Skip to content
MovieCove
Clu Gulager

Clu Gulager

Actor · Died August 5, 2022, aged 93 · Holdenville, Oklahoma, USA

William Martin Gulager (November 16, 1928 - August 6, 2022), known professionally as Clu Gulager, was an American television and film actor. He is particularly noted for his co-starring role as William H. Bonney (Billy The Kid) in the 1960–62 NBC TV series The Tall Man and for his role in the later NBC series The Virginian. He also appeared in the racing film Winning (1969), with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, and was the protagonist, Burt, in the horror movie The Return of the Living Dead (1985). His final on-screen role was in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 16, 1928
Died
August 5, 2022 (aged 93)
From
Holdenville, Oklahoma, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
68 on MovieCove · 142 credits in all

What are Clu Gulager's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 12 · Serious 11 · Dark 17

A split, not a type: Grounded 24 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 5

Gentle 8 · Charged 16 · Intense 16

Steady 15 · Shifting 20 · Whiplash 5

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 26 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 5

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 8

A split, not a type: Casual 21 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 1

Easy watch 14 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 11

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 15 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 15
Threshold guardian
3 of 15
Trickster
2 of 15
Hero
2 of 15
Ally
2 of 15
Herald
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Melancholic
14
Dread
11
Thrilling
12
Absurd
9
Other
35

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous7
  • 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 Clu Gulager's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 41 of their 68 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (26).

Subscription and free streaming for Clu Gulager'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, 68 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood(2019)

    as Book Store Man

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
  • Blue Jay(2016)

    as Waynie

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • Deconstructing Dunning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Tangerine(2015)

    as The Cherokee

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • Director's Commentary: Terror Of Frankenstein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Gavin Merrill (voice)

  • Piranha 3DD(2012)

    as Mo

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
  • Feast III: The Happy Finish(2009)

    as Bartender

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • Feast II: Sloppy Seconds(2008)

    as Bartender

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Vic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Vic

  • Feast(2005)

    as Bartender

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • Jacqueline Hyde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Strip Club Bouncer (uncredited)

  • Gunfighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Uncle Buck Peters, Owner Bar 20 Ranch

  • Palmer's Pick-Up(1999)

    as Telegraph Operator

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • Puppet Master 5(1994)

    as Man #1

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
  • The Hidden II(1993)

    as Lt. Ed Flynn (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
  • In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco(1993)

    as McLennan County Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Eddie Presley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Sid

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Duke Jamison

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows
  • Beavis and Butt-Head(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Anderson’s War Buddy (voice / uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows
  • Kung Fu: The Legend Continues(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Deputy Clay Hardin

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows
  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Art McKendrick

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • The Killing Device (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Smitty

  • The Willies(1990)

    as Greeley Principal

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • The Raven Red Kiss-Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Desk Sergeant

  • Teen Vamp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as The Reverend

  • I'm Gonna Git You Sucka(1988)

    as Lt. Baker

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Tapeheads(1988)

    as Norman Mart

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Uninvited(1988)

    as Albert

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

    as Lt. Ed Flynn

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
  • From a Whisper to a Scream(1987)

    as Stanley Burnside

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • Summer Heat(1987)

    as Will Stanton

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
  • Hunter's Blood(1986)

    as Mason Rand

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Terror at London Bridge(1985)

    as Chief Peter 'Pete' Dawson

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • North & South: Book 1, North & South(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Gen. Philip Henry Sheridan

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Walt Kirby

  • Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • Prime Risk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Paul Minsky

  • Into the Night(1985)

    as Federal Agent

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Street Hawk(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Will Gassner

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows
  • The Initiation(1984)

    as Dwight Fairchild

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
  • Trancers(1984)

    as Mall Security Guard

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Mestin · as Mike Gann · as Ray Carter

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Cover Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Chattanooga Choo Choo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Sam

  • Airwolf(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Cullen Dixon

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows
  • Master Ninja (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mr. Christensen

  • The Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Christensen

  • Automan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Rudolph Brock

  • Masquerade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Doctor Bartlett

  • Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Eugene Hanson

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Fall Guy(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Col. Halston / Marv Jackson / Osborne

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows
  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Theo Wolf

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
  • Skyward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Steve Ward

  • Touched by Love(1980)

    as Don Fielder

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • The Gambler(1980)

    as Rufe Bennett

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • A Force of One(1979)

    as Dunne

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Lawman Without a Gun(1978)

    as Marvin Tayman

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Willa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Joe Welch

  • A Question of Love(1978)

    as Mike Guettner

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
  • Stickin' Together (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Cuda Weber

  • Ski Lift to Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Marv Gilman

  • King(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as William Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows
  • Black Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 5 episodes · as Reuben Smith

  • The Oregon Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Other Side of Midnight(1977)

    as Bill Fraser

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Once an Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 7 episodes · as Alvin Merrick

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Killer Who Wouldn't Die(1976)

    as Harry Keller

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Good Heavens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Terrence Devlin

  • Kate McShane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Brenner

  • Medical Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Harry Carlisle

  • Three for the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Khan! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Stranger Came by Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Glenn Mortenson

  • Hit Lady(1974)

    as Roarke

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Houston, We've Got a Problem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Lou Matthews

  • McQ(1974)

    as Toms

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Smile Jenny, You're Dead(1974)

    as Det. Milt Bosworth

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
  • Shaft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Chant of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Halliman

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Call to Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Emmet Jergens

  • Barnaby Jones(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Landy · as Sheriff Mack Hollister

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows
  • Mystery in Dracula's Castle(1973)

    as Keith Raynor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Molly and Lawless John(1972)

    as Deputy Tom Clements

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Rutledge

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

    as Jonas Kane

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bull of the West(1972)

    as Deputy Emmett Ryker

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • The Glass House(1972)

    as Brian Courtland

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
  • The Last Picture Show(1971)

    as Abilene

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 3 episodes · as B.J. Long

  • The Psychiatrist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Halloran

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

    Show 6 episodes · as Bob Hatten

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

    as Bob Hatten

  • Company of Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Frank Quinn

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Harold Robbins' The Survivors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 14 episodes · as Senator Mark Jennings

  • Winning(1969)

    as Larry

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • A Day with the Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Producer · Writer

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dustin Ellis

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Lambert · as Jack Gulley

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Danziger · as Rex Dakota · as Steve Heywood

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Lyle Foster

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • Sullivan's Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Juan Clemente

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Jack Brody

  • And Now Miguel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Johnny

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lyle Chernik

  • The Killers(1964)

    as Lee

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
  • Kraft Suspense Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Walsh

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy K. Bresson

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 115 episodes · as Emmett Ryker · as Jake Carewe

  • Five Fingers : The Temple of the Swinging Doll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Larry Dane

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Norman Gage

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

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Clinton

  • The Tall Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 75 episodes · as Billy the Kid

  • The Rebel(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Virgil Taber

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Law of the Plainsman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Truck Garnett

  • Laramie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Private Gil Brady

  • Riverboat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Beau Chandler

  • The Deputy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as The Drifter

  • Black Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Andy Meade

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Young Vix

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Collins

  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Diel · as Sam Spicer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • West Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bang the Drum Slowly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Coker

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Rod Collins · as Sailor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · as Keith Raynor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Lloyd Carpenter

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 142 titles from 1948 to 2019; peak year 1986.

Film career

19482019

Peak 1986 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 12 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
Acting141 of 142: 141 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting1 of 142: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 142: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 142: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s14 · acting1960s19 · 18 acting · 1 crew1970s47 · acting1980s35 · acting1990s14 · acting2000s5 · acting2010s7 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 4% of 27 roles
64798909

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 Clu Gulager's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 43rd percentile, the median of all 46; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 68 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th16

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 68 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned3
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed24

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles; fans 74, 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 Clu Gulager's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles38–93 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles27–73 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles38–92 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles30–61 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles15–77 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian 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 Clu Gulager work with?

People who share at least 2 of Clu Gulager's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Gulager shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles