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Robert Donner

Robert Donner

Actor · Died June 8, 2006, aged 75 · New York City, New York, USA

Robert Donner (April 27, 1931 – June 8, 2006) was an American television and film actor.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 27, 1931
Died
June 8, 2006 (aged 75)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
60 on Motif · 120 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 26% in 30 days

What are Robert Donner's films like?

Across their 17 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Motif score: 35th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Motif score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Motif score: 8th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
32%
Self
17%
Morality
17%
Survival
16%
Power
10%
Society
6%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 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 8 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 8 · Intense 2

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 7 · 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 5 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 9 · 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 9 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Ally
1 of 3
Threshold guardian
1 of 3
Herald
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
8
Tense
7
Absurd
6
Melancholic
5
Thrilling
4
Other
9

How their films linger

Fun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy9
  • 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 Robert Donner's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 60 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Donner's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

120 credits, 60 with a Motif page.

  • Hoot(2006)

    as Kalo

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Dharma & Greg (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe

  • Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as His Trusted Caddie (as Bob Donner)

  • Early Edition (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lucius Snow

  • Pacific Blue(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Luther

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • The Naked Truth (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Clench

  • Legend(1995)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Alien Nation: Dark Horizon(1994)

    as Sheriff (uncredited)

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    as Caddy

  • Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Caddie

  • Hearts Afire(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Hit Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Otto

  • The Rocket Boy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Hawkhead

  • Good Morning, Miss Bliss(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as James Lyman

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • In the Heat of the Night(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold(1986)

    as Swarma

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Starman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Connell

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Roy · as Tom Jakes

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • MacGyver (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Benjamin Wintergreen · as Milt Bozer · as Vince

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Tyrone McKenna · as Silas Pike

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Blue Thunder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Neil Gerrard

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff J.C. Bickford

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Hysterical(1982)

    as Ralph

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain(1982)

    as Yancy Tucker

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Voyagers!(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Buffalo Bill Cody

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Cassie & Co. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Enders

  • Fame (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 5 episodes · as Tucker Fixx

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Simon & Simon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Cody Dexter

  • The Fall Guy(1981)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Under the Rainbow(1981)

    as The Assassin

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mork & Mindy(1978)

    Show 24 episodes · as Exidor

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Five Days from Home (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Karl Baldwin

  • The Young Pioneers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mr. Peters

  • Trail of Danger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as The Sheep Boss

  • Standing Tall (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Sheriff Brumfield

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernard Devlin · as Mr. Benedict

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Coby

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • Damnation Alley(1977)

    as Man / Guard

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Kallikaks (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Fernwood 2 Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Russ Tuttle

  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • How the West Was Won(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Evans

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Code R (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Bo Plummer

  • Young Pioneers' Christmas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Mr. Peters

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Korbin

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Territorial Men (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Stevens

  • The Last Hard Men(1976)

    as Lee Roy

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Young Pioneers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Mr. Peters

  • Take a Hard Ride(1975)

    as Skave

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Bite the Bullet(1975)

    as Reporter

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Little House on the Prairie(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Bart Younger

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Nakia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Fischer

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Horace Milser · as Kermit

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Mrs. Sundance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Ben Lant

  • Griff (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Roscoe Horvath

  • Santee(1973)

    as J.C.

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing(1973)

    as Dub

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • High Plains Drifter(1973)

    as Preacher

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Horror at 37,000 Feet(1973)

    as Dispatcher

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Amos Houlton

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • No Place to Run(1972)

    as Car Salesman

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ghost Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralph

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 17 episodes · as Yancy Tucker

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Rookies (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pickup on 101 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Jesse (1st Farmer)

  • Something Big(1971)

    as Angel Moon

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Price

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Longstreet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Coombs

  • Columbo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnie · as Drunk · as Zeke Rivers

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Fools' Parade(1971)

    as Willis Hubbard

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • One More Train to Rob(1971)

    as Sheriff Adams

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Pollifax — Spy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as Larrabee

  • Vanishing Point(1971)

    as Old Cop

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

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

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The Intruders(1970)

    as Roy Kirsh

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Bold Ones: The Senator (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Matlock

  • Chisum(1970)

    as Bradley Morton

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Zig Zag (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    as Sgt. Mason Weber

  • Rio Lobo(1970)

    as Whitey Carter

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Val

    Motif score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Lassie: Well of Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    as Clay Braddock

  • The Undefeated(1969)

    as Judd Mailer

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Skidoo(1968)

    as Another Switchboard Operator

    Motif score: 18th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Emory · as George Thomas

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 5 episodes · as Harry Rustin · as Teejay

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Outsider (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Wade

  • The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell(1968)

    as Marine Pvt. Ogg

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Catalina Caper (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    as Fingers O'Toole

  • Cool Hand Luke(1967)

    as Boss Shorty

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Rizo

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The High Chaparral (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Pelletier · as Wilby

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

    Show 1 episode · as Arch Merceen · as Lou Parkin

  • Garrison's Gorillas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Good Morning World (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Justice of the Peace

  • The Spirit Is Willing(1967)

    as Ebenezer Twitchell

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralph Burns

  • El Dorado(1966)

    as Milt

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Jean Arthur Show (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Magnificent Stranger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Toland

  • Agent for H.A.R.M.(1966)

    as Morgue Attendant

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Red Line 7000(1965)

    as Leroy Agers (uncredited)

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Laredo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Big Valley (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Pete Haunch

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

    Show 1 episode · as Scully · as Sheriff Hinkleman

  • Daniel Boone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Coot · as Pike

  • Many Happy Returns (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Nutty Professor(1963)

    as College Student (uncredited)

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Combat!(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as American GI

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Virginian (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Matt Dooley

  • The Detectives (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Freddy

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Owen · as Robert Donner

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Rio Bravo(1959)

    as (uncredited)

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Adjutant · as Billings · as Billy Bob Harger · as Toland

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

    Show 1 episode · as Brown · as Gil Boylan · as Tom Belnap

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Burton · as The Sheep Boss

  • Lassie(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · as Clay Braddock

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 120 titles from 1954 to 2006; peak year 1970.

Biggest box office

Under the Rainbow (1981)

$19M worldwide

Highest rated

Vanishing Point (1971)

Motif 89th

Most popular right now

The Fall Guy (1981)

Film career

19542006

Peak 1970 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting120 of 120: 120 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score58th

By decade

1950s7 · acting1960s28 · acting1970s54 · acting1980s19 · acting1990s11 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 14th · top billed in 0% of 23 roles
596974

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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, 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 Robert Donner's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 33rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Motif score across 60 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th19
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 60 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · actor

Hysterical (1982)

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

Most loved · actor

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Motif 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 56/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 36. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Robert Donner's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 31

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

Who does Robert Donner work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Donner's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Andrew V. McLaglen shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers