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Wally Cox

Wally Cox

Actor · Died February 15, 1973, aged 48 · Detroit, Michigan, USA

Wally Cox was a beloved character actor who made his mark in television and ranks as one of the medium's most memorable performers. His ability to show his range likely was limited by his short stature, slight frame, and high-pitched voice, which along with his talent for being very funny, made him ideal for comedy parts such as his memorable turn as Professor P. Caspar Biddle in "The Bird-Watchers" episode of The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) in 1966. His television persona was that of a shy, timid man in horn-rimed glasses who spoke in a tentative, though distinctly enunciated, voice. It was a persona that his long-time friend Marlon Brando said was completely at odds with the real man. Cox always will be remembered as the eponymous "Mr. Peepers" and the voice of "Underdog," but he was an actor of wider talents seldom used by the industry, as can be seen in his turns as the sonar operator in The Bedford Incident (1965) and as the potential suicide Wally Haverstraw in The Bill Cosby Show (1969) episode "Goodbye, Cruel World" in 1970. Dying unexpectedly on February 15, 1973, from what some newspapers described as an accidental overdose of sedatives but which Marlon Brando in his autobiography said was a heart attack, Wally Cox's cremated remains were kept hidden in a closet by his old friend for three decades. According to Brando's son Miko, both his father's and Cox's ashes were scattered at the same time in Death Valley, California, in a ceremony following Brando's death, thus reuniting the lifetime friends.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 6, 1924
Died
February 15, 1973 (aged 48)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 60 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 41% in 30 days

What are Wally Cox's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th 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
Bonds
34%
Morality
28%
Self
16%
Power
9%
Survival
6%
Ideas
5%
Society
3%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 7 · Serious 3 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 4 · 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 6 · Charged 5 · Intense 1

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 4

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 6 · Even-paced 5 · 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 7 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 3

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Trickster
2 of 4
Hero
1 of 4
Ally
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Joyful
4
Warm
4
Contemplative
4
Absurd
3
Other
11

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Wally Cox's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Wally Cox'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

60 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 18 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Television: The First Fifty Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Robinson J. Peepers (archive footage)

  • Reel Horror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Clyde (archive footage)

  • The Night Strangler(1973)

    as Mr. Berry

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Mattress(1972)

    as The Jester

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Magic Carpet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Harold Kane

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Barefoot Executive(1971)

    as Mertons

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Up Your Teddy Bear(1970)

    as Clyde King

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Wacky Zoo of Morgan City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Becker

  • The Odd Couple(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Fegivney

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Boatniks(1970)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County(1970)

    as Mr. Bester

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Young Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Aaron Grimes / Ira Greebe

  • Quarantined (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Wilbur Mott

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter

  • The Bill Cosby Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Wally Haverstraw

  • Here's Lucy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Gustav Vandemeer · as Rock Barnett · as Tommy Tucker · as Wally Manley

  • The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band(1968)

    as Mr. Wampler

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • It Takes a Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Tourist

  • A Guide for the Married Man(1967)

    as Technical Adviser

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Ironside(1967)

    as Scoutmaster

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Murder at N.B.C. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Terry Targo

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Little John Doe

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Bedford Incident(1965)

    as Seaman Merlin Queffle

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Get Smart(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as TV Repairman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Mister Roberts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • I Spy(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Herbie

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Lost in Space(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Tiabo

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Morituri(1965)

    as Dr. Ambach

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Yellow Rolls-Royce(1964)

    as Ferguson

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Fate Is the Hunter(1964)

    as Ralph Bundy

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Underdog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 62 episodes · as Underdog (Voice)

  • Underdog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 129 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Count Carlo Szipesti · as Dr. Heresford Handy

  • Vacation Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Alfred

  • Spencer's Mountain(1963)

    as Preacher Goodman

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Lucy Show(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold Tuttle

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · as Professor P. Caspar Biddle

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • State Fair(1962)

    as Hipplewaite

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Dick Van Dyke Show(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as James Elwood

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • DuPont Show of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Messenger 7013

  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Vincent Eaglewood

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Adventures of Hiram Holliday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 23 episodes · as Hiram Holliday

  • Babes in Toyland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Grumio, the Toymaker

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

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

    as Peter

  • Babes in Toyland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Grumio, the Toymaker

  • Max Liebman Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Leslie Nettleton

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Monroe Winkler

  • Mister Peepers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 48 episodes · as Robinson Peepers

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 1 episode · as Ace McCoy

Career shape

Star power in the 90th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 60 titles from 1949 to 1999; peak year 1964.

Highest rated

The Bedford Incident (1965)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

Spencer's Mountain (1963)

Film career

19491999

Peak 1964 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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
Acting60 of 60: 60 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rd

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s14 · acting1960s28 · acting1970s15 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 10 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 Wally Cox's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 15; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 72nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Up Your Teddy Bear (1970)

71st percentile spread · 67% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Once Upon a Mattress (1972)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 80, 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.

Who does Wally Cox work with?

People who share at least 2 of Wally Cox's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hayden Rorke shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers

Producers