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John Bluthal

John Bluthal

Actor · Died November 15, 2018, aged 89 · Malopolskie, Poland

John Bluthal (born Isaac Bluthal; 12 August 1928 – 15 November 2018) was a comic actor best known for the role of Frank Pickle in the BBC sitcom The Vicar of Dibley and for his work with Spike Milligan in the Q series. He also appeared in several films including the Carry On movies, The Pink Panther movies, A Hard Day's Night, Help!, The Fifth Element and Hail, Caesar! He was born in Poland in 1929 and emigrated with his family to Australia when he was a child. In the early 60s, Bluthal moved to the UK to follow his acting career and returned to Australia in later years. He passed away on 15th November, 2018 at the age of 89.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 12, 1929
Died
November 15, 2018 (aged 89)
From
Malopolskie, Poland
Works as
Actor
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 104 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 65 days to Oct 28Down 41% in 30 days

What are John Bluthal's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure 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
26%
Society
20%
Self
16%
Power
16%
Morality
10%
Survival
6%
Ideas
6%
Community4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTradition vs change2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 4 · Wry 4 · Earnest 5

Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 0 · Dark 3

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 5

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 9 · Charged 1 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 7 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
8
Absurd
7
Tense
3
Warm
4
Dread
2
Other
13

How their films linger

Fun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet5
  • 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 John Bluthal's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Bluthal'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

104 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Presented in Supercolorisation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Commander Wilbur Zero / Doctor Simpson (voice) · as Commander Wilbur Zero / Jock Campbell (voice) · as Commander Wilbur Zero / Kazak (voice)

  • Jungle(2017)

    as Uncle Nissim

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves(2016)

    as Frank Pickle (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Hail, Caesar!(2016)

    as Prof. Marcuse

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Spirited(2010)

    Show 3 episodes · as Rocco

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Funny Blokes of British Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Frank Pickle (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Love's Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Pepe

  • On Location: The Carry Ons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Corporal Clotski (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Beware of Greeks Bearing Guns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Stephanos

  • What's a Carry On?(1998)

    as Corporal Clotski (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • RPM (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Grinkstein

  • Dark City(1998)

    as Karl Harris

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Jonathan Creek(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Holiday

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Fifth Element(1997)

    as Professor Pacoli

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Spellbreaker: Secret of the Leprechauns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Michael Dennehy

  • Leapin' Leprechauns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Michael Dennehy

  • The Vicar of Dibley(1994)

    Show 14 episodes · as Frank Pickle

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • A Pinch of Snuff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Maurice Arany

  • Blue Heelers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Stan and George's New Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Stan Senior

  • Virtual Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Tonu

  • One Foot in the Grave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Jellinek

  • Birds of a Feather(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Pedro

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Comic Relief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Inspector Morse(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Victor Ignotas

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Angus

  • Labyrinth(1986)

    as Goblin (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Popov

  • In Sickness and in Health (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ricky

  • Super Gran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Inside Legg The Tailor

  • Squaring the Circle(1984)

    as Babiuch

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Taggart(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Reilly: Ace of Spies(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · as Krassin

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Superman III(1983)

    as Pisa Vendor

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Return of Captain Invincible(1983)

    as Deli Owner

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • There's A Lot Of It About (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Edward Emanuelson

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Alison's Birthday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Dean Findlay

  • Home Sweet Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 26 episodes · as Enzo Pacelli

  • Touch and Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Anatole

  • Franklin River Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Narrator

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Solly Salmon

  • Design for Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Ernest Friedman

  • Renoir, My Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Gleyne

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

    as Dave

  • Revenge of the Pink Panther(1978)

    as Guard at Cemetery

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • That's Carry On!(1977)

    as Corporal Clotski / Moshe Montmorency (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Gleyne

  • Spaghetti Two-Step (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Sidney

  • Escape to Entebbe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Reporter

  • Meriel the Ghost Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Sam Nicholls

  • Bluey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Newsman

  • Fantasm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Thanks · as Notafreud (uncredited)

  • The Joke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Dr Einstein

  • Rumpole of the Bailey(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Gaston LeBlanc

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Return of the Pink Panther(1975)

    as Blind Beggar

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Great McGonagall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as various

  • Mrs. Acland's Ghosts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Mr. Mockler

  • The Four Musketeers(1974)

    as English Officer/Innkeeper and other roles (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Cafeteria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Lieberman

  • The Over-Amorous Artist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Pakistani Salesman

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Einstein · as Lieberman · as Mr. Mockler · as Sam Nicholls

  • The Flying Sorcerer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Uncle Charlie

  • The Three Musketeers(1973)

    as Various Roles (voice)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Digby: The Biggest Dog in the World(1973)

    as Jerry

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Manny Cohen

  • Sykes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry

  • Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Carry On Henry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Moshe Montmorency (uncredited)

  • Doctor in Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Taxi Driver

  • Q... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 32 episodes · Actor

  • A Talent for Loving(1973)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom(1968)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River(1968)

    as Dr. Pinto

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Brahmin Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Kondu

  • The Visitors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Arrhur Somerset

  • City '68 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Somerset

  • Man in a Suitcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Kondu

  • Carry on Follow That Camel(1967)

    as Corporal Clotski

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Casino Royale(1967)

    as Casino Doorman / MI5 Man

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 38 episodes · as Manny Cohen

  • A Ghost of a Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Mayor's Assistant

  • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum(1966)

    as Roman Chief Guard

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernest Friedman

  • Help!(1965)

    as Bhuta

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Knack... and How to Get It(1965)

    as Angry Father

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • HMS Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Gus

  • A Hard Day's Night(1964)

    as Car Thief (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Carry on Spying(1964)

    as Head Waiter / Dr. Crow (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Protectors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Vladimir Kropotny

  • Father Came Too! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Actor Playing Robert the Bruce

  • This Is My Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Joe

  • Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Justin Thyme

  • Doctor in Distress(1963)

    as Railway Porter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Mouse on the Moon(1963)

    as Von Neidel (as John Bluthall)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Fireball XL5(1962)

    Show 39 episodes · as Commander Wilbur Zero (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Guido Naccaro · as Ziggy Zaglan

  • It's a Square World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 56 episodes · Actor

  • The Avengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergei Ivenko

  • Citizen James (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 2 episodes · as Charlie

  • The Larkins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Martinez

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Emmanuel 'Manny' Cohen · as Pils

  • Hancock's Half Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 104 titles from 1956 to 2022; peak year 2017.

Biggest box office

Dark City (1998)

$27M worldwide

Highest rated

Dark City (1998)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Jungle (2017)

Film career

19562022

Peak 2017 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting104 of 104: 103 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdOther crew1 of 104: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s3 · acting1960s31 · acting1970s29 · 29 acting · 1 crew1980s19 · acting1990s13 · acting2000s4 · acting2010s4 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
636878

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 John Bluthal's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Squaring the Circle (1984)

74th percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Fifth Element (1997)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 33. 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 John Bluthal's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 41 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 44 · moderateMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 28 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 45 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

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

Who does John Bluthal work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Bluthal's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Walter Shenson shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers