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John Carroll

John Carroll

Actor · Died April 24, 1979, aged 72 · New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

John Carroll (July 17, 1906 – April 24, 1979) was an American actor and singer. He was born Julian Lafaye in New Orleans, Louisiana. Carroll performed in several small roles in films under his original name until 1935, when he first used the name John Carroll in Hi, Gaucho! He appeared in several Western films in the 1930s, including the role of Zorro in Zorro Rides Again in 1937. He was the male lead in the Marx Brothers' Western comedy Go West in 1940. Probably his best known role was as Woody Jason in the 1942 movie Flying Tigers with John Wayne. He was also notable as a Cajun soldier, aptly nicknamed "Wolf", in the 1945 comedy A Letter for Evie. He interrupted his movie career during World War II and served as a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot in North Africa. He broke his back in a crash. He recovered and resumed his acting career. John Carroll was a well-established actor and his wife Lucille was a casting director at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). In 1948, the famous movie actress Marilyn Monroe moved into their house. They helped support her emotionally and financially during her difficult transition period. Their support was essential in her success as an actress. Carroll worked steadily through the mid-1950s, but his career began to fade in the latter half of the decade. He did play a memorable role in the 1957 Budd Boetticher western Decision at Sundown as Tate Kimbrough, the evil nemesis of Randolph Scott's character. His last role was in Ride in a Pink Car in 1974.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 17, 1906
Died
April 24, 1979 (aged 72)
From
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 56 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 41% in 30 days

What are John Carroll's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action 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
38%
Morality
30%
Self
17%
Power
9%
Society
4%
Ideas
2%
Survival
1%
Romantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 16 · Serious 4 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 16 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 11 · Charged 9 · Intense 2

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 4

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 1

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 7 of 15 analyzed roles.

Hero
7 of 15
Shadow
3 of 15
Trickster
2 of 15
Shapeshifter
2 of 15
Ally
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Romantic
9
Joyful
7
Thrilling
6
Warm
6
Other
16

How their films linger

Feel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous1

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 Carroll's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Carroll'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

56 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Other Side of the Wind(2018)

    as Lou Martin

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Western von gestern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as James Vega / Zorro

  • Ride in a Pink Car (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Mr. Henry

  • A Boy Called Nuthin’ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Sagebrush

  • The Big Parade of Comedy(1964)

    as Terry Turner in 'Go West' (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Plunderers of Painted Flats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Clint Jones

  • Decision at Sundown(1957)

    as Tate Kimbrough

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Johnny Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Executive Producer

  • The Reluctant Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Jeff Longstreet

  • Geraldine(1953)

    as Grant Sanborn

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Farmer Takes a Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Jotham Klore

  • Belle Le Grand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as John Kilton

  • Hit Parade of 1951 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Joe Blake / Eddie Paul

  • Surrender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Gregg Delaney

  • The Avengers(1950)

    as Don Careless / Francisco Suarez

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Angel in Exile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Charlie Dakin

  • I, Jane Doe(1948)

    as Stephen Curtis

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Old Los Angeles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Johnny Morrell

  • The Flame(1947)

    as George MacAllister

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Fabulous Texan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as John Wesley Baker

  • Hollywood Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Actor in Canoe (clip from "Swingtime in the Movies", 1938) (uncredited)

  • Wyoming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Glenn Forrester

  • Fiesta(1947)

    as Jose 'Pepe' Ortega

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • A Letter for Evie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Edgar "Wolf" Larson

  • Bedside Manner(1945)

    as Morgan Hale

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Musical Movieland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Ranger Bob Crain

  • Hit Parade of 1943 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Rick Farrell

  • The Youngest Profession(1943)

    as John Carroll

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Flying Tigers(1942)

    as Woody Jason

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Pierre of the Plains(1942)

    as Pierre

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Rio Rita(1942)

    as Ricardo Montera

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Lady Be Good(1941)

    as Buddy Crawford

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • This Woman Is Mine(1941)

    as Ovide de Montigny

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Sunny(1941)

    as Larry Warren

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Go West(1940)

    as Terry Turner

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Hired Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Jose de Briganza

  • Phantom Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as John Ramsell Jr.

  • Susan and God(1940)

    as Clyde Rochester

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Congo Maisie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Dr. Michael Shane

  • Wolf Call(1939)

    as Michael Vance

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Only Angels Have Wings(1939)

    as Gent Shelton

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Swingtime in the Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Rick Arden

  • I Am a Criminal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Brad McArthur

  • Rose of the Rio Grande(1938)

    as El Gato

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Zorro Rides Again(1937)

    as James Vega/Zorro

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • We Who Are About to Die(1936)

    as Joe Donahue

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Pilot X(1936)

    as Jerry Blackwood

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Accusing Finger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dominic Petrelli, convict

  • Murder on a Bridle Path(1936)

    as Latigo Wells

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Muss 'em Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Gene Leland

  • Hi, Gaucho! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Lucio Bolario

  • New Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Russian Soldier on Ship

  • Doughboys(1930)

    as Doughboy in Elmer's Squad (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Monte Carlo(1930)

    as Wedding Guest Officer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Devil-May-Care (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Bonapartist (uncredited)

  • Marianne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Doughboy (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 85th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 56 titles from 1929 to 2018.

Biggest box office

Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

$11K worldwide

Highest rated

Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

Midcredits 95th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting55 of 56: 55 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndProducing1 of 56: 1 only producing, 0 with another role

By decade

1920s2 · acting1930s15 · acting1940s24 · acting1950s10 · 9 acting · 1 crew1960s2 · acting1970s2 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 5 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 John Carroll's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 27; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 27 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

Rose of the Rio Grande (1938)

84th percentile spread · 63% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

Midcredits 95th · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 42. 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.

Who does John Carroll work with?

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

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers