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David Leisure

David Leisure

Actor · Born November 16, 1950 (75) · San Diego, California, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia David Russell Leisure (born November 16, 1950) is an American actor best known for his role as Charley Dietz in the sitcom Empty Nest from 1988 to 1995 and fictional (and "lying") automotive "pitch man" Joe Isuzu in a series of North American television commercials for Isuzu from 1986 to 1990, and again from 1999 to 2001. Additional television credits include Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, One on One, V.I.P., Diagnosis: Murder, The Parent 'Hood, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, For Your Love, Caroline in the City, The Wayans Bros., Touched by an Angel, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Renegade, The Golden Girls, Married... with Children, ALF, 227, T. J. Hooker, The Equalizer, Falcon Crest, Sledge Hammer, and Nurses. Leisure was born in San Diego and attended Grossmont High School in El Cajon, California. He went on to attend Grossmont College also in El Cajon and then to San Diego State University. Among his smaller roles, Leisure appeared as the "First Krishna" in the 1980 film Airplane! In 1999, he made a brief but memorable appearance in 10 Things I Hate About You as a high school soccer coach and detention monitor. More recently, falling back on his "Joe Isuzu" shtick, Leisure has been acting as a fictional and disreputable insurance lawyer in a series of commercials for various American personal-injury law firms. In different markets, different firms have licensed the footage and add in their own spokespeople and names. For much of the first quarter of 2009, Leisure appeared as Roger Wilkes on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless. As of July 2010, he is in a recurring role as Salem District Attorney Woods on Days of Our Lives. Leisure also provided the voice of Metus on the animated feature BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn. Description above from the Wikipedia article David Leisure, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 16, 1950 (75)
From
San Diego, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on Motif · 50 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 2% in 30 days

What are David Leisure's films like?

Across their 9 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 7th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 7th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their Motif 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
Bonds
41%
Morality
25%
Self
20%
Survival
10%
Society
4%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 7 · Serious 1 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 4 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 5 · Intense 0

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

A split, not a type: Steady 5 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 3 · 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 9 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Ally
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4
Mentor
1 of 4
Shapeshifter
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
4
Joyful
4
Tense
3
Absurd
3
Thrilling
2
Other
3

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy7
  • Ambiguous2

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 David Leisure's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 34 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Leisure's titles on Motif; 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

50 credits, 34 with a Motif page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Goldbergs(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Roger

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Sperm Donor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    as Maxwell

  • Bionicle: The Legend Reborn(2009)

    as Metus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Teed Off Too (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Your Golf Guide

  • Teed Off (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Your Golf Guide

  • Welcome To September (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Elliott Faydo

  • Elvis Has Left the Building(2004)

    as Hole-in-the-Head Elvis

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Dog: A Detective Tail(2003)

    as Dr. Vaughn

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Frank

  • Downward Angel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Charles

  • Behind the Seams (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Milos Breneschov

  • Dogmatic (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Pal Acres

  • 10 Things I Hate About You(1999)

    as Mr. Chapin

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure(1999)

    as Nick's Dad

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • V.I.P. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as DMV driving instructor

  • Fallout(1999)

    as Peter Colgrove

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Safari(1997)

    as Troy

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Perversions of Science (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as William Tilbrook

  • Nowhere(1997)

    as Egg and Ducky's Dad

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Outsider(1997)

    as Dr. Greenstreet

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Bermuda

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Caroline in the City(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Brady Bunch Movie(1995)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Parent 'Hood(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Wayans Bros.(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Bud Masada

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Councilman Hinkley

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die(1994)

    as Costumed Guest in Kitchen

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Burke's Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Stormy Gilliss

  • Count DeClues' Mystery Castle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as The Castle (Voice)

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Lenny Rosen

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Spencer Spencer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Renegade(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Derek Devlin / Mr. Success

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Dinosaurs(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Teddy Wolfe (voice)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Blossom(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme(1990)

    as Newscaster / Game Show Host

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Goddess of Love(1988)

    as Jimmy

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

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

    Show 170 episodes · as Charley Dietz

  • Perfect People (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as Derek

  • You Can't Hurry Love(1988)

    as Peter Newcomb

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Bink Winkleman

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Sledge Hammer!(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Guard Chester · as Officer Jackson

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • ALF(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Brandon Tartikoff

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Equalizer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Man in Restaurant (uncredited)

  • 227(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Dietz · as Oliver

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Airplane II: The Sequel(1982)

    as Religious Zealot

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Wait Until Dark (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Policeman

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Fairly

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Tuscany Valley Restaurant Waiter

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Airplane!(1980)

    as First Krishna

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 85th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 50 titles from 1980 to 2013; peak year 1981.

Biggest box office

Bionicle: The Legend Reborn (2009)

$4.9K worldwide

Highest rated

Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990)

Midcredits 80th

Most popular right now

Bionicle: The Legend Reborn (2009)

Film career

19802013

Peak 1981 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting50 of 50: 50 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score42nd

By decade

1980s15 · acting1990s24 · acting2000s9 · acting2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 5 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 Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do David Leisure's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 24th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 8th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

8thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

21stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 34 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure (1999)

96th percentile spread · 56% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Airplane! (1980)

Midcredits 95th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 36/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 59, detractors 26. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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.

Who does David Leisure work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Leisure's Motif titles; Irek Hartowicz shares the most, 2.