Skip to content
MovieCove
J.D. Cannon

J.D. Cannon

Actor · Died May 20, 2005, aged 83 · Salmon, Idaho, USA

John Donovan Cannon graduated from high school in his hometown of Salmon, Idaho, in 1940. His subsequent studies at the Academy of Dramatic Arts were interrupted as a result of wartime military service from 1942 to 1945. After the war, Cannon returned to New York to complete his training and acting on the stage, both on and off-Broadway, trying his hand at a wide variety of parts, mostly in classical plays. He essayed "Petruchio" in "The Taming of the Shrew" and appeared on Broadway in "Henry IV", "Lysistrata" and "Peer Gynt". Leading roles were few and far between, however. Once Cannon had found his niche as a frequent guest star on numerous television episodes, his career as a motion picture actor became somewhat desultory, though he had memorable roles in two films: as the road gang convict "Society Red" in Cool Hand Luke (1967); and as the gangster "Calhoun" in Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970). His first TV appearance was as a poker-hustling master sergeant in a 1958 episode of The Phil Silvers Show (1955). His tough screen persona was pretty well established by the mid-60's, though, against character, he portrayed the timid weakling "Lloyd Chandler" (witness to the original crime committed by the "one-armed man") in the final denouement installment of The Fugitive (1963). He was at his scene-stealing best in an episode of The Invaders (1967) as "Peter Kalter", a strangely sympathetic mobster who turns against his own outfit and aids the chief protagonist against the impending alien threat. In his recurring role as lawman "Harry Briscoe" in the western comedy series Alias Smith and Jones (1971), Cannon was again given the opportunity to deliver some enjoyably caustic one-liners, something at which he excelled. He will arguably be most fondly remembered for his popular portrayal of the perpetually exasperated, choleric, cigar-chewing NYPD Chief of Detectives, "Peter B. Clifford", in McCloud (1970) (1970-77).

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
April 24, 1922
Died
May 20, 2005 (aged 83)
From
Salmon, Idaho, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 75 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 63 days to Oct 26Down 23% in 30 days

What are J.D. Cannon's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
40%
Power
22%
Survival
13%
Bonds
9%
Ideas
8%
Self
5%
Society
5%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 10 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 10 · Intense 4

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 10 · 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 7 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 7
Threshold guardian
2 of 7
Mentor
2 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Contemplative
7
Thrilling
4
Warm
4
Romantic
3
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 J.D. Cannon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for J.D. Cannon'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

75 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Donner Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as voice

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Chet Burton

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Return of Sam McCloud(1989)

    as Commissioner Peter B. Clifford

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Road Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • A Silver Odyssey: 25 Years of Houston Astros Baseball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Narrator

  • Street Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Dante

  • Blacke's Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hell Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Carmody · as Sheriff McCoy

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Call to Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as General Hampton

  • The Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Jason Hunter

  • Remington Steele(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Elliot Walsh

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Matt Houston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rooster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Chief Willard T. Coburn

  • Beyond Witch Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Deranian

  • Death Wish II(1982)

    as New York D.A.

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Fall Guy(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • The Adventures of Nellie Bly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Boss James J. Palmer

  • My Kidnapper, My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Lt. Kringler

  • Pleasure Palace(1980)

    as Howland

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Raise the Titanic(1980)

    as Captain Joe Burke

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Top of the Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frank Langrock

  • Walking Through the Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Dr. Goodwin

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

    Show 3 episodes · as Gen. Walter Bedell Smith

  • Ike: The War Years(1979)

    as Gen. Walter Bedell Smith

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • B. J. and the Bear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Double Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Killing Stone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Sheriff Harky

  • The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer(1977)

    as William Sherman

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Testimony of Two Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · as Kenton Campion

  • The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jason Fox

  • Wedding Band (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Herman

  • Scorpio(1973)

    as Filchock

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

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

    as Lt. Kelly Redfield

  • Lawman(1971)

    as Hurd Price

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?(1971)

    as Mal Yeager

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Memory of Two Mondays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Tom

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom

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

    Show 4 episodes · as Harry Briscoe

  • Cotton Comes to Harlem(1970)

    as Calhoun

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 46 episodes · as Peter Clifford

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • D.A.: Murder One(1969)

    as Nicholas Devaney

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Thousand Plane Raid(1969)

    as Gen. Palmer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Heaven with a Gun(1969)

    as Mace

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Operation Heartbeat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Thomas Jarris

  • Krakatoa: East of Java(1968)

    as Danzig

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Lancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Mod Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cool Hand Luke(1967)

    as Society Red

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Pat Bridges

  • Cimarron Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Atta Girl, Kelly! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Kalter · as Police Lt. Ben Holman

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Miklos Klaar

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Shane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Reno

  • An American Dream(1966)

    as Police Sgt. Walt Leznicki

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Clifford Wyant · as John Graham Evans · as Mark Tabor · as Robert Dewey

  • The Wild Wild West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Profiles in Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Houston

  • 12 O'Clock High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Brigadier General Creighton

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

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Mannix

  • Fanfare for a Death Scene(1964)

    as Col. Dorn

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Great Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Clarence King

  • The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Lloyd Chandler · as Sheriff Todd Collison

  • Combat!(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Ted Slocum

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Brisson

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 5 episodes · as Assistant District Attorney Ashley · as D.A. Al Ashley · as District Attorney · as District Attorney Manetto

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Jim Hudson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Austin Ware · as Jack Rose

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Keary

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Jake MacGraw · as Pike

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Durand

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Pontius Pilate

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 75 titles from 1951 to 1992; peak year 1970.

Biggest box office

Death Wish II (1982)

$16M worldwide

Highest rated

Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970)

Midcredits 61st

Most popular right now

McCloud (1970)

Film career

19511992

Peak 1970 · 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
Acting75 of 75: 75 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

By decade

1950s6 · acting1960s28 · acting1970s19 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s2 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 8 roles

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.

How do J.D. Cannon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 42nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster? (1971)

86th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 41. 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 J.D. Cannon's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 56 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does J.D. Cannon work with?

People who share at least 2 of J.D. Cannon's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Boris Sagal shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers