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Ed McMahon

Ed McMahon

Actor · Died June 23, 2009, aged 86 · Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Edward Leo Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. (March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009) was an American comedian, game show host and announcer. He is most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's announcer and sidekick on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. He also hosted the original version of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995. He co-hosted TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes with Dick Clark from 1982 to 1986. He also presented sweepstakes for the direct marketing company American Family Publishers (not, as is commonly believed, its main rival Publishers Clearing House). McMahon annually co-hosted the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. He performed in numerous television commercials, most notably for Budweiser. In the 1970s and 1980s, he anchored the team of NBC personalities conducting the network's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. McMahon appeared in several films, including The Incident, Fun With Dick and Jane, Full Moon High, and Butterfly, as well as briefly in the film version of Bewitched. According to Entertainment Weekly, McMahon is considered one of the greatest "sidekicks".

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 6, 1923
Died
June 23, 2009 (aged 86)
From
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Works as
Actor
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 68 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 65 days to Oct 28Down 35% in 30 days

What are Ed McMahon's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Music2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Music 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
Self
32%
Society
20%
Bonds
15%
Morality
11%
Power
10%
Survival
8%
Ideas
4%
Community4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 6 · 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 12 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Shadow
1 of 3
Shapeshifter
1 of 3
Mentor
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
7
Joyful
6
Tense
4
Absurd
3
Melancholic
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet5
  • 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 Ed McMahon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ed McMahon'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

68 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 55 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator

  • The Best of The Tonight Show: Stand - Up Comedians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • The Best of Carson, Volume 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Carson Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Jamie Kennedy's Blowin' Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bewitched(2005)

    as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Higglytown Heroes(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Alf's Hit Talk Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • The Ultimate Collection Starring Johnny Carson - The Best of the 60s and 70s (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • That '80s Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Popular (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Vegas Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Al Ross

  • Safety Patrol(1998)

    as Grandpa Bozell

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories: The Movie III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Ed McMahon

  • Cow and Chicken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Governor #1 / Eugene Oregon / Beaver #5 (voice)

  • The Tom Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 38 episodes · as Charles 'Charlie' Dickerson

  • I Am Weasel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Governor #1 / Eugene Oregon / Beaver #5 (voice)

  • Just Shoot Me!(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Just Write(1997)

    as Luncheon Chairman

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Bruno the Kid(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Suddenly Susan(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Malcolm & Eddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pinky and the Brain(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Hank Whittaker

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Adventures in Wonderland(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Nurses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Baywatch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Roseanne(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Live with Kelly and Mark(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Sidewalks Entertainment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Full House(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • ALF(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed McMahon

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Puttin' on the Hits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · as Host

  • Newhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Butterfly(1981)

    as Mr. Gillespie

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Nashville Palace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Full Moon High(1981)

    as Dad - Col. William P. Walker

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Star Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Lou Parker

  • Gridlock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Henry Sherman

  • The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story(1980)

    as Marvin 'Marv' Jordan

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Kid from Left Field(1979)

    as Fred Walker

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Legends of the Superheroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Host

  • Good Old Days Part II(1978)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lucy Calls the President(1977)

    as Floyd Whittaker

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Last Remake of Beau Geste(1977)

    as Arab Horseman

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Fun with Dick and Jane(1977)

    as Charlie Blanchard

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Jacksons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as El mismo

  • The Sonny and Cher Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Lamont Franklin

  • Slaughter's Big Rip-Off(1973)

    as Duncan

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Swing Out, Sweet Land(1970)

    as Narrator (voice) / Bartender

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Here's Lucy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ed McMahon

  • The Incident(1967)

    as Bill Wilks

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Snap Judgment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Host

  • Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music Part II(1966)

    as Program Announcer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

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

    Show 273 episodes · as Host

  • Dementia(1955)

    as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Two for the Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 83rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 68 titles from 1948 to 2008; peak year 1976.

Biggest box office

Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's (1997)

$19K worldwide

Highest rated

The Incident (1967)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)

Film career

19482008

Peak 1976 · 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
Acting68 of 68: 68 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score48th

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s3 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s12 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s12 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 7 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 Ed McMahon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 33 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story (1980)

97th percentile spread · 64% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music Part II (1966)

Midcredits 97th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 70, 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.

Who does Ed McMahon work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ed McMahon's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Don Rickles shares the most, 2.

Actors

Editors

Producers