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Brian Kerwin

Brian Kerwin

Actor · Born October 25, 1949 (77) · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Brian Kerwin (born October 25, 1949) is an American actor. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Kerwin won the Theatre World Award in 1988 for the off-Broadway play Emily. His Broadway theatre credits include the 1997 revival of The Little Foxes and the Elaine May comedy After the Night and the Music in 2005. That same year he starred in Edward Albee's The Goat or Who is Sylvia? at the Mark Taper Forum and played Nick in a highly praised revival of Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Glenda Jackson and John Lithgow. He also played opposite Kathy Baker in the South Coast Repertory production of The Man from Nebraska in 2006. His most recent stage appearance was in the Broadway production August: Osage County. Kerwin's feature films include Murphy's Romance, Hard Promises, 27 Dresses (as Katherine Heigl's character's father), Torch Song Trilogy, Love Field, Jack, King Kong Lives, The Myth of Fingerprints, and Debating Robert Lee. Kerwin has enjoyed an extensive career in television, beginning with the daytime serial The Young and the Restless in 1976. In addition to many television movies, his credits include a regular role on the Showtime series Beggars and Choosers, recurring roles on The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, The Chisholms (four 1979 episodes as Gideon Chisholm), Roseanne, The West Wing, Nip/Tuck and Big Love and guest appearances in The Love Boat, Simon & Simon, Highway to Heaven, Murder, She Wrote, St. Elsewhere, Frasier, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Boston Legal, Medium, Without a Trace, and Desperate Housewives. In 2007, he joined the cast of the soap opera One Life to Live. Brian was also in a television movie with Michelle Pfeiffer called Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson. He played her married lover. His name was spelled Brain Kerwin in the credits. Kerwin has been married to Jeanne Marie Troy since September 2, 1990. They have three children, Finn, Matilda, and Brennan. The family lives in New York City. Description above from the Wikipedia article Brian Kerwin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 25, 1949 (77)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
47 on MovieCove · 80 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 63 days to Oct 26Down 34% in 30 days

What are Brian Kerwin's films like?

Across their 24 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 9th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th 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
Self
32%
Bonds
31%
Morality
15%
Survival
11%
Society
8%
Ideas
3%
Power
1%
Family bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 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 10 · Serious 9 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 19 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 12 · Charged 7 · Intense 4

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

Steady 18 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

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 10 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 4

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 9 · 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 20 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 9 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 10 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 10
Shadow
4 of 10
Hero
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Hopeful
11
Warm
10
Tense
7
Melancholic
8
Bittersweet
6
Other
20

How their films linger

Hopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

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 Brian Kerwin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 47 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Brian Kerwin'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

80 credits, 47 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Addiction: A 60's Love Story(2015)

    as Irv Bornstein

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Hindsight(2015)

    Show as Lincoln

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Knick(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Corky

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Are You Joking?(2014)

    as Sandy

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Cooper

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Client List(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Garrett Landry

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • The Help(2011)

    as Robert Phelan

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • 27 Dresses(2008)

    as Hal Nichols

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Big Love(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Exonerated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Cop #2

  • Close to Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Lee Towers

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Holden McKee

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Nathan Bradley

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Boston Legal(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Fleming

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Harvey Bigsby

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman(2004)

    as Nathan Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Debating Robert Lee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Gary Mann

  • Nip/Tuck(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · as Eugene Alderman

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Randall Parker

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Glazer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Leslie Campbell

  • Common Ground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Chuck Dawson

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ben Dryer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Evan Ramsey · as Roger Murray · as Stanley Billings

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Beggars and Choosers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 42 episodes · as Rob Malone

  • The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer(1999)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Hunt For The Unicorn Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Giving Up the Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Kevin

  • Mr. Jealousy(1997)

    as Stephen

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Flash(1997)

    as David Strong

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Myth of Fingerprints(1997)

    as Elliot

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Volcano: Fire on the Mountain(1997)

    as Buck Adams

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Unlikely Angel(1996)

    as Ben Bartilson

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Dear Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Tom

  • Critical Choices (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Rev. Bobby Ray Flood

  • Jack(1996)

    as Brian Powell

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Getting Away with Murder(1996)

    as Marty Lambert

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Sins of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Joey Finn

  • It Came from Outer Space II(1996)

    as Jack Putnam

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain(1995)

    as Matt Hollinger

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Abandoned and Deceived (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Doug

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bob

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Angel Falls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 6 episodes · as Eli Harrison

  • Love Field(1992)

    as Ray Hallett

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Spies, Inc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Jim

  • Hard Promises(1991)

    as Walt

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore(1992)

    as Jack Adkins

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Switched at Birth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Robert Mays

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Ted Weldon

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Challenger(1990)

    as Captain Michael J. Smith

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Donald

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Torch Song Trilogy(1988)

    as Ed Reese

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Roseanne(1988)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Bluegrass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dancy Cutler

  • Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Hal Graham

  • King Kong Lives(1986)

    as Hank Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Murphy's Romance(1985)

    as Bobby Jack Moriarty

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Wet Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Ben Keating, the Diver

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Andy Townsend

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Nickel Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as George

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor Winters

  • Intimate Agony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Nick Todd

  • The Tragedy of King Lear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Miss All-American Beauty(1982)

    as Michael Carrington

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Blue and the Gray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · as Malachy Hale

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · as Terence O'Casey

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Getting Wasted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Brad

  • The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 37 episodes · as Birdie Hawkins

  • The Paradise Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Bruce Douglas

  • The Chisholms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as Gideon Chisholm

  • B. J. and the Bear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hometown U.S.A.(1979)

    as T. J. Swackhammer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • A Real American Hero(1978)

    as Til Johnson

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hank Austin · as Ted Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Logan's Run(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Patrick

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Battle of the Network Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Hal Graham

  • One Life to Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 3,742 episodes · as Charlie Banks

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 79 titles from 1968 to 2015; peak year 1985.

Biggest box office

27 Dresses (2008)

$163M worldwide

Highest rated

Torch Song Trilogy (1988)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

27 Dresses (2008)

Film career

19682015

Peak 1985 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting79 of 79: 79 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s10 · acting1980s19 · acting1990s28 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s6 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 10 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 Brian Kerwin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 25; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 47 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 47 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Are You Joking? (2014)

83rd percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Help (2011)

Midcredits 98th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 45. 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 Brian Kerwin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 4 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 18 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles34–41 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 17 · mildMedian 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 Brian Kerwin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Brian Kerwin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Diane Lane shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers