he made his sound-film debut in 1930's Under Texas Skies (1930), starring Bob Custer. Adams quickly established himself in westerns, in which he worked almost exclusively for 25 years in over 200 films. He was a mainstay performer (mostly lead villains) for the low-budget films cranked out by independents such as Supreme, Metropolitan, Puritan, Colony and Victory in the 1930s and PRC and Monogram in the 1940s, in addition to appearing in films from Republic, Columbia, Paramount and Universal. Following a role in Bill Elliott's Kansas Territory (1952) for Monogram Pictures, and some TV work on Russell Hayden's Cowboy G-Men (1952) TV series, Ted Adams hung up his spurs at the age of 62, then lived quietly in retirement until his death from heart disease at the age of 83. A widower at the time of his death, September 24, 1973, he was at Braewood Convalescence Hospital in South Pasadena, his place of residence prior to his death. His cremated remains were placed at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 17, 1890
Died
September 24, 1973 (aged 83)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 159 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 23% in 30 days

What are Ted Adams' films like?

Across their 34 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

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.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Light 28 · Serious 6 · Dark 0

Grounded 25 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 1

Gentle 14 · Charged 20 · Intense 0

Steady 29 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 1

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 2

Casual 32 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved 34 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 8 of 14 analyzed roles.

Shadow
8 of 14
Threshold guardian
4 of 14
Mentor
1 of 14
Ally
1 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Thrilling
21
Hopeful
17
Warm
8
Triumphant
5
Other
15

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy32
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic1

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 Ted Adams' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (29).

Subscription and free streaming for Ted Adams' 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

159 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page.

  • Kansas Territory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Ed Rank

  • Westward the Women(1951)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
  • The Vanishing Outpost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Matt

  • Lost Planet Airmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Martin Conway

  • Night Riders of Montana(1951)

    as Henchman Connors

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Abilene Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Town Sheriff

  • Law of the Panhandle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Fred Kendal

  • A Wonderful Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • I Killed Geronimo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Walt Anderson

  • Hills of Oklahoma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Henchman Sam

  • Navajo Trail Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Sheriff Robbins

  • San Antone Ambush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Stageline Agent (uncredited)

  • Haunted Trails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Rancher Thompson

  • Stallion Canyon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Wolf Norton

  • King of the Rocket Men(1949)

    as Martin Conway

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Across The Rio Grande (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Tom Sloan

  • Brothers in the Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Saloon Dealer

  • Gun Runner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Danny Fox

  • Outlaw Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Frank Evans

  • Quick on the Trigger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Sheriff Martin Oaks

  • Gunning for Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Lem Tolliver

  • Back Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Bob Frazer

  • Frontier Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Jim Kerrigan

  • Crossed Trails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Bill Laswell

  • Overland Trails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Matt Cramer

  • Dangers of the Canadian Mounted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as 'Oldtimer' Meggs - Skagway Kate's Piano Player

  • Gun Talk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Tim - Express Agent

  • Under Colorado Skies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Doc Thornhill

  • Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Prairie Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Henchman Lem

  • Valley of Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Henchman Wilkins

  • Killer Dill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Court Clerk (uncredited)

  • Code of the Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Buck Stace

  • Song of the Wasteland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Luke Forbes

  • The Law Comes to Gunsight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Ben Prescott

  • Buffalo Bill Rides Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Henchman Sam

  • Range Beyond the Blue(1947)

    as Uncle Henry Rodgers

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Vigilantes of Boomtown(1947)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Raiders of the South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Prosecuting Attorney

  • Stagecoach to Denver(1946)

    as Crooked Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Silver Range (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Jason Turner

  • Son of the Guardsman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Emissary from London (uncredited)

  • Shadows on the Range (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Bart Brennan

  • Trigger Fingers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Stub Allen

  • Red River Renegades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Frank Stevens

  • Tumbleweed Trail(1946)

    as Lawyer Small

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Under Arizona Skies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Deputy John Carter

  • Swing, Cowboy, Swing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Henchman

  • Jungle Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Witch Doctor #1

  • Hail to the Rangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Schuyler

  • Cattle Stampede(1943)

    as Townsman

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case(1943)

    as Stapleton, Prison Guard (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Daredevils of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Silas Higby

  • Corregidor(1943)

    as Ordnance Officer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
  • The Kid Rides Again(1943)

    as Sundown Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • The Sundown Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Jim Dawson

  • Outlaws of Boulder Pass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Sheriff

  • Along the Sundown Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Deputy Casey (uncredited)

  • Overland Stagecoach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Sheriff

  • Law and Order (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Sheriff Jeff

  • Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Sheriff Carson

  • Rolling Down the Great Divide(1942)

    as Roger Martin

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Billy the Kid Trapped(1942)

    as Sheriff John Masters

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Fighting Bill Fargo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Henchman Vic Savage

  • Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • The Royal Mounted Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Pete

  • The Lone Rider Ambushed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Deputy Slim Pettit

  • The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Case Murdock

  • Thunder Over the Prairie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Dave Wheeler

  • Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Billy the Kid(1941)

    as 'Buz' Cobb

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Billy the Kid's Range War(1941)

    as Sheriff Black

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • Billy the Kid's Gun Justice(1940)

    as Sheriff - main part

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • Trail of the Vigilantes(1940)

    as Vigilante

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • Law and Order (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Walt Daggett

  • Riders of Black Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Henchman Pete Smith

  • Wyoming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Smalley's Brother

  • Gun Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sheriff Kramer

  • Billy the Kid Outlawed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sam Daly

  • Sky Bandits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Henchman Gary

  • Frontier Crusader (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Henchman Jack Trask

  • Gaucho Serenade(1940)

    as E.J. Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Pinto Canyon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Jim Farley

  • Riders of Pasco Basin(1940)

    as Henchman Magee

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Phantom Rancher(1940)

    as Collins

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • Wild Horse Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Baker - Ranch Foreman

  • East Side Kids(1940)

    as Schmidt

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Pioneer Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Slater

  • El Diablo Rides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Buck Lambert

  • Crashing Thru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Eskimo Pete

  • Henry Goes Arizona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Rancher Buzz Sawyer (uncredited)

  • Fighting Mad(1939)

    as Henchman Leon

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Pal from Texas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ace Brady

  • Trigger Fingers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Henchman Jeff Thurston

  • The Fighting Renegade(1939)

    as Link Benson

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • Port of Hate(1939)

    as Adams

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Straight Shooter(1939)

    as Brainard

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Riders of the Sage(1939)

    as Poe Powers

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Three Texas Steers(1939)

    as Henchman Steve

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Mesquite Buckaroo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Luke Williams

  • Outlaws' Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Slim Marsh

  • Texas Wildcats(1939)

    as Reno

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Smoky Trails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Outlaw Leader

  • Code of the Cactus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Thurston

  • Six-Gun Rhythm(1939)

    as Sheriff Joe

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • In Old Montana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Army Colonel

  • Trigger Pals(1939)

    as Harvey Kent

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Fangs of the Wild(1939)

    as Frank Lewis

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Six-Gun Trail(1938)

    as Henchman

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Lightning Carson Rides Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Chuck

  • Pals of the Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Actor

  • Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Paroled from the Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as H.S. 'Slicker' Nixon

  • Desert Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Apache Joe

  • Gunsmoke Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Outlaw Leader Loma

  • Colorado Kid(1937)

    as Bill Hannon

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Sudden Bill Dorn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Henchman Fontana

  • Boss of Lonely Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Henchman Slim

  • Arizona Gunfighter(1937)

    as Wolf Whitson aka Pop Whittaker

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Rustlers' Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Taggart

  • Smoke Tree Range (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Gil Hawkins

  • The Girl from Scotland Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Montritz Hotel Valet

  • Guns in the Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Manuel Mendez

  • It Happened Out West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Henchman Tex

  • Lawless Land(1936)

    as Clay Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • The Gambling Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Sheriff

  • Trail Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Joe Wilson

  • Undercover Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Ace Pringle

  • The Lion Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Youssef Ab-Dur

  • The Crooked Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Estaban Solano

  • Three on the Trail(1936)

    as Henchman Jim Trask

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • Custer's Last Stand(1936)

    as Buffalo Bill / Henchman Barney

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Desert Phantom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Salizar

  • Border Caballero(1936)

    as Buff Brayden

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Heart of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Saxon - Wounded Henchman

  • Custer's Last Stand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Barney / Buffalo Bill Cody

  • The Law of the 45's(1935)

    as Gordon Rontell

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • His Fighting Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Marsden

  • Toll of the Desert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Teague

  • Social Error (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Haggerty - June's Bodyguard

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

    Actor

  • War of the Range (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Jim Warren (as Theodore Adams)

  • Man Of Action (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Red Deevers

  • The Savage Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Chauffeur

  • The Gambling Sex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Gambler

  • Beyond the Rockies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Emory

  • Ghost Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Gordon

  • Human Targets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Deputy

  • Cavalier of the West(1931)

    as Lee Burgess

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • The Cyclone Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Joe Clark

  • Ships of Hate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as The Professor

  • The Ridin' Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Boston Harry Manners

  • A Rider of the Plains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Parson Jim Wallace

  • God's Country and the Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Mexican Lt. José Romero

  • Under Texas Skies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Tom - Circle A Hand (uncredited)

  • Beyond the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Corporal

  • Fangs of Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Consolidated Oil Industries Representative (uncredited)

  • The Road Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as The Doctor

  • The Battling Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Townsman at Boxing Match (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 41st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 159 titles from 1924 to 1952.

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting159 of 159: 159 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score27th

By decade

1920s3 · acting1930s68 · acting1940s78 · acting1950s10 · acting

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.

How do Ted Adams' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 27th percentile, the median of all 44; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

9thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th19

Reviewers score the acting 53/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 67, detractors 37. 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 Ted Adams work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ted Adams' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sam Newfield shares the most, 16.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles