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Paul Ford

Paul Ford

Actor · Died April 12, 1976, aged 74 · Baltimore, Maryland, USA

If any man ever had a curmudgeon character face absolutely made for TV and film, it was Paul Ford. Small-eyed, balding, lugubrious, pot-bellied and with a memorable plum nose to rival that of the great Karl Malden, he made a very late entry into show business, finding major success as blowhard military brass, gruff executives, grouchy sheriffs and blustery judges. Born Paul Ford Weaver on November 2, 1901, in Baltimore, Maryland, he dropped out of Dartmouth College before working as a salesman throughout the Great Depression. The married Ford was a rather wanderlust family man who decided to give acting a try in his early 40s. He excelled at puppetry and found work staging such shows at the World's Fair. Billing himself as Paul Ford, his middle name and mother's maiden name, he eventually found a fair amount of radio and theatre offers. Making his off-Broadway debut in 1939, he moved to Broadway playing a sergeant in the 1944 play "Decision" and continued on the New York stage with such popular 40's plays as "Kiss Them for Me," "Flamingo Road" and "Command Decision." Paul moved inauspiciously into films with uncredited roles in the dramatic films The House on 92nd Street (1945), The Naked City (1948) and All the King's Men (1949), then walked up the credits ladder rung by rung with credited roles in Lust for Gold (1949), The Kid from Texas (1950) and Perfect Strangers (1950). Eventually he included the newer medium of TV, finding roles on various anthology series including "Armstrong Circle Theatre," "The Ford Theatre Hour," "The Philco Television Playhouse," "Suspense" and "Studio One in Hollywood." Paul earned a huge hit on Broadway with his delightfully huffy portrayal of Colonel Wainright Purdy in the 1953 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning war comedy "Teahouse of the August Moon." He went on to transfer his role to film with The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956). From there, he was given the part of irascible Horace Vandergelder in the movie version of the Thornton Wilder play The Matchmaker (1958) also starring Shirley Booth as Dolly Levi, Shirley MacLaine as Irene Malloy, Anthony Perkins as Cornelius Hackl and Robert Morse as Barnaby Tucker. Having already conquered radio, stage and film, it was on TV that 54-year-old Paul would achieve "overnight success" and become a household name when he was hired played a befuddled second banana to comedian Phil Silvers on TV. Butting heads week after week as the ever-flustered Colonel Hall with Silvers' classic portrayal of the sly, manipulative Sergeant Bilko in The Phil Silvers Show (1955), Paul amused audiences for four seasons and was Emmy-nominated three times. During this time he scored another Broadway success playing multiple roles in the light-hearted sketch revue "Thurber's Carnival" in 1960. As a reward for his small screen success, Paul was awarded the opportunity to film another stage hit. Shining in the pompous supporting role of Mayor Shinn in the 1957 Tony-awarded musical hit "The Music Man" (he replaced Tony-winning David Burns, the actor, along with Robert Preston (as Harold Hill) and Pert Kelton (as Mrs. Paroo) transferred his character to the immortal feature film version of The Music Man (1962). Ford went on playing playing old coot gents and took a third Broadway triumph to film as elderly father-to-be Harry Lambert in the family comedy Never Too Late (1965) co-starring his stage partner Maureen O'Sullivan as expectant wife Edith. Other twilight character film roles included his senator in Advise & Consent (1962), another colonel in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), a general in The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966), a military commander in The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966), a one-time third-party presidential candidate in The Comedians (1967) (for which he won a National Board of Review award for "Best Supporting Actor"), and his last film, as a doctor in the little seen comedy Richard (1972). Ford eventually retired in 1972, and died four years later due to a massive heart attack in Mineola, New York, on April 12, 1976. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles. Falling somewhat below W.C. Fields and Walter Matthau in crabby popularity, this delightful curmudgeon nevertheless earned and deserved his brief, late-night success.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
November 2, 1901
Died
April 12, 1976 (aged 74)
From
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
22 on MovieCove · 45 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 37 days to Oct 26Up 47% in 30 days

What are Paul Ford's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
33%
Morality
22%
Self
16%
Power
16%
Society
14%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

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 3 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 7 · 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 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 5
Threshold guardian
2 of 5
Ally
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
5
Tense
6
Warm
5
Romantic
4
Absurd
4
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet5
  • 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 Paul Ford's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 22 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Ford'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

45 credits, 22 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker(1991)

    as actor 'Advise and 'Consent' (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Journey Back to Oz(1972)

    as Uncle Henry (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Richard(1972)

    as Washington Doctor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Fair Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as F.O. McGill

  • London Affair(1970)

    as Mr. Wardman-Scott's father

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • In Name Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Elwy Pertwhistle

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

    Show 1 episode · as John

  • My World and Welcome to It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • That's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Comedians(1967)

    as Smith

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Spy with a Cold Nose(1966)

    as American General

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • A Big Hand for the Little Lady(1966)

    as C.P. Ballinger

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming(1966)

    as Fendall Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Never Too Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Harry Lambert

  • The Baileys of Balboa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 26 episodes · as Sam Bailey

  • It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World(1963)

    as Col. Wilberforce

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Who's Got the Action?(1962)

    as Judge Boatwright

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Lloyd Bridges Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as George Tuppman

  • The Music Man(1962)

    as Mayor George Shinn

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Advise & Consent(1962)

    as Senator Stanley Danta

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Life with Archie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Mr. Weatherbee

  • Outlaws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Keep in Step (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Col. John T. Hall

  • The Matchmaker(1958)

    as Horace Vandergelder

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Missouri Traveler(1958)

    as Finas Daugherty

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as J.B. Curtis

  • The Teahouse of the August Moon(1956)

    as Wainwright Purdy III

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Bloomer Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Horatio Applegate

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Jarvis

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Phil Silvers Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 144 episodes · as John Hall

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

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Joe McQueen

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

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Purdy

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Gen. Hap Hazard · as Quincy Quiverlips

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Tales of Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Perfect Strangers(1950)

    as Judge Byron

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Kid from Texas(1950)

    as Copeland

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • All the King's Men(1949)

    as Spokesman for Impeachment (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Lust for Gold(1949)

    as Sheriff Lynn Early

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Allison

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Jones

  • The Ford Theatre Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 2 episodes · as Rudolph Kugler

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Naked City(1948)

    as Henry Fowler (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Front Page (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 45 titles from 1945 to 1991; peak year 1962.

Highest rated

The Music Man (1962)

Midcredits 92nd

Film career

19451991

Peak 1962 · 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
Acting45 of 45: 45 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score72nd

By decade

1940s8 · acting1950s15 · acting1960s17 · acting1970s4 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
4964

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 Paul Ford's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 13 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 13

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 22 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 22 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Richard (1972)

92nd percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Advise & Consent (1962)

Midcredits 94th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 52. 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 Paul Ford work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Ford's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Daniel Mann shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors