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Jack MacGowran

Jack MacGowran

Actor · Died January 30, 1973, aged 54 · Dublin, Ireland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. John Joseph "Jack" MacGowran (October 13, 1918 – January 31, 1973) was an Irish character actor, whose last film role was as the alcoholic director Burke Dennings in The Exorcist. He was probably best known for his work with Samuel Beckett. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jack MacGowran , licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 13, 1918
Died
January 30, 1973 (aged 54)
From
Dublin, Ireland
Works as
Actor
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 61 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 36% in 30 days

What are Jack MacGowran's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror 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
Bonds
23%
Morality
17%
Self
15%
Survival
15%
Society
13%
Power
11%
Ideas
6%
Family bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 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 7 · Serious 3 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 4 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 9 · Intense 4

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

A split, not a type: Steady 8 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 7

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 8 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 3

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 3

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 9 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 5 of 10 analyzed roles.

Trickster
5 of 10
Shadow
2 of 10
Mentor
2 of 10
Ally
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Absurd
6
Dread
6
Melancholic
6
Joyful
4
Other
14

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

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 Jack MacGowran's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jack MacGowran'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

61 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go(1974)

    as Leo Zimmerman

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Exorcist(1973)

    as Burke Dennings

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Shadow of a Gunman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Seumas Shields

  • Banacek(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Michele Lanier

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • King Lear(1971)

    as Fool

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • A Day at the Beach(1970)

    as Collector

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Start the Revolution Without Me(1970)

    as Jacques

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Age of Consent(1969)

    as Nat Kelly

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Wonderwall(1968)

    as Prof. Oscar Collins

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • There's a Hole in Your Dustbin, Delilah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as 'Cheese and Egg' C.E. Petty

  • The Champions(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Banner B. Banner

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Fearless Vampire Killers(1967)

    as Professor Abronsius

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • How I Won the War(1967)

    as Juniper

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Cheese & Egg [C.E.Petty]

  • Half Hour Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Alec

  • The Inn Way Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Irish Poet

  • Eh, Joe? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Joe

  • Cul-de-sac(1966)

    as Albie

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Stable Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Silent Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Brother Michael

  • Doctor Zhivago(1965)

    as Petya

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Trinculo

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Coates

  • Gideon's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as 'Happy' Roden

  • Young Cassidy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Archie

  • Lord Jim(1965)

    as Robinson

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Beginning to End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Man

  • Thursday Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Father

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Brother Michael

  • Theatre 625 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeremiah Hudson

  • The Ceremony(1963)

    as O'Brian

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Espionage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Matt Youghal

  • Tom Jones(1963)

    as Partridge

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Sergeant Cork (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Drummer

  • Zero One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Brain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Furber

  • Mix Me a Person(1962)

    as Terence

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Night Creatures(1962)

    as Frightened Man

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Two and Two Make Six (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Night Porter

  • Drama 61-67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Herbert Reynolds

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

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Poole

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Prior

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Armchair Mystery Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert Brady

  • Blind Date (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Postman

  • The Boy and the Bridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Market Porter

  • Darby O'Gill and the Little People(1959)

    as Phadrig Oge

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • I Captured the King of the Leprechauns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Phadrig Oge

  • The Giant Behemoth(1959)

    as Dr. Sampson, the paleontologist

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • She Didn't Say No! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as William Bates

  • Rooney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Joe O'Connor

  • Stowaway Girl(1957)

    as Tommy

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Overseas Press Club - Exclusive! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy Walsh

  • Sailor of Fortune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 22 episodes · as Sean · as Sean, Irish Deck Hand

  • The Rising of the Moon(1957)

    as Mickey J., The Poitín Maker (segment 'The Majesty of the Law')

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Jacqueline(1956)

    as Campbell

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Titfield Thunderbolt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Vernon Crump · as Vernon Crump (as Jack McGowran)

  • Terror on a Train(1953)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Gentle Gunman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Patsy McGuire

  • The Quiet Man(1952)

    as Ignatius Feeney

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • No Resting Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Billy Kyle

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 61 titles from 1951 to 1974; peak year 1966.

Biggest box office

The Exorcist (1973)

$431M worldwide

Highest rated

The Exorcist (1973)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

19511974

Peak 1966 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 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
Acting61 of 61: 61 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score65th

By decade

1950s18 · acting1960s36 · acting1970s7 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 12% of 17 roles
526267

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 Jack MacGowran's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go (1974)

69th percentile spread · 67% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Exorcist (1973)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 38. 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 Jack MacGowran's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles32–61 · median 33 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles20–53 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 14 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles31–42 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles16–78 · median 39 · 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 Jack MacGowran work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jack MacGowran's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Roman Polanski shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers