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Billy Green Bush

Billy Green Bush

Actor · Born November 7, 1935 (90) · Montgomery, Alabama, USA

William Warren Bush (born 1935) is an American actor, sometimes credited as “Billy Greenbush”. Notable movie appearances include Five Easy Pieces (1970), The Culpepper Cattle Company (1972), Electra Glide in Blue (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), The River (1984), The Hitcher (1986), Critters (1986) and Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993). He has also appeared frequently on television, including a recurring role as Bobby Angel on Hill Street Blues and a memorable episode of MAS*H. He later appeared as Vernon Presley, the father of Elvis Presley, in the series Elvis. Bush is the father of twins Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (who starred as Carrie in Little House on the Prairie) and actor Clay Greenbush.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 7, 1935 (90)
From
Montgomery, Alabama, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 61 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 20% in 30 days

What are Billy Green Bush's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
24%
Self
22%
Bonds
19%
Morality
14%
Society
10%
Power
7%
Ideas
5%
Survival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 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 5 · Serious 3 · Dark 8

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 7 · Intense 7

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 0

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 8 · 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 8 · Full focus 1

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 4 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

9 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 4 of 9 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
4 of 9
Shadow
2 of 9
Ally
1 of 9
Trickster
1 of 9
Hero
1 of 9
Show the 9 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
6
Contemplative
4
Hopeful
3
Warm
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Unsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2
  • Other1

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 Billy Green Bush's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Billy Green Bush'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

61 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page.

  • Elvis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show Actor

  • Death on the Oregon Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday(1993)

    as Sheriff Ed Landis

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Renegade(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Wells

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Critters 3(1991)

    as Dad (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Conagher(1991)

    as Jacob Teale

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Elvis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Elvis and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Vernon Presley

  • Elvis and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Vernon Presley

  • Rampage(1987)

    as Judge McKinsey

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Deliberate Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Officer Bradley

  • The Deliberate Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Officer Bradley

  • Critters(1986)

    as Jay Brown

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Ray Webber

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Hitcher(1986)

    as Trooper Donner

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Misfits of Science (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as George Willoughby

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The River(1984)

    as Harve Stanley

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as The Stranger

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Cutter's Number Two Man

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Girl on the Edge of Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Frank Swenson

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bobby Angel

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Jericho Mile(1979)

    as Warden Earl Gulliver

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Tom Horn(1980)

    as Joe Belle

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Beasts Are on the Streets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Jim Scudder

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ray · as Sheriff Carl Decker

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Oregon Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • The Invasion of Johnson County(1976)

    as Frank Canton

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Call of the Wild(1976)

    as Redsweater

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • City of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Downing

  • Mackintosh and T.J.(1975)

    as Luke

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Willy Hall

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Barbary Coast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dave Keene

  • Baretta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore(1974)

    as Donald Hyatt

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Skyway to Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Walter Benson

  • 40 Carats(1973)

    as J.D. Rogers

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Electra Glide in Blue(1973)

    as Zipper

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Cowboy

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Culpepper Cattle Co.(1972)

    as Frank Culpepper

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Welcome Home, Soldier Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Sheriff

  • The Organization(1971)

    as Dave Thomas

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Jesus Trip(1971)

    as Tarboro

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Monte Walsh(1970)

    as Powder Kent

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Five Easy Pieces(1970)

    as Elton

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Reivers(1969)

    as Patron

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Unholy Matrimony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Eavesdropping Husband

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as John Morgan

  • The Outer Limits(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom - Duckhunter #3 (as William Bush)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Stoney Burke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as 2nd Doctor

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony Spanier

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Kermit

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 61 titles from 1955 to 2005; peak year 1985.

Biggest box office

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)

$19M worldwide

Highest rated

Five Easy Pieces (1970)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

Film career

19552005

Peak 1985 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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
Acting61 of 61: 61 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score68th

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s5 · acting1970s30 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s6 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 16 roles
7080

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 Billy Green Bush's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

The Invasion of Johnson County (1976)

72nd percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Five Easy Pieces (1970)

Midcredits 91st · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 45. 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 Billy Green Bush's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles44–90 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles7–68 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles44–71 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles30–40 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles37–87 · median 52 · 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 Billy Green Bush work with?

People who share at least 2 of Billy Green Bush's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Geoffrey Lewis shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers