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D'Urville Martin

D'Urville Martin

Actor, also director and producer · Died May 28, 1984, aged 45 · New York City, New York

D'Urville Martin (February 11, 1939 – May 28, 1984) was an American actor and director in both film and television. He appeared with regularity in numerous 1970s movies in the blaxploitation genre of films. Born in New York City, D'urville began his career in the mid 1960s, soon becoming a prominent recurring figure in the genre. Martin acted in several movies of the time, including Black Like Me and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Among his partners was the famous blaxploitation actor Fred “The Hammer” Williamson, playing his partner Toby in the Black Charley. Martin also directed films in his career, including Dolemite, starring Rudy Ray Moore. His career ended in 1984 with a heart attack at age 45 likely caused by his hard-partying lifestyle.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 11, 1939
Died
May 28, 1984 (aged 45)
From
New York City, New York
Works as
Actor, also director and producer
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 25 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 27

What are D'Urville Martin's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Power and Morality.

Genres

Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy 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
Power
35%
Morality
29%
Bonds
15%
Self
11%
Survival
6%
Society
5%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 6

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 9 · 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 6 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 9 · 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 3 · Full focus 0

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 6 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 1

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 8
Shadow
3 of 8
Mentor
1 of 8
Trickster
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Thrilling
8
Absurd
4
Joyful
2
Melancholic
3
Other
6

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic2
  • 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 D'Urville Martin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for D'Urville Martin'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

25 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Bear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Billy

  • The Big Score (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Easy

  • Blind Rage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Willie Black

  • The Human Tornado(1976)

    Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Disco 9000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director

  • Death Journey(1976)

    as Gas Station Attendant

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Boss Nigger(1974)

    as Amos

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Dolemite(1975)

    Director · as Willie Green

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • 'Sheba, Baby'(1975)

    as Pilot

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Hell Up in Harlem(1973)

    as Reverend Rufus

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Five on the Black Hand Side(1973)

    as Booker T.

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Soul of Nigger Charley(1973)

    as Toby

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Book of Numbers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Billy Bowlegs

  • Black Caesar(1973)

    as Rev. Rufus

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Hammer(1972)

    as Sonny

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Final Comedown(1972)

    Associate Producer · as Billy Joe Ashley

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Nigger Charley(1972)

    as Toby

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Watermelon Man(1970)

    as Bus Driver

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Carlton

  • A Time to Sing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Luke Harper

  • Rosemary's Baby(1968)

    as Diego

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Guess Who's Coming to Dinner(1967)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Casey

  • The Monkees(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as The Champ

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Black Like Me(1964)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 25 titles from 1964 to 1984; peak year 1975.

Highest rated

Watermelon Man (1970)

Midcredits 70th

Most popular right now

'Sheba, Baby' (1975)

Film career

19641984

Peak 1975 · at the high point of their film career. 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
Acting23 of 25: 21 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndDirecting2 of 25: 1 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 25: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 25: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s7 · acting1970s16 · 14 acting · 4 crew1980s2 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 8 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 D'Urville Martin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 17 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

The Soul of Nigger Charley (1973)

90th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 35. 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 D'Urville Martin's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 69 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 61 · intenseMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 90 · severeMedian of all films: 36

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

Who does D'Urville Martin work with?

People who share at least 2 of D'Urville Martin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Fred Williamson shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers