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Jim Beaver

Jim Beaver

Actor, also writer · Born August 12, 1950 (76) · Laramie, Wyoming, USA

James Norman Beaver Jr. (born August 12, 1950) is an American actor, writer, and film historian. He portrayed Bobby Singer in Supernatural. He also played Whitney Ellsworth on the HBO Western drama series Deadwood, which brought him acclaim and a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for Ensemble Acting, Sheriff Shelby Parlow on the FX series Justified, and Robert "Dakota Bob" Singer on the Amazon Prime Video series The Boys. His memoir Life's That Way was published in April 2009.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 12, 1950 (76)
From
Laramie, Wyoming, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
84 on Motif · 108 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Up 17% in 30 days

What are Jim Beaver's films like?

Across their 24 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their Motif 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
24%
Morality
23%
Self
20%
Survival
13%
Society
8%
Power
8%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 13 · Intense 5

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 4

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 12 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 5

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 7 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Mentor
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4
Ally
1 of 4
Herald
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Melancholic
11
Absurd
6
Warm
5
Dread
5
Other
22

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Jim Beaver's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 63 of their 84 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (21).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jim Beaver's titles on Motif; 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

108 credits, 84 with a Motif page.

  • The Winchesters(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Bobby Singer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • No More Time(2022)

    as Radio Host

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Outer Range(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Harrison Farber

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Nightmare Alley(2021)

    as Sheriff Jedediah Judd

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Blindfire(2020)

    as Sergeant Ward

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • B Positive(2020)

    Show 16 episodes · as Spencer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Watchmen(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Andy

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Mama Bear (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    as Doctor

  • The Boys(2019)

    Show 11 episodes · as Secretary of Defense Robert A. Singer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Deadwood: The Movie(2019)

    as Whitney Ellsworth (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Scripts Gone Wild Zombie Nightmare(2019)

    Actor

  • Hospitality(2018)

    as The Boss

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Billy Boy(2017)

    as Crabtree

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Remember the Sultana(2018)

    as Joseph Taylor Elliott / First Engineering Officer Nathaniel Wintringer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Young Sheldon(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenneth

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Frontier(2015)

    as Lee

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Timeless(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as NSA Agent Jake Neville

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Injection (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Pops

  • The Ranch(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Chuck

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Crimson Peak(2015)

    as Carter Cushing

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Biffle and Shooster(2015)

    as The Captain

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Better Call Saul(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lawson

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Nikki & Nora: The N&N Files (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 7 episodes · as Arliss Fontenot

  • Night Riders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Executive Producer · Screenplay · Writer

  • Revolution(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Franklin Fry

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Major Crimes(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Donald Beckwith

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Longmire(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Lee Rosky

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Love Bites (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Trucker

  • The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy(2011)

    as J. Wright Mooar

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: LA(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Loomis

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Justified(2010)

    Show 11 episodes · as Drew Thompson · as Shelby Parlow · as Shelby Parlow / Drew Thompson

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Dark and Stormy Night(2009)

    as Jack Tugdon

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Middle(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Eddie Stokes

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Harper's Island(2009)

    Show 13 episodes · as Charlie Mills

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Gus Sloan

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Cobb Holwell

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Reflections (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Franck

  • Breaking Bad(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lawson

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • John from Cincinnati(2007)

    Show 8 episodes · as Vietnam Joe

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Next(2007)

    as Wisdom

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Day Break (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · as 'Uncle' Nick Vukovic

  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Hannah’s father

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Pete Dillingham

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Big Love(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Carter Reese

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Unit(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Lloyd Cole

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Williams

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as George Gibbons

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Supernatural(2005)

    Show 67 episodes · as Bobby Singer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Care Bears Big Wish Movie(2005)

    Music Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Wheelmen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Agent Hammond

  • Fuck(2005)

    as Ellsworth

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Deadwood(2004)

    Show 36 episodes · as Whitney Ellsworth

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Lyon's Den (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Hank Ferris

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Tom O'Rourke

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Tremors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Sam Boggs

  • The Life of David Gale(2003)

    as Duke Grover

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Adaptation.(2002)

    as Ranger Tony

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Ronald Mathis

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Joy Ride(2001)

    as Sheriff Ritter

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Enterprise(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Daniel Leonard

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Ranger Diggory

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Warden of Red Rock(2001)

    as Jefferson Bent

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Six Feet Under(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Prison Officer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Zito

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Stanley Tanner

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Trouble with Normal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 13 episodes · as Gary

  • Magnolia(1999)

    as Smiling Peanut Patron #1

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Murder(1998)

    as Agent Jason Reiling

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • That '70s Show(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Total Security (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective McKissick

  • Wounded(1997)

    as Agent Eric Ashton

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Divided by Hate (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Danny Leland

  • Bone Chillers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Edgar Allan Poe

  • 3rd Rock from the Sun(1996)

    Show 5 episodes · as Happy Doug

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Murder One(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Donald Cleary

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Bad Girls(1994)

    as Pinkerton Detective Graves

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Thunder Alley (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 28 episodes · as Leland DuParte

  • Blue Chips(1994)

    as Ricky's Father

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Geronimo: An American Legend(1993)

    as Proclamation Officer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Barnes

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Coroner

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Sliver(1993)

    as Detective Ira

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Gunsmoke: The Long Ride(1993)

    as Traveling Blacksmith

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Twogether(1992)

    as Oscar

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Melrose Place(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Ranger Virgil

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Sister Act(1992)

    as Clarkson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Gunsmoke: To the Last Man(1992)

    as Deputy Willie Rudd

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Reasonable Doubts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 14 episodes · as Detective Earl Gaddis

  • Home Improvement(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Duke Miller

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson(1990)

    as Maj. Trimble

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • El Diablo(1990)

    as Spivey Irick

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Follow Your Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Craig Hraboy

  • Nasty Boys (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Wetstone

  • In Country(1989)

    as Earl Smith

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Mothers, Daughters and Lovers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Sheriff Jack Edzard

  • Turner & Hooch(1989)

    as Plant Manager

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Defense Play (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as FBI Man

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake(1988)

    as Motel Manager

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Jake and the Fatman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Defense Attorney

  • Tour of Duty (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • Sweet Revenge(1987)

    Additional Dialogue · Writer · as Smuggler (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Barney Sutler

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 4 episodes · Writer

  • Girls of the White Orchid(1983)

    as Pedestrian

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders(1979)

    as Cowboy Player (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Seniors(1978)

    as Client (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Semi-Tough(1977)

    as B.E.A.T. Member (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 107 titles from 1977 to 2022; peak year 2002.

Biggest box office

Next (2007)

$78M worldwide

Highest rated

Adaptation. (2002)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Supernatural (2005)

Film career

19772022

Peak 2002 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. 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
Acting103 of 107: 102 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score73rdDirecting1 of 107: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting3 of 107: 2 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 107: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 107: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s3 · acting1980s11 · 9 acting · 3 crew1990s28 · acting2000s34 · 33 acting · 1 crew2010s25 · 24 acting · 1 crew2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles
8994

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 Motif, 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 Jim Beaver's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of the 40 of 41 with a score; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 83 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up40
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 83 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved20
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed26

Most divisive · actor

The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy (2011)

83rd percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Justified (2010)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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 Jim Beaver's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles53–88 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles37–76 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles40–81 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles21–59 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles51–84 · median 60 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian 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 Jim Beaver work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jim Beaver's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Nicolas Cage shares the most, 3.

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles