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Sylvester McCoy

Sylvester McCoy

Actor · Born August 20, 1943 (83) · Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

Sylvester McCoy (born Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith; 20 August 1943) is a Scottish actor and physical comedian. He is best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1987 to 1989—the final Doctor of the original run—and briefly returning in a television film in 1996. He is also known for his work as Radagast in The Hobbit film series (2012—2014).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 20, 1943 (83)
From
Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 108 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 156 days to Oct 27Up 19% in 30 days

What are Sylvester McCoy's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 5th percentile
: 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
26%
Survival
23%
Self
22%
Morality
13%
Society
9%
Ideas
4%
Power
3%
Survival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 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 3 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 5 · Intense 4

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

Steady 4 · 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 6 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

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 6 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 2 of 6 analyzed roles.

Mentor
2 of 6
Trickster
1 of 6
Threshold guardian
1 of 6
Ally
1 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Dread
6
Absurd
5
Thrilling
5
Melancholic
4
Other
8

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous3

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 Sylvester McCoy's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sylvester McCoy'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

108 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 27 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as The Doctor (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • The Heartsmith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Umbrella Man

  • Dead Before They Wake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Evan

  • Dr Who at the Proms 2024(2024)

    as The Doctor (7) (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Apocalypse Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Peter Mann

  • The Adventures of Sleepy The Magical Bear: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Knibbles the Beaver (voice)

  • Tales of the Tardis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as The Doctor

  • Necronomicon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Book Seller (archive footage)

  • Bug-Eyed Monsters Invade the Earth! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Klakk (voice)

  • The Munsters(2022)

    as Igor

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who: 24 Carat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as The Doctor

  • Lost at Christmas(2020)

    as Ernie

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Owners(2020)

    as Richard Huggins

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Conjuring: The Book of the Dead(2020)

    as Book Seller (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Circuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • The Doctors: The Sylvester McCoy Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Hangover in Death Valley(2018)

    as General Zwick (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Doctors: Monsters! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Henry

  • Slumber(2017)

    as Amado

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Zapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lord Protector

  • Punk Strut: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as DJ

  • Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as The Doctor (7) (picture) (uncredited)

  • Thunderbirds Are Go(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Aezethril the Wizard (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies(2014)

    as Radagast the Brown

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Seventeenth Kind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Rusty

  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug(2013)

    as Radagast the Brown

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as The Doctor (7) (archive footage)

  • The Christmas Candle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Edward Haddington

  • Father Brown(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Angus McClurgy

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey(2012)

    as Radagast the Brown

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Inspector Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Uncle Roderick

  • Eldorado(2012)

    as General Zwick

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who: Tales Lost in Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • The Last Chance Saloon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • The Name'sh McCoy Shylveshter McCoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • Doctor Who: The Next Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as The Doctor (7) (archive footage)

  • King Lear(2008)

    as The Fool

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Davros Connections (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as (archival footage)

  • The Gil Mayo Mysteries(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Beaver

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Manilla Envelopes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Duncan

  • Doctor Who Confidential (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • The Story of Doctor Who (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • My Doctor Who Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Still Game(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Doctor Who: Death Comes to Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as The Doctor

  • Then & Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Do You Have a Licence to Save this Planet? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as The Foot Doctor

  • The Mumbo Jumbo(2000)

    as Mr. Tallman

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • You: Story and Glory of a Masterpiece (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Museum attendant / Vasilij Grossman

  • Where on Earth Is Katy Manning? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mr, Dowling

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Beyond Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Michael Samms

  • Spellbreaker: Secret of the Leprechauns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Flynn

  • Doctor Who: The Movie(1996)

    as The Doctor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Bidding Adieu: A Video Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Camera Operator · as Self

  • I Was a Doctor Who Monster! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Presenter

  • Ghostlands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Edward Parfitt

  • The Doctors: 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Leapin' Leprechauns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Flynn

  • Stranger than Fiction 2: From Script to Screen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • PROBE: The Zero Imperative (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Dr. Colin Dove

  • Stranger than Fiction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Police 5: The Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as The Doctor (archive footage)

  • Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as The 7th Doctor

  • Frank Stubbs Promotes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Angus

  • The Airzone Solution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Anthony Stanwick

  • The Children's Royal Variety Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as The Wizard

  • The PanoptiCon Tapes Vol 1 - The Main Event (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Thrill Kill Video Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Spoons

  • Search Out Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as The Doctor

  • The PanoptiCon Tapes V (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • The PanoptiCon Tapes IV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • The PanoptiCon Tapes III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • The PanoptiCon Tapes II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Doctor Who: Survival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: Ghost Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: Battlefield (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: Silver Nemesis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as The Doctor

  • The Making of Doctor Who: Silver Nemesis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: Dragonfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: Paradise Towers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as The Doctor

  • Doctor Who: Time and the Rani (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as The Doctor

  • Three Kinds of Heat(1987)

    as Harry Pimm

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • It's Wicked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Doctor Who Then & Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor Who

  • The PanoptiCon Tapes VI (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Ashley Millington · as Kev the Rev

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Place on Earth(1985)

    Show 7 episodes · as Lt. 'Birdie' Bowers

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dramarama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Donald

  • Big Jim and the Figaro Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 5 episodes · as Turps

  • Electric in the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Kerwin

  • The Secret Policeman's Ball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Various Roles

  • Dracula(1979)

    as Walter

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Big Jim and the Figaro Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Turps

  • For the Love of Albert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Kerwin

  • Tiswas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 302 episodes · Actor

  • Vision On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 121 episodes · Actor

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 42 episodes · as The Doctor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Bananacide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Dr. Brunswick

  • Sylvester: Who's the Real McCoy? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer · as Self

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 108 titles, 106 of them dated from 1963 to 2025; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

$1B worldwide

Highest rated

The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (2013)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19632025

Peak 2013 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 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
Acting106 of 108: 106 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thDirecting1 of 108: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 108: 1 only producing, 0 with another roleOther crew1 of 108: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1960s2 · acting1970s6 · acting1980s23 · acting1990s25 · 24 acting · 1 crew2000s14 · acting2010s22 · acting2020s14 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
7914

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 Sylvester McCoy's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 20th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 22nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

22ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

The Mumbo Jumbo (2000)

92nd percentile spread · 60% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Dr Who at the Proms 2024 (2024)

Midcredits 96th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 43. 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 Sylvester McCoy's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles39–67 · median 52 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles9–29 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 16 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 35 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian 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 Sylvester McCoy work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sylvester McCoy's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Madsen shares the most, 2.

Actors