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Paul Calderon

Paul Calderon

Actor · Born January 25, 1952 (74) · Puerto Rico

He was born in Puerto Rico 1959. Calderon moved to New York with his family at the age of six, where he grew up on the streets of the Lower East Side and Spanish Harlem. Following some time in college, he enlisted in the United States Army and served overseas as an infantryman. Returning to the States, Calderon set his sights on an acting career. Starting out on the New York stage, he won an Obie Award for his performance in Blade to the Heat at the Public Theatre. His most notable Broadway role was opposite Robert De Niro in Cuba and His Teddy Bear. Calderon also appeared off-Broadway in such plays as Requiem For A Heavyweight and Divine Horsemen, and played Achilles in the New York Shakespeare Festival’s production of Troilus and Cressida in Central Park. He is a founding member of the Touchstone Theatre, the American Folk Theatre and the Labyrinth Theatre Company. Calderon was originally slated to portray the role of Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction; Samuel L. Jackson was subsequently given the role. Correction Samuel Jackson told Tarantino he had messed up by not casting him in Reservoir Dogs. Tarantino agreed and told him he was writing a script and had a character that he had written specifically with Jackson in mind. Calderon had a better initial reading than Jackson and Tarantino gave serious consideration to casting him as Jules Winnfield. Calderon portrays Paul the bartender in dialogue scene between Butch Coolidge and Marsellus Wallace. Calderon also co-wrote Abel Ferrara's 1992 crime drama Bad Lieutenant, starring Harvey Keitel. Calderon acted in The Last Castle and the critically acclaimed independent feature Girlfight. His more than three dozen film credits also include Out of Sight, Cop Land, Four Rooms, Pulp Fiction, Bad Lieutenant, The Firm, The Addiction, Q & A, Sea of Love, Clockers and King of New York. In addition, he has made numerous guest appearances on television series, including recurring roles on Dream Street, Law & Order and Miami Vice. In 2010, Calderon is set to star as The Businessman in Sanzhar Sultanov's crime drama - The Story.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 25, 1952 (74)
From
Puerto Rico
Works as
Actor
Titles
60 on MovieCove · 82 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 157 days to Oct 28Up 4% in 30 days

What are Paul Calderon's films like?

Across their 24 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Crime10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th 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
Morality
29%
Self
19%
Bonds
18%
Power
17%
Survival
13%
Ideas
3%
Society
2%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAddiction3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 10 · Dark 13

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

Grounded 16 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 8 · Intense 16

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 3 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 10

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 14 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 6 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 6
Shadow
2 of 6
Ally
1 of 6
Trickster
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Dread
9
Melancholic
9
Thrilling
5
Absurd
4
Other
12

How their films linger

Bittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous9

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 Paul Calderon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 45 of their 60 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Calderon'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

82 credits, 60 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Cape Fear(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · as The Padrino

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Ironheart(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Arthur Robbins · as CEO of Artworks

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • Prick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as President

  • Staging Anna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Director

  • Justified: City Primeval(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Raymond Cruz

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • East New York(2022)

    Show 2 episodes · as Father Frank Suarez

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Bosch: Legacy(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · as Det. Santiago 'Jimmy' Robertson

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • FBI(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Fernando Perez

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • This Is Us(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Older Risto Rivas

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Strike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Walt Whitman

  • Blindspot(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Drill Instructor

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Fear the Walking Dead(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Alejandro Núñez

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Bosch(2014)

    Show 30 episodes · as Santiago 'Jimmy' Robertson

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • West End(2013)

    as Robert Mackey

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Foreign Minister Albert Rojas

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Welcome to New York(2014)

    as Pierre

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Biodegradable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Profesor Lopez

  • Bolaetrapo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Cuenta

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Manuel Esteban

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Zuniga

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Why Stop Now?(2012)

    as Eduardo

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Burning Daylight(2010)

    as Hughie Luke

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Lieutenant Perez

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Boardwalk Empire(2010)

    Show 7 episodes · as Arquimedes

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Gun(2010)

    as Detective Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Down This Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Father

  • La soga(2009)

    as Rafa

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • A Kiss of Chaos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Oscar Perez

  • The Hungry Ghosts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Carl

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Manny Trillo

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Pistol Whipped(2008)

    as Blue

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Black Donnellys(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective at Prison

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Sentinel(2006)

    as Deputy Director Cortes

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Trial by Jury(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • 21 Grams(2003)

    as Brown

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Kill the Poor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Carlos DeJesus

  • The Last Castle(2001)

    as Dellwo

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Jojo Rios · as Marcus Feingold

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Education of Max Bickford (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny Martinez

  • 3 A.M. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Ralph

  • The Atlantis Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Guy

  • Once in the Life(2000)

    as Manny Rivera

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Bait(2000)

    as Cop (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Girlfight(2000)

    as Sandro Guzman

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Oxygen(1999)

    as Jesse

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Third Watch(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Bobby's father

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Eric Molina

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • One Tough Cop(1998)

    as Sgt. Diaz

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Out of Sight(1998)

    as Raymond Cruz

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • O.K. Garage(1998)

    as Carl

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Montana(1998)

    as Boulez

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Dellaventura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Rosario

  • Cop Land(1997)

    as Hector - Medic

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Dark Angel(1996)

    as Vance Pickett

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Four Rooms(1995)

    as Norman

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Condition Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Angel Delgado

  • The Addiction(1995)

    as Professor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Clockers(1995)

    as Jesus at Hambones

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Nothing(1995)

    as Ray

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Lotto Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Reinaldo

  • Hand Gun(1994)

    as Landwick

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Pulp Fiction(1994)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • New York Undercover(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Emilio Vasquez

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • The Firm(1993)

    as Thomas Richie

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Bad Lieutenant(1992)

    as Cop #1

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Hat Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Miguel Cortez

  • CrissCross(1992)

    as Blacky

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Keys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Garcia

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Defense Attorney Palmieri · as Father Torres · as Jesse Castillo · as Kenneth Silva · as Rodriguez

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • King of New York(1990)

    as Joey Dalesio

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Q&A(1990)

    as Roger Montalvo

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Old Man and the Sea(1990)

    as Anderez

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Penn & Teller Get Killed(1989)

    as Juan

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Sea of Love(1989)

    as Serafino

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Chair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Pizza

  • Sticky Fingers(1988)

    as Speed

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Band of the Hand(1986)

    as Tito

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

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

    as Bitong

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

    as Hector

  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Chacon · as Rat Heart

  • Community Plot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Don Gallego · as Gabriel · as Nicky

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 82 titles from 1984 to 2026; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

Sea of Love (1989)

$111M worldwide

Highest rated

Bad Lieutenant (1992)

Midcredits 81st

Most popular right now

The Last Castle (2001)

Film career

19842026

Peak 1994 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. 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
Acting82 of 82: 82 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1980s10 · acting1990s28 · acting2000s18 · acting2010s19 · acting2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 27 roles
859500

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 Paul Calderon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 24 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 24

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 60 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 60 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

West End (2013)

86th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 43. 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 Paul Calderon's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles67–85 · median 75 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles18–79 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles80–94 · median 83 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles38–94 · median 68 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles42–81 · median 65 · intenseheavier 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 Paul Calderon work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Calderon's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Abel Ferrara shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers