
Dana Elcar
Actor · Died June 6, 2005, aged 77 · Ferndale, Michigan United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Ibsen Dana Elcar (October 10, 1927 - June 6, 2005) was an American television and movie character actor. Although he appeared in about 40 films, his most memorable role was on the 1980s and 1990s television series MacGyver as Peter Thornton, an administrator working for the Phoenix Foundation. Elcar had appeared in the pilot episode of MacGyver as Andy Colson (a completely different character), but was later cast as Peter Thornton, making his first regular appearance in the 11th episode of the first season. Description above from the Wikipedia article Dana Elcar, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Biography from TMDB.
- October 10, 1927
- June 6, 2005 (aged 77)
- Ferndale, Michigan United States
- Actor
- 65 on MovieCove · 142 credits in all
What are Dana Elcar's films like?
Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 4 · Earnest 25
A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 7 · Dark 14
Grounded 24 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 2
Gentle 7 · Charged 15 · Intense 8
A split, not a type: Steady 17 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 1
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 4
Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 2
Casual 13 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 1
A split, not a type: Easy watch 12 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 9
Resolved 21 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 2
Roles they play
Usually the Threshold guardian: 4 of 10 analyzed roles.
Show the 10 rolesHide the roles
- Threshold guardianas Kirky in The Learning Tree (1969)
- Heraldas Allen in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)
- Shadowas Colonel Cathcart in Catch-22 (1973)
- Shapeshifteras F.B.I. Agent Polk in The Sting (1973)
- Shapeshifteras Chief in The Nude Bomb (1980)
- Threshold guardianas Burt Wagner in Forbidden Love (1982)
- Threshold guardianas Warden in I Want to Live (1983)
- Threshold guardianas Mr. Caine in Quarterback Princess (1983)
- Mentoras Burton Schuyler in All of Me (1984)
- Mentoras Max Wiley in Toughlove (1985)
Moods and endings
- Happy9
- Bittersweet7
- Tragic9
- Ambiguous4
- Cyclical1
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 Dana Elcar's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 65 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).
- Fail Safe (1964) · actor · free
- Dark Shadows (1966) · actor · free
- The Magic School Bus (1994) · actor · free
- Soldier Blue (1970) · actor · free
- The A-Team (1983) · actor · free
- Report to the Commissioner (1975) · actor · free
- Bonanza (1959) · actor · free
- All of Me (1984) · actor · free
- Knight Rider (1982) · actor · free
- The Incredible Hulk (1977) · actor · free
- A Gunfight (1971) · actor · free
- Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff (1979) · actor · free
- +3 more
- Fail Safe (1964) · actor · free
- The Rockford Files (1974) · actor, director · free
- Voyagers! (1982) · actor · free
- Dark Shadows (1966) · actor · free
- The Magic School Bus (1994) · actor · free
- Law & Order (1990) · actor · free
- Bonanza (1959) · actor · free
- The Six Million Dollar Man (1974) · actor · free
- Knight Rider (1982) · actor · free
- The Patty Duke Show (1963) · actor · free
- The Partridge Family (1970) · actor · free
- Falcon Crest (1981) · actor · free
Subscription and free streaming for Dana Elcar'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
142 credits, 65 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

ER(1994)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
The Magic School Bus(1994)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
Law & Order(1990)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
Inside Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

There Were Times, Dear(1985)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Murder in Three Acts(1986)
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
Matlock(1986)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
Toughlove(1985)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Sweet Revenge(1984)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
All of Me(1984)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Jungle Warriors(1984)
Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
Quarterback Princess(1983)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
Scarecrow and Mrs. King(1983)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
Hardcastle and McCormick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

I Want to Live(1983)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Blue Skies Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

The A-Team(1983)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
Inspector Perez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

Forbidden Love(1982)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
Voyagers!(1982)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
Newhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

Knight Rider(1982)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
Matt Houston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

Teachers Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

Herbie, the Love Bug (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

The Day the Bubble Burst(1982)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Help Wanted: Male (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

Breach of Contract (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

Falcon Crest(1981)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows
The Fall Guy(1981)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows
Code Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

Condorman(1981)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Buddy Buddy(1981)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Foul Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

Hill Street Blues(1981)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
Mark, I Love You(1980)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
The Nude Bomb(1980)
Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
Galactica 1980(1980)
Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows
Death Penalty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

The Champ(1979)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff(1979)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
The Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

Crisis in Mid-air(1979)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
B. J. and the Bear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

Salvage 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

What Really Happened to the Class of '65? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

The Incredible Hulk(1977)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows
Eight Is Enough(1977)
Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows
Baa Baa Black Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

The Flying Misfits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Gemini Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Baby Blue Marine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Law of the Land(1976)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
W.C. Fields and Me(1976)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
St. Ives(1976)
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all filmsLove Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Baretta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

Panic on the 5:22(1974)
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Rockford Files(1974)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Petrocelli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

The Manhunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

Senior Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

Heatwave! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows
The Sting(1973)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Dying Room Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

Catch-22(1973)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

Hawkins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

Kung Fu(1972)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows
Delphi Bureau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

The Waltons(1972)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
Fireball Forward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

The Sixth Sense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

The Bravos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

The Death of Me Yet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

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

Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

A Gunfight(1971)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Sarge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

Sarge: The Badge or the Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

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

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

San Francisco International (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

The Partridge Family(1970)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows
Adam at Six A.M.(1970)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
The Bold Ones: The Senator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

Soldier Blue(1970)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Zig Zag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

D.A.: Murder One(1969)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Medical Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Room 222 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

The Learning Tree(1969)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
The Maltese Bippy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Hawaii Five-O(1968)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Deadlock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Pendulum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

The Sound of Anger(1968)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Boston Strangler(1968)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

The Outsider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

A Lovely Way to Die(1968)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
Elizabeth the Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Of Mice and Men(1968)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Mannix(1967)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
Judd, for the Defense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

The Crucible (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

The Borgia Stick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

Mission: Impossible(1966)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
ABC Stage 67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

Dark Shadows(1966)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

Get Smart(1965)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Run for Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

The Fool Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

Fail Safe(1964)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Espionage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

The Patty Duke Show(1963)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all showsBig Deal in Laredo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

Burning Bright (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

Bonanza(1959)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
Naked City(1958)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
A Time To Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

The Big Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
Career shape
Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 142 titles from 1949 to 1994; peak year 1980.
Film career
Peak 1980 · 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.
Billing
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 Dana Elcar's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up20
- 50th to 74th25
- 25th to 49th12
- Below 25th8
Shape of the crowd
30 of their 65 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved8
- Cult Classic3
- Crowd Pleaser30
- Broadly Agreed4
- Mixed20
Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 40. 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.
Is Dana Elcar's work okay for kids?
Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.
Who does Dana Elcar work with?
People who share at least 2 of Dana Elcar's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Charles F. Wheeler shares the most, 3.
Directors
- Charles JarrottShared titles: Condorman (1981), The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)See all 2 shared titles with Charles Jarrott

Writers
- Harold Jack BloomShared titles: A Gunfight (1971), D.A.: Murder One (1969)See all 2 shared titles with Harold Jack Bloom
Actors
- Ina BalinShared titles: There Were Times, Dear (1985), Panic on the 5:22 (1974)See all 2 shared titles with Ina Balin

- James HamptonShared titles: Condorman (1981), Soldier Blue (1970)See all 2 shared titles with James Hampton

- Lynda Day GeorgeShared titles: Panic on the 5:22 (1974), The Sound of Anger (1968)See all 2 shared titles with Lynda Day George

- Donald MoffatShared titles: The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972), Of Mice and Men (1968)See all 2 shared titles with Donald Moffat

Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Charles F. WheelerShared titles: I Want to Live (1983), Condorman (1981), The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)See all 3 shared titles with Charles F. Wheeler
- Lalo SchifrinShared titles: Buddy Buddy (1981), The Nude Bomb (1980), St. Ives (1976)See all 3 shared titles with Lalo Schifrin

- Isidore MankofskyShared titles: Quarterback Princess (1983), Forbidden Love (1982)See all 2 shared titles with Isidore Mankofsky

- Gordon D. BrennerShared titles: Condorman (1981), The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)See all 2 shared titles with Gordon D. Brenner
Producers
- Jan WilliamsShared titles: Condorman (1981), The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)See all 2 shared titles with Jan Williams
- Jay WestonShared titles: Buddy Buddy (1981), W.C. Fields and Me (1976)See all 2 shared titles with Jay Weston
- Ron MillerShared titles: Condorman (1981), The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)See all 2 shared titles with Ron Miller

- Jennings LangShared titles: The Nude Bomb (1980), The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)See all 2 shared titles with Jennings Lang

Mixed roles
- Carl PingitoreShared titles: The Whole World Is Watching (1969), The Sound of Anger (1968)See all 2 shared titles with Carl Pingitore




