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Jean Hersholt

Jean Hersholt

Actor · Died June 2, 1956, aged 69 · Copenhagen, Denmark

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jean Pierre Hersholt (12 July 1886 – 2 June 1956) was a Danish-born actor who lived in the United States, where he was a leading film and radio talent, best known for his 17 years starring on radio in Dr. Christian and for playing Shirley Temple's grandfather in Heidi. Asked how to pronounce his name, he told The Literary Digest, "In English, her'sholt; in Danish, hairs'hult." Of his total credits, 75 were silent films and 65 were sound films. He appeared in 140 films and directed four.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 10, 1886
Died
June 2, 1956 (aged 69)
From
Copenhagen, Denmark
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 131 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 42% in 30 days

What are Jean Hersholt's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure 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
Morality
35%
Bonds
33%
Power
13%
Self
11%
Society
4%
Survival
3%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 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 17 · Serious 8 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 11 · Charged 14 · Intense 7

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 22 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 1

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 18 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 5

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

Resolved 30 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

23 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 14 of 23 analyzed roles.

Mentor
14 of 23
Shadow
4 of 23
Hero
3 of 23
Threshold guardian
1 of 23
Herald
1 of 23
Show the 23 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
14
Romantic
11
Warm
10
Joyful
7
Other
20

How their films linger

Feel-good16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy20
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Jean Hersholt's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jean Hersholt'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

131 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Run for Cover(1955)

    as Mr. Swenson

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Dancing in the Dark(1949)

    as Jean Hersholt

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • To the People of the United States (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Colonel Jensen - Medical Corps

  • Stage Door Canteen(1943)

    as Jean Hersholt

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Actor

  • They Meet Again(1941)

    as Doctor Paul Christian

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Melody for Three(1941)

    as Doctor Paul Christian

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Remedy for Riches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Doctor Paul Christian

  • Dr. Christian Meets the Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Doctor Paul Christian

  • The Courageous Dr. Christian(1940)

    as Doctor Paul Christian

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Meet Dr. Christian(1939)

    as Doctor Paul Christian

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Moto in Danger Island(1939)

    as Mr. Sutter

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Five of a Kind(1938)

    as Dr. John Luke

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • I'll Give a Million(1938)

    as Victor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Alexander's Ragtime Band(1938)

    as Prof. Heinrich

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Happy Landing(1938)

    as Lars Ericksen

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Heidi(1937)

    as Adolph Kramer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Seventh Heaven(1937)

    as Father Chevillon

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • One in a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Heinrich Muller

  • Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dr. John Luke

  • His Brother's Wife(1936)

    as Professor 'Pop' Fahrenheim

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Sins of Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Christopher Freyman

  • The Country Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dr. John Luke

  • Tough Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dr. Mulback

  • Break of Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Professor Thalma

  • Murder in the Fleet(1935)

    as Victor Hanson

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Mark of the Vampire(1935)

    as Baron Otto

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Painted Veil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Herr Koerber

  • The Fountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Baron von Leyden

  • Men in White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Dr. Hochberg

  • The Cat and the Fiddle(1934)

    as Professor Bertier

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Dinner at Eight(1933)

    as Jo Stengel

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Christopher Bean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Rosen

  • Song of the Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Otto Hoffman

  • The Crime of the Century(1933)

    as Dr. Emil Brandt

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mr. Herman

  • The Mask of Fu Manchu(1932)

    as Von Berg

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Grand Hotel(1932)

    as Senf

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Hearts of Humanity(1932)

    as Sol Bloom

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Skyscraper Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jake

  • Unashamed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mr. Schmidt

  • New Morals for Old (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as James Hallett

  • Night Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Herman the Janitor

  • Are You Listening? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as George Wagner

  • The Beast of the City(1932)

    as Samuel "Sam" Belmonte

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Emma(1932)

    as Frederick Smith

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Private Lives(1931)

    as Oscar

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Sin of Madelon Claudet(1931)

    as Dr. Dulac

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)(1931)

    as Karl Ohlin

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Phantom of Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Herman

  • Transatlantic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Rudolph aka Jed Kramer

  • Daybreak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Herr Schnabel

  • Viennese Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Herr Hofner, Elsa's Father

  • The Third Alarm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Frank 'Dad' Morton

  • The Cat Creeps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Dr. Patterson

  • East Is West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Man

  • Hell Harbor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Joseph Horngold

  • Mamba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as August Bolte (Mamba)

  • The Case of Sergeant Grischa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Posnanski

  • The Climax (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Luigi Golfanti

  • Modern Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as François Renault

  • The Younger Generation(1929)

    as Julius Goldfish - Pa

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Girl on the Barge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as McCadden

  • Give and Take (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as John Bauer

  • Jazz Mad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Franz Hausmann

  • The Battle of the Sexes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as William Judson

  • Abie's Irish Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Solomon Levy

  • The Secret Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Tony

  • The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Dr. Jüttner

  • 13 Washington Square (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as 'Deacon' Pyecroft

  • Alias The Deacon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as George Caswell or The Deacon

  • The Wrong Mr. Wright (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Seymour White

  • The Old Soak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Clement Hawley, Sr.

  • Flames (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Ole Bergson

  • It Must Be Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Pop Schmidt

  • My Old Dutch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as 'Erb 'Uggins

  • The Greater Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Gustav Schmidt

  • Stella Dallas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Ed Munn

  • A Woman's Faith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Jules Cluny

  • Don Q Son of Zorro(1925)

    as Don Fabrique Borusta

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Fifth Avenue Models (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Mr. Jones - a Crook

  • Dangerous Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Gilchrist

  • So Big (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Aug Hempel

  • Cheap Kisses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Gustaf Borgstrom

  • Greed(1924)

    as Marcus

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Her Night of Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Joe Diamond

  • Sinners in Silk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Dr. Eustace

  • The Woman on the Jury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Jury Foreman

  • The Goldfish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Herman Krauss

  • The City of Stars: A Reporters Visit to the Universal Studios (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Actor

  • Torment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Boris

  • Red Lights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Ezra Carson

  • Quicksands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Ring Member

  • Jazzmania(1923)

    as Prince Otto of Como

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Strangers' Banquet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Fiend

  • Tess of the Storm Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Ben Letts

  • Heart's Haven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Henry Bird

  • Golden Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Assistant Director

  • When Romance Rides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Joel Creech

  • The Man Of The Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Lem Beasley

  • A Certain Rich Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Adrian Brownwell

  • The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse(1921)

    as Prof. von Hartrott (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Servant in the House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Manson, The Servant in the House

  • The Deceiver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director · Actor

  • Merely Mary Ann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Stranger

  • The Golden Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director · as Harry Teal

  • The Red Lane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Vetal Beaulieu

  • Love's Prisoner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

  • Whom the Gods Would Destroy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Actor

  • The Answer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Shepard

  • Little Red Decides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Sour Milk

  • Madame Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Count Von Ornstorff

  • Princess Virtue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Emile Carre

  • '49 – '17 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as 'Gentleman Jim' Raynor

  • A Stormy Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Dr. Fraser

  • The Soul Herder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as The Minister

  • Southern Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Caleb Talbot

  • The Clash of Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Prince Feodor

  • Perils of the Secret Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Prince Feodor (Episode #2)

  • The Saintly Sinner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Undetermined Role

  • The Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Jimm, the Dope

  • Love Aflame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Reginald

  • Fighting for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Ferdinand

  • Black Orchids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Actor

  • Kinkaid, Gambler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Actor

  • The Aryan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as (uncredited)

  • Bullets and Brown Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Actor

  • Hell's Hinges(1916)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Disciple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Mob Member

  • Never Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Actor

  • A New Hat for the Madam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1906)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 131 titles from 1906 to 1955.

Biggest box office

Grand Hotel (1932)

$1.4K worldwide

Highest rated

Greed (1924)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931)

Film career

Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting130 of 131: 128 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndDirecting2 of 131: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 131: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1900s1 · acting1910s23 · acting1920s47 · 46 acting · 3 crew1930s50 · acting1940s9 · acting1950s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles

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.

How do Jean Hersholt's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 34; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Jazzmania (1923)

91st percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Greed (1924)

Midcredits 94th · 80% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 31 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.

Is Jean Hersholt's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 19 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Jean Hersholt work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jean Hersholt's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William Axt shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles