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Ken Lerner

Ken Lerner

Actor · Born May 27, 1948 (78) · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Kenneth Lerner (born May 27, 1948) is an American television, stage and film actor. He is known for playing Principal Flutie in the first episodes of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and earlier roles on Happy Days, along with numerous film and television guest-starring roles.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 27, 1948 (78)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
74 on MovieCove · 104 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 64 days to Oct 27Down 11% in 30 days

What are Ken Lerner's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 11th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
31%
Bonds
30%
Self
21%
Survival
9%
Power
5%
Society
4%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 6 · Serious 5 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 8 · Intense 4

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

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 7 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 8 · 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 9 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Absurd
5
Dread
3
Thrilling
5
Warm
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet8
  • 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 Ken Lerner's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 53 of their 74 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ken Lerner'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

104 credits, 74 with a MovieCove page.

  • DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Zilber

  • Gravesend(2020)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Liza on Demand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Seymour

  • Bayou Caviar(2018)

    as Shlomo

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Marlon(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Pepper

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • This Is Us(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Brandon Novak

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • American Crime Story(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Howard Weitzman

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Grace and Frankie(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Elliott

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Silicon Valley(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Arthur

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Goldbergs(2013)

    Show 29 episodes · as Lou Schwartz

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Anger Management(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • Glory Daze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Rabbi Shapiro

  • The League(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Rabbi

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Castle(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Attorney

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • In Plain Sight(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Hal Alpert

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Big Bang Theory(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Schneider

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing(2006)

    as Phil

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • All In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Rosenbloom

  • Jesus, Mary and Joey(2005)

    as Saulley

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Abraham Schlichter

  • Weeds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Rabbi

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Boston Legal(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Howard Bridge

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Bernstein

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Mafioso: The Father The Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Sid Freeman

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert Hencheck

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Two and a Half Men(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Levine

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Happy Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick

  • National Security(2003)

    as Hank's Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Ron Forsythe

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. James

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • They Crawl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Coroner Glen

  • Perfect Lover(2001)

    as Rosen

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Michael Richards Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mulligan

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Nivens

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Story of Us(1999)

    as Dr. Rifkin

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Congressman Marino

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Two Guys and a Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Officer

  • Senseless(1998)

    as Dean Barlow

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Don King: Only in America(1997)

    as Bob Arum

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • High Voltage(1997)

    as Justice of the Peace

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Attorney Dick Raditz

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as The Criminalist

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 4 episodes · as Principal Flutie

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Rabbi Sam Benzig

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Inside Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Judge Levin

  • EZ Streets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dead Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Producer

  • Trial by Fire(1995)

    as Earl Cleaver

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as James Reid

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Rave Review (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Saul Slobin

  • The Drew Carey Show(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Feinstein

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Dream a Little Dream 2(1995)

    as James

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Bodily Harm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Alex Shaw

  • For Better or Worse(1995)

    as Sgt. Moss

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes(1994)

    as Al Rosenberg

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Friends(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Spafford

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Sid Lumsky

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Stopak · as Stan Siedel

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 7 episodes · as Jonathan Saunders

  • Fast Getaway II(1994)

    as Tony Bush

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Saul Singer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Mother's Boys(1993)

    as Analyst

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Cafe Americain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Rieder

  • Fallen Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Sid Weinberg

  • A Twist of the Knife(1993)

    as Bristol

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Unlawful Entry(1992)

    as Roger Graham

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Diary of a Hitman(1991)

    as Optometrist

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Doctor(1991)

    as Pete

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Fast Getaway(1991)

    as Tony Bush

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jerry Korman

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • The Exorcist III(1990)

    as Dr. Freedman

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Blossom(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • RoboCop 2(1990)

    as Delaney

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Immediate Family(1989)

    as Josh

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Fabulous Baker Boys(1989)

    as Ray

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Relentless(1989)

    as Arthur

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Hit List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Gravenstein

  • Maniac Cop(1988)

    as Mayor Jerry Killium (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Running Man(1987)

    as Agent

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Project X(1987)

    as Finley

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Miracles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Stuart

  • Jake Speed(1986)

    as Ken

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Nolan Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Love on the Run(1985)

    as Aaron

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Secret Admirer(1985)

    as Waiter

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Irreconcilable Differences(1984)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Howard Nelson

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Best Kept Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Lawyer

  • Family Ties(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Feinman

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Million Dollar Infield(1982)

    as Long Island Bucks Player

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Any Which Way You Can(1980)

    as Tony Paoli Jr.

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Gas Pump Girls(1979)

    as Peewee

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Last Resort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 16 episodes · as Dentist

  • The Two-Five (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Desk Officer

  • Grand Theft Auto(1977)

    as Eagle I

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Hot Tomorrows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Michael

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

    Show 1 episode · as Walter Neff

  • Omi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Rabbi Avrum Meyersohn

  • Peep Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry Burton

  • The Auschwitz Bagel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Rabbi

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 103 titles, 100 of them dated from 1971 to 2022; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

Unlawful Entry (1992)

$57M worldwide

Highest rated

Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing (2006)

Midcredits 84th

Film career

19712022

Peak 1990 · 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.

  • 1977Screen debut· Grand Theft Auto
  • 2006Career best· Undisputed II: Last Man Standing

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting103 of 103: 103 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score49th

By decade

1970s6 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s40 · acting2000s23 · acting2010s9 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 14th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
7792

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 Ken Lerner's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 37th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 29th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 74 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th23
  • Below 25th15

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 74 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · actor

Gravesend (2020)

95th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Midcredits 93rd · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 37. 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 Ken Lerner's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles32–90 · median 51 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles31–60 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles43–90 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles18–81 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Ken Lerner work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ken Lerner's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paul Hertzberg shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles