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Lee Grant

Lee Grant

Actor and director, also producer and writer · Born October 31, 1925 (100) · New York City, New York, USA

Lee Grant (born Lyova Haskell Rosenthal; October 31, 1925) is an American actress and director. She made her film debut in 1951 as a young shoplifter in William Wyler's Detective Story, co-starring Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker. This role earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress as well as the Best Actress Award at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival. In 1952 she was blacklisted from most acting jobs for the next 12 years. She was able to find only occasional work onstage or as a teacher during this period. It also contributed to her divorce. She was removed from the blacklist in 1962 and rebuilt her acting career. She starred in 71 TV episodes of Peyton Place (1965–1966), followed by lead roles in films such as Valley of the Dolls, In the Heat of the Night (both 1967), and Shampoo (1975), for the last of which she won an Oscar. In 1964, she won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for her performance in The Maids. During her career she was nominated for the Emmy Award seven times between 1966 and 1993, winning twice. In 1986 she directed Down and Out in America which tied for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and in the same year she also won a Directors Guild of America Award for Nobody's Child.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 31, 1925 (100)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and director, also producer and writer
Titles
55 on MovieCove · 126 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 26Down 12% in 30 days

What are Lee Grant's films like?

Across their 52 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Drama20 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
Survival
23%
Bonds
20%
Morality
19%
Self
16%
Society
10%
Power
9%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival11 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief7 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 52 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 11 · Serious 13 · Dark 28

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

Grounded 39 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 22 · Intense 20

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

Steady 24 · Shifting 25 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 37 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 7

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 28 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 14 · Engaged 36 · Full focus 2

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 12 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 27

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

Resolved 43 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

22 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 6 of 22 analyzed roles.

Shadow
6 of 22
Ally
5 of 22
Hero
4 of 22
Mentor
2 of 22
Threshold guardian
2 of 22
Trickster
1 of 22
Herald
1 of 22
Shapeshifter
1 of 22
Show the 22 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
32
Melancholic
24
Warm
17
Dread
15
Contemplative
10
Other
32

How their films linger

Thought-provoking21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet26
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous9

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 Lee Grant's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 55 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lee Grant'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

126 credits, 55 with a MovieCove page; 29 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Killian & the Comeback Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Ms. Hunter (voice)

  • Scandal: The Trial of Mary Astor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Truth and Lies: The Family Manson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Actresses Turned Producer/Directors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Baghdad ER(2006)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Gotta Get Off This Merry-Go-Round: 'Valley of the Dolls' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Miriam (archive footage)

  • Going Shopping (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Winnie

  • A Father… A Son… Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Producer

  • The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • The Gun Deadlock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Mulholland Drive(2001)

    as Louise

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Amati Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Aunt Spendora

  • Dr. T & the Women(2000)

    as Dr. Harper

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · as Narrator

  • The Loretta Claiborne Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Poor Liza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Countess Ekaterina

  • Confronting the Crisis: Childcare in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · Producer · as Narrator

  • Intimate Portrait: Lauren Bacall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Say It, Fight It, Cure It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Producer · as Narrator/Host

  • The Substance of Fire(1996)

    as Cora Cahn

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • It's My Party(1996)

    as Amalia Stark

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Narrator

  • Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Following Her Heart(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Under Heat(1994)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Seasons of the Heart(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Intimate Portrait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 53 episodes · Director · Writer · as Self

  • Women on Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Producer · as Narrator

  • Earth and the American Dream(1992)

    as Reader (voice)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Citizen Cohn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Dora Cohn

  • The Iceman Tapes: Conversations with a Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Narrator

  • In My Daughter's Name(1992)

    as Maureen Leeds

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Something to Live For: The Alison Gertz Story(1992)

    as Carol Gertz

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Defending Your Life(1991)

    as Lena Foster

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • She Said No(1990)

    as D.A. Doris Cantore

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • No Place Like Home(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Staying Together(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Battered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Producer · as Narrator

  • The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro(1989)

    as Marilyn Klinghoffer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Empty Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Big Town(1987)

    as Ferguson Edwards

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Down and Out in America(1985)

    Director · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Nobody's Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Mussolini: The Untold Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 4 episodes · as Rachele Mussolini

  • Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director

  • What Sex Am I?(1985)

    Director · as Self

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Ray Bradbury Theater(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Teachers(1984)

    as Dr. Donna Burke

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • A Billion for Boris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Sascha Harris

  • A Matter of Sex(1984)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • When Women Kill(1983)

    Director · as Herself

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Will There Really Be a Morning?(1983)

    as Lillian Farmer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Bare Essence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ava Marshall

  • Plaza Suite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Norma Hubley / Muriel Tate / Karen Nash

  • Visiting Hours(1982)

    as Deborah Ballin

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • A Crime to Fit the Punishment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Narrator

  • Thou Shalt Not Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Maxine Lochman

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • For Ladies Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Anne Holt

  • The Willmar 8(1981)

    Director · Writer · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Million Dollar Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Evalyna

  • Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen(1981)

    as Mrs. Sylvia Lupowitz

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Tell Me a Riddle(1980)

    Director · as Flight Attendant (voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Little Miss Marker(1980)

    as The Judge

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • You Can't Go Home Again(1979)

    as Esther Jack

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?(1979)

    as Clarisse Ethridge

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Backstairs at the White House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as Grace Coolidge

  • The Good Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Various Roles

  • The Swarm(1978)

    as Anne MacGregor

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Damien: Omen II(1978)

    as Ann Thorn

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Mafu Cage(1978)

    as Ellen

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Airport '77(1977)

    as Karen Wallace

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Spell(1977)

    as Marion Matchett

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Voyage of the Damned(1976)

    as Lili Rosen

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Perilous Voyage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Virginia Monroe

  • The Stronger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director · Writer

  • Fay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 10 episodes · as Fay Stewart

  • Shampoo(1975)

    as Felicia Karpf

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Seagull (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Irina Arkadina

  • For the Use of the Hall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • The Internecine Project(1974)

    as Jean Robertson

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Why Me? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • What Are Best Friends For? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Adele Ross

  • Partners in Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Judge Meredith Leland

  • Lieutenant Schuster's Wife(1972)

    as Ellie Schuster

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ransom for a Dead Man(1971)

    as Leslie Williams

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • ABC Afterschool Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Portnoy's Complaint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Sophie Portnoy

  • Plaza Suite(1971)

    as Norma Hubley

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Neon Ceiling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Carrie Miller

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Irina Arkadina

  • Night Slaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Marjorie Howard

  • There Was a Crooked Man...(1970)

    as Mrs. Bullard

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Landlord(1970)

    as Joyce Enders

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Marooned(1969)

    as Celia Pruett

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Big Bounce(1969)

    as Joanne

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell(1968)

    as Fritzie Braddock

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Edwina Booker

  • The Love Song of Barney Kempinski (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Laura

  • Valley of the Dolls(1967)

    as Miriam Polar

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Judd, for the Defense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • In the Heat of the Night(1967)

    as Mrs. Leslie Colbert

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Divorce American Style(1967)

    as Dede Murphy

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

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

    as Virginia Cloyd

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

    Show 1 episode · as Francesca Kirby

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan Buchanan

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • ABC Stage 67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura · as Ruth

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

    Show 1 episode · as Rosemary

  • Peyton Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 514 episodes · as Stella Chernak

  • Terror in the City(1964)

    as Suzy

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • An Affair of the Skin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Katherine McCleod

  • Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Lizzie

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Virginia Cloyd

  • The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Millie Hallop

  • The Balcony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Carmen

  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Maria Edwards · as Norma Burgess

  • The World of Sholom Aleichem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as The Goatseller / Avenging Angel

  • Middle of the Night(1959)

    as Marilyn

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Three Plays by Tennessee Williams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Jane (Segment "Moony's Kid Don't Cry")

  • Storm Fear(1955)

    as Edna

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Playwrights '56 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Detective Story(1951)

    as Shoplifter

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Emily Brooks

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 126 titles from 1948 to 2020; peak year 1977.

Biggest box office

Shampoo (1975)

$49M worldwide

Highest rated

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Detective Story (1951)

Film career

19482020

Peak 1977 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. 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
Acting105 of 126: 97 only acting, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndDirecting28 of 126: 17 only directing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thWriting3 of 126: 0 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing6 of 126: 1 only producing, 5 with another role

126 titles, 11 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1940s2 · acting1950s6 · acting1960s24 · acting1970s30 · 27 acting · 3 crew1980s29 · 21 acting · 12 crew1990s19 · 14 acting · 8 crew2000s12 · 7 acting · 6 crew2010s3 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 7% of 30 roles
517181

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 Lee Grant's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 53; across their 52 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 52

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 52

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 52

Midcredits score across 55 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 55 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed19

Most divisive · actor, director

What Sex Am I? (1985)

90th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 43 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 48. 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 Lee Grant's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles20–83 · median 53 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles8–57 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles27–65 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles23–52 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 53 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Lee Grant work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lee Grant's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joseph Feury shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles