Skip to content
MovieCove
Wendell Corey

Wendell Corey

Actor · Died November 8, 1968, aged 54 · Dracut, Massachusetts, USA

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wendell Reid Corey (March 20, 1914 – November 8, 1968) was an American actor and politician. He began his acting career on the stage, doing a number of productions in summer stock. His Broadway debut was in Comes the Revelation (1942). After appearing in a number of supporting roles, he scored his first hit as a cynical newspaperman in Elmer Rice's comedy Dream Girl (1945). While appearing in the play Corey was seen by producer Hal Wallis, who persuaded him to sign a contract with Paramount and pursue a motion picture career in Hollywood. His movie debut came as a gangster in Desert Fury (1947). He starred with Casey Walters in the television series Harbor Command (1957–1958), co-starred on The Nanette Fabray Show (1961), and, during its first season, had the lead role in the medical drama The Eleventh Hour (1962–1963). Corey made guest appearances on a number of programs, including Target: The Corruptors!, Channing, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Untouchables, Burke's Law, Perry Mason, The Road West, and The Wild Wild West. He served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1961 to 1963 and was a member of the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild. A Republican campaigner in national politics since 1956, Corey was elected to the Santa Monica City Council in April 1965. The conservative politician ran for the California seat in the United States Congress in 1966, but lost the primary election. He was still a councilman at the time of his death.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 20, 1914
Died
November 8, 1968 (aged 54)
From
Dracut, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 67 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 30% in 30 days

What are Wendell Corey's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 1st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
33%
Bonds
23%
Survival
14%
Self
12%
Power
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 35 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 16 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 19 · Intense 9

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

A split, not a type: Steady 17 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 19 · 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 18 · Engaged 16 · 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 14 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 30 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

29 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 10 of 29 analyzed roles.

Shadow
10 of 29
Hero
7 of 29
Ally
3 of 29
Mentor
3 of 29
Threshold guardian
2 of 29
Shapeshifter
2 of 29
Herald
1 of 29
Trickster
1 of 29
Show the 29 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Melancholic
14
Romantic
10
Hopeful
8
Dread
6
Other
30

How their films linger

Bittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic3
  • 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 Wendell Corey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Wendell Corey'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

67 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Star Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • The Astro-Zombies(1968)

    as Holman

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Buckskin(1968)

    as Rep Marlowe

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Red Tomahawk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Sy Elkins

  • Picture Mommy Dead(1966)

    as Lawyer Clayborn

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Cyborg 2087 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Sheriff

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

    as Sam Stone

  • Women of the Prehistoric Planet(1966)

    as Adm. David King

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Agent for H.A.R.M.(1966)

    as Jim Graff

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Run for Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Dwight Sinclair

  • Broken Sabre(1965)

    as Major Whitcomb

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Branded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Blood on the Arrow(1964)

    as Clint Mailer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Milo Morgan

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

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Jonathan Kobitz

  • The Eleventh Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 32 episodes · as Dr. Theodore Bassett

  • The New Breed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Roger Dawson

  • Bus Stop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Target: The Corruptors! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Westinghouse Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 26 episodes · as Dan McGovern

  • Peck's Bad Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 14 episodes · as Steve Peck

  • Alias Jesse James(1959)

    as Jesse James

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Light in the Forest(1958)

    as Wilse Owens

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Harbor Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 39 episodes · as Captain Ralph Baxter

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerome Klee

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Loving You(1957)

    as Walter (Tex) Warner

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Rainmaker(1956)

    as Deputy Sheriff J.S. File

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Rack(1956)

    as Maj. Sam Moulton

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Mapes · as Clay Burnett · as Marshal Bigger

  • The Killer Is Loose(1956)

    as Leon 'Foggy' Poole

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Bold and the Brave(1956)

    as Dave Fairchild

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Big Knife(1955)

    as Smiley Coy

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Timber Woods

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Lieutenant Erich Ganz · as Lou Gehrig

  • Rear Window(1954)

    as Thomas Doyle

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Hell's Half Acre(1954)

    as Chet Chester, aka Randy Williams

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Backbone of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Ben Bruce

  • Laughing Anne(1953)

    as Capt. Davidson

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • A Tale of Two Cities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Sydney Carton

  • Jamaica Run(1953)

    as Todd Dacey

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • My Man and I(1952)

    as Ansel Ames

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Carbine Williams(1952)

    as Capt. H.T. Peoples

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Wild North(1952)

    as Constable Pedley

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Wild Blue Yonder(1951)

    as Capt. Harold Calvert

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rich, Young and Pretty(1951)

    as Jim Stauton Rogers

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Great Missouri Raid(1951)

    as Frank James

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Harriet Craig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Walter Craig

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Buster · as Dante · as Herb

  • The Furies(1950)

    as Rip Darrow

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • No Sad Songs for Me(1950)

    as Bradford 'Brad' Scott

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Your Show of Shows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Holiday Affair(1949)

    as Carl Davis

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The File on Thelma Jordon(1949)

    as Cleve Marshall

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Any Number Can Play(1949)

    as Robbin Elcott

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Accused(1949)

    as Lieut. Ted Dorgan

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Man-Eater of Kumaon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Dr. John Collins

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Cory · as John Ryerson · as Senator James Norton · as Will Robbins

  • Sorry, Wrong Number(1948)

    as Dr. Philip Alexander

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Search(1948)

    as Jerry Fisher

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • I Walk Alone(1947)

    as Dave

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Desert Fury(1947)

    as Johnny Ryan

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Easy to Get (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Military Doctor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles from 1947 to 1968.

Biggest box office

Rear Window (1954)

$38M worldwide

Highest rated

Rear Window (1954)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

Top draw in 9 MovieCove titles.

  • 1947Screen debut· Desert Fury
  • 1954Career best· Rear Window
  • 1966First top-billed film· Women of the Prehistoric Planet

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting67 of 67: 67 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score64th

By decade

1940s11 · acting1950s34 · acting1960s22 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 11% of 19 roles
475257

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 Wendell Corey's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 35; across their 35 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned2
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

The Astro-Zombies (1968)

77th percentile spread · 73% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rear Window (1954)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 34 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 39. 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 Wendell Corey work with?

People who share at least 2 of Wendell Corey's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hal B. Wallis shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles