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Dana Elcar

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.

Born
October 10, 1927
Died
June 6, 2005 (aged 77)
From
Ferndale, Michigan United States
Works as
Actor
Titles
65 on MovieCove · 142 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 23% in 30 days

What are Dana Elcar's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

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

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 4 of 10 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
4 of 10
Shapeshifter
2 of 10
Mentor
2 of 10
Herald
1 of 10
Shadow
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
14
Absurd
6
Thrilling
5
Joyful
5
Other
23

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • 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).

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)

    Show 1 episode · as Manny Kendovich

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • The Magic School Bus(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Terese (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Cook

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
  • Inside Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Leo Gross

  • There Were Times, Dear(1985)

    as Don Mason

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Murder in Three Acts(1986)

    as Dr. Strange

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Arthur Hughes

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
  • Toughlove(1985)

    as Max Wiley

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 125 episodes · Director · as Andy Colson · as Pete Thornton

  • 2010: The Year We Make Contact(1984)

    as Dimitri Moisevitch

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Sweet Revenge(1984)

    as Sen. Arthur Hagerty

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • All of Me(1984)

    as Burton Schuyler

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • Jungle Warriors(1984)

    as D'Antoni

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
  • Quarterback Princess(1983)

    as Mr. Caine

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • 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 · as Frank Cardigan

  • I Want to Live(1983)

    as Warden

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

    as Lou

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as George Olsen · as Judge Leonard Mordente

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

    as Captain R. C. Hodges

  • Forbidden Love(1982)

    as Burt Wagner

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Voyagers!(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • Newhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Ebersol

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Strock

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Day the Bubble Burst(1982)

    as Mr. Block

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

    as Milhauser

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

    Actor

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Carl Reed

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows
  • The Fall Guy(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows
  • Code Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Condorman(1981)

    as Russ Devlin

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Buddy Buddy(1981)

    as Capt. Hubris

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • Mark, I Love You(1980)

    as Mr. Bassett

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • The Nude Bomb(1980)

    as Chief

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Galactica 1980(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as John Steadman

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows
  • Death Penalty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as John Mulligan

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Champ(1979)

    as Hoffmaster

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

    as Frank Boyd

  • Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff(1979)

    as Havermeyer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • The Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Crisis in Mid-air(1979)

    as Brad Mullins

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Harris

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows
  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows
  • Baa Baa Black Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 36 episodes · as Thomas A. Lard

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

    as Col. Thomas A. Lard

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Harold Schuyler

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

    as Sheriff Wenzel

  • Law of the Land(1976)

    as Rev. Mr. Endicott

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • W.C. Fields and Me(1976)

    as Dockstedter

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • St. Ives(1976)

    as Lt. Charles Blunt

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Love Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Mort

  • Report to the Commissioner(1975)

    as Chief Perna

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Baretta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 83 episodes · as Inspector Shiller

  • Panic on the 5:22(1974)

    as Hal Rodgers

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Sheriff Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
  • Petrocelli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Prosecutor Daley

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    as Paul Reed

  • Heatwave! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Prescott

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry Stover

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows
  • The Sting(1973)

    as F.B.I. Agent Polk

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Dying Room Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Sheriff

  • Catch-22(1973)

    as Colonel Cathcart

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

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Garippo

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Aaronson

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · as Noah Jones

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

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Kendall

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    as Col. Talbot

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    as Captain Detroville

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

    as Hank Keller

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

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Henderson

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

    Show 1 episode · as Falcon

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

    Show 2 episodes · as John Brinegar

  • A Gunfight(1971)

    as Marv Green

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

    Show 1 episode · as Father Frank Dinsmore

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

    as Father Frank Dinsmore

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

    as Carstairs

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

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

    as George Woodruff

  • The Partridge Family(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Felcher

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows
  • Adam at Six A.M.(1970)

    as Van Treadly

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • The Bold Ones: The Senator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Collie Ford

  • Soldier Blue(1970)

    as Capt. Battles

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

    as Harold Tracey

  • D.A.: Murder One(1969)

    as Dr. Carl Enright

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

    Show 1 episode · as A. J. Potts

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Learning Tree(1969)

    as Kirky

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

    as Sgt. Kelvaney

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Benjamin

    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)

    as George Stack

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

    as Det. J.J. 'Red' Thornton

  • The Sound of Anger(1968)

    as Andrew Pearce

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Boston Strangler(1968)

    as Luis Schubert

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Hood

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

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Oliver

  • A Lovely Way to Die(1968)

    as Layton

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Elizabeth the Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Captain Marvel

  • Of Mice and Men(1968)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · as Fred Reston · as Skip Seldon

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • Judd, for the Defense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    as Marshall Herrick

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

    Show 4 episodes · as Bill O'Brien

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

    as Craigmeyer

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

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Tom Halloway

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as C.W. Cameron

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

    Show 1 episode · as Lou Coolidge

  • Dark Shadows(1966)

    Show 188 episodes · as Sheriff George Patterson

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Garth · as Ewing Carter · as Howard Bergdahl · as Howard Swift · as Waverly

  • Get Smart(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kruger

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. George Graham

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

    as Mr. Dodd

  • Fail Safe(1964)

    as Foster

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

    Show 1 episode · as Kevin

  • The Patty Duke Show(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Big Deal in Laredo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Dennis Wilcox

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bennett Poole

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

    Show 1 episode · as District Attorney · as Dr. Marvin Graham · as Rankin

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

    as Friend Ed

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Caleb Milton · as Mr. Merrick

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Al Borris

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 2 episodes · as Pennigrath

  • A Time To Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 129 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Marvel · as Jacob · as La Hire

  • The Big Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Alameda

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

19491994

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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting140 of 142: 138 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stDirecting4 of 142: 2 only directing, 2 with another role

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s7 · acting1960s36 · acting1970s56 · 54 acting · 3 crew1980s39 · 39 acting · 1 crew1990s3 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 17 roles
6474

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.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 65 titles, by percentile

  • 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.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 51 · moderateMedian of all films: 36

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

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles