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Gary Grubbs

Gary Grubbs

Actor · Born November 14, 1949 (76) · Amory, Mississippi, USA

Gary Grubbs (born Jon Gary Grubbs, November 14, 1949, in Amory, Mississippi) is an American character actor who moved to Prentiss as an infant and grew up there. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he majored in business and met his future wife Glenda (Miss Mississippi 1972). In 1977 the couple relocated to Los Angeles initially for a writing career, but Grubbs transitioned to acting after landing his first role in For the Love of Benji (1977), followed by Dead Man's Curve: The Jan and Dean Story (1978). Over his nearly five-decade career he has accumulated over 180 credits, frequently portraying attorneys, sheriffs, military officers, and other authority figures, and he now splits his time between Mississippi and Los Angeles. His most notable film credits include attorney Al Oser in JFK (1991, directed by Oliver Stone), Jim Bob in Honkytonk Man (1982, directed by Clint Eastwood), a role in Silkwood (1983, directed by Mike Nichols), Phil Beasley in Gone Fishin' (1997), Timothy McReady in Double Take (2001), Billy Ray in Ray (2004), Coach Ralph Miller in Glory Road (2006), a Police Lieutenant in Déjà Vu (2006), Chief of Police in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009, with Jeffrey Wright), Sheriff in In the Electric Mist (2009, with Matthew McConaughey), Bob Gibbs in Django Unchained (2012, directed by Quentin Tarantino, uncredited), a role in Battleship (2012), Dr. Kemp Clark in Parkland (2013, with James Franco), DEA Agent Lou Cantrell in Sabotage (2014, with Gerard Butler), Dennis in Left Behind (2014), FBI Agent Owens in Concussion (2015, with Will Smith), Prosecutor in Free State of Jones (2016, with Mads Mikkelsen), Senator Everett Dirksen in LBJ (2016), and Joe Carter in God Bless the Broken Road (2018). On television he is best known as Captain Steven Wiecek in For Love and Honor (1983–1984), Harlin Polk in Will & Grace (1998–1999), and Mr. Dummont in Common Law (2012), with additional credits in ER, NCIS (2003), Angel (2001–2004, 4 episodes), The O.C. (2003), Treme (2010), Glee (2009), Criminal Minds (2012), Scream Queens (2015), and Prison Break (2006).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 14, 1949 (76)
From
Amory, Mississippi, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
106 on MovieCove · 139 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 28% in 30 days

What are Gary Grubbs' films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 33 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 12 · Serious 9 · Dark 12

Grounded 24 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 1

Gentle 8 · Charged 14 · Intense 11

Steady 13 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 3

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 7

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 2

A split, not a type: Casual 15 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 1

Easy watch 11 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 10

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
3 of 8
Shadow
2 of 8
Trickster
2 of 8
Mentor
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Dread
11
Hopeful
11
Melancholic
12
Absurd
6
Other
25

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous6

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 Gary Grubbs' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 80 of their 106 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (35).

Subscription and free streaming for Gary Grubbs' 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

139 credits, 106 with a MovieCove page.

  • Starbright(2026)

    as Ken

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Stolen in Plain Sight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Sheriff Dunn

  • Out of Blue(2018)

    as Mr. Torby

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • God Bless the Broken Road(2018)

    as Joe Carter

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • Christmas in Mississippi(2017)

    as Carter Greenside

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • LBJ(2016)

    as Everett Dirksen

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • Let There Be Light(2017)

    as Dr. Fornier

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Demons(2017)

    as Father Joseph Moran

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Convergence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Peter Grayson

  • USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage(2016)

    as Judge Bazemore

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
  • Free State of Jones(2016)

    as Prosecuting Attorney

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • A Sunday Horse(2016)

    as Coach Walden

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • Concussion(2015)

    as FBI Agent

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
  • Project Almanac(2015)

    as Dr. Lou

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Doc in the Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Dr. Whipple

  • Left Behind(2014)

    as Dennis

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films
  • Sabotage(2014)

    as Lou Cantrell (DEA Interrogator #2)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Parkland(2013)

    as Dr. Kemp Clark

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Devil's Knot(2013)

    as Dale Griffis

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Shadow People(2013)

    as CDC Director

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
  • No One Lives(2012)

    as Harris

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • Django Unchained(2012)

    as Bob Gibbs (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Hell and Mr. Fudge(2012)

    as Carl Ketcherside

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • Common Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 12 episodes · as Mr. Dumont

  • Battleship(2012)

    as Air Force Chief of Staff

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Carjacked(2011)

    as Deputy

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Mardi Gras: Spring Break(2011)

    as Mr Duluth

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Hound Dogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Reverend Davis

  • Ricochet(2011)

    as Captain Gerrard

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
  • Dirty Girl(2010)

    as Principal Mulray

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Treme(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • Good Intentions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Zachary

  • Alabama Moon(2009)

    as Judge Mackin

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • Maneater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tripper Mason

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimbo Wilson

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows
  • In the Electric Mist(2009)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Samuel Millman

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • My Mom's New Boyfriend(2008)

    as Police Chief Malone

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Deal(2008)

    as Mr. Stillman

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • Wizards of Waverly Place(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Pa

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
  • Deja Vu(2006)

    as Police Lieutenant #2

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • All the King's Men(2006)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • Not Like Everyone Else(2006)

    as John Mack Butler

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • For One Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Mr. Thornton

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Oren Carr

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • Bones(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Dwayne Wilson

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Ray(2004)

    as Billy Ray

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • The Dead Will Tell(2004)

    as Detective Ed Landry

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Runaway Jury(2003)

    as Dobbs

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Elmo Poke

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
  • The O.C.(2003)

    Show 6 episodes · as Gordon Bullit

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows
  • The Agency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • One on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Crawford

  • Spring Break Lawyer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Senator Claxton

  • Double Take(2001)

    as Timothy Jarret McReady

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Python(2000)

    as Sheriff Griffin Wade

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • Angel(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Roger Burkle

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • The Astronaut's Wife(1999)

    as NASA Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 9 episodes · as Harlin Polk

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows
  • The X Files(1998)

    as Fire Captain Cooles

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Gone Fishin'(1997)

    as Phil Beasly

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Boyd

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows
  • Profiler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Stillwell

  • Boston Common (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Aubrey McLean

  • Forgotten Sins(1996)

    as Reverend Ralph Newton

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Second Noah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Air Boss

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows
  • Caroline in the City(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Earl

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows
  • The Stranger Beside Me(1995)

    as Chief Engineer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • The Watcher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Brother Jim

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Emmet Chambliss

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • Midnight Runaround(1994)

    as Lester

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
  • Dave's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer Bailey

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Tom Arens

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • Telling Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Det. Ron Taylor

  • The Ernest Green Story(1993)

    as Coach Loomis

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Clyde P. Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Honor Thy Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • JFK(1991)

    as Al Oser

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • Without Warning: The James Brady Story(1991)

    as Larry 'Catfish' Speakes

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
  • Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Borst

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows
  • Hull High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Brawley

  • Major Dad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Tennessee Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Davy Crockett: Rainbow in the Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as George Russell

  • The New Adventures of Davy Crockett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • And God Created Woman(1988)

    as Rupert Willis, Robin's Parole Officer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
  • Foxfire(1987)

    as Prince

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Nadine(1987)

    as Cecil

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Carly's Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Poker Alice(1987)

    as Marshal

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Cal Stevens · as Delbert

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
  • Guilty of Innocence: The Lenell Geter Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Martin Nash

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as U.S. Marshal William Hopson

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows
  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as SJ Sweet

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
  • North & South: Book 1, North & South(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lt. Pickles

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
  • Growing Pains(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as George Brower

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows
  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Waiter

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
  • Half Nelson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 8 episodes · as Hamill

  • Fatal Vision (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as James Blackburn

  • The Burning Bed(1984)

    as District Attorney

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Berringer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Brisco (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • Silkwood(1983)

    as Randy Fox

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • For Love and Honor(1983)

    as Capt. Wiecek

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • For Love and Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Hopkins

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
  • Honkytonk Man(1982)

    as Jim Bob

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • Family Ties(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Willis

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
  • 1990: The Bronx Warriors(1982)

    as Armored Van Cop (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Harlan Walker

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows
  • The Border(1982)

    as Honk

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Dexter

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Gideon's Trumpet(1980)

    as Deputy Hamilton

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • Condominium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as 1st Meteorologist

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Salesman

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows
  • Willa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Junior

  • Deadman's Curve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Lead Singer - Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited)

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Bo · as Mechanic

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Second Driver

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows
  • Happy Days(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows
  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Geyer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Deputy Hamilton · as Prince

  • Davy Crockett: A Letter to Polly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as George Russell

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 138 titles, 137 of them dated from 1951 to 2026; peak year 2016.

Film career

19512026

Peak 2016 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 2 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
Acting138 of 138: 138 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s9 · acting1980s36 · acting1990s32 · acting2000s28 · acting2010s29 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 43 roles
7787021217

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 Gary Grubbs' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 68; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 31st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Midcredits score across 106 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th31
  • 25th to 49th26
  • Below 25th22

Shape of the crowd

42 of their 106 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser42
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed39

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 36. 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 Gary Grubbs' work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles42–88 · median 85 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles16–57 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles34–62 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 67 · intenseMedian 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 Gary Grubbs work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gary Grubbs' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Arata shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers