Skip to content
MovieCove
Robert Desiderio

Robert Desiderio

Actor · Born September 9, 1951 (75) · New York City, New York, USA

Robert Desiderio was born on 9 September 1951 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Knots Landing (1979), Liberal Arts (2012) and Ryan's Hope (1975). He has been married to Judith Light since 1 January 1985.

Biography from IMDb.

Born
September 9, 1951 (75)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 40 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 28Up 41% in 30 days

What are Robert Desiderio's films like?

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

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th 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
35%
Self
21%
Bonds
17%
Survival
13%
Society
9%
Power
5%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

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

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 11 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 3 · Intense 2

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

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 2 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Mentor
1 of 4
Ally
1 of 4
Trickster
1 of 4
Shadow
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Contemplative
5
Melancholic
4
Bittersweet
3
Warm
2
Other
9

How their films linger

Hopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet6

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 Robert Desiderio's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Desiderio'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

40 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Liberal Arts(2012)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Alan Ferguson

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Save Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Screenplay

  • Ugly Betty(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Gallico

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Murder in the Mirror(2000)

    as Paul Richland

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Take My Advice: The Ann and Abby Story(1999)

    as Mort

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Sopranos(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jack Massarone

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • No Laughing Matter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Richard Warren

  • Significant Others (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Once You Meet a Stranger(1996)

    as Andy Stahl

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Educating Mom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Mr. Benson

  • The Jeff Foxworthy Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Silence of Adultery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Michael Harcott

  • The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise(1995)

    as Jerry Michaels

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Jonathan Stone: Threat of Innocence(1994)

    as Arnie Ryan

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Jake Crawford

  • Broken Promises: Taking Emily Back(1993)

    as Sean Cheney

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Darkness Before Dawn(1993)

    as Al Van Petten

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Stop at Nothing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Sgt. Jake Morris

  • She Stood Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Andrew Gibson

  • People Like Us(1990)

    as Bernard Slatkin

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Gross Anatomy(1989)

    as Dr. Banks

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Original Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as John

  • Heart of the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 13 episodes · as Wes Kennedy

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Attorney Peter McIntyre, Leanne's Ex-Husband

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • MacGruder and Loud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 14 episodes · as Lynch

  • Oh, God! You Devil(1984)

    as Billy Wayne

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Edward Graham · as Mark Havlin · as Roger Adiano · as Tom Hiller

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Gene Byrd

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Scarecrow and Mrs. King(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Hardcastle and McCormick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave Luna

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Remington Steele(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Brian Hunter

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Cheers(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · as Gary

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Family Ties(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Richie Schofield

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

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

    as Lenny Barbella

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Princess and the Cabbie(1981)

    as Joe Holiday

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Randy Sweet

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 26 episodes · as Ted Melcher

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 69th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 40 titles from 1979 to 2012; peak year 2012.

Biggest box office

Oh, God! You Devil (1984)

$22M worldwide

Highest rated

Liberal Arts (2012)

Midcredits 66th

Film career

19792012

Peak 2012 · 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
Acting39 of 40: 39 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thWriting1 of 40: 1 only writing, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s18 · acting1990s16 · acting2000s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew2010s1 · acting

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.

How do Robert Desiderio's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 12; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

23rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Darkness Before Dawn (1993)

83rd percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Sopranos (1999)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 51. 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 Robert Desiderio work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Desiderio's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Todd Field shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers