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Gary Merrill

Gary Merrill

Actor · Died March 5, 1990, aged 74 · Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Gary Fred Merrill (August 2, 1915 – March 5, 1990) was an American film and television character actor whose credits included more than fifty feature films, a half-dozen mostly short-lived TV series, and dozens of television guest appearances. Description above from the Wikipedia article Gary Merrill, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 2, 1915
Died
March 5, 1990 (aged 74)
From
Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
41 on Motif · 95 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 8% in 30 days

What are Gary Merrill's films like?

Across their 28 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Motif score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Motif score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Motif score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Motif score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Sci-Fi3 titlesTypical Motif score: 29th percentile
: browse their Sci-Fi movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
26%
Self
19%
Bonds
16%
Survival
15%
Society
13%
Power
7%
Ideas
4%
Survival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 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 10 · Serious 9 · Dark 9

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 17 · Intense 5

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 16 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 11 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 4 of 16 analyzed roles.

Mentor
4 of 16
Threshold guardian
3 of 16
Shadow
3 of 16
Ally
3 of 16
Hero
1 of 16
Herald
1 of 16
Trickster
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Melancholic
11
Dread
7
Warm
6
Hopeful
5
Other
25

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet13
  • Ambiguous4

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 Gary Merrill's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 41 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gary Merrill's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

95 credits, 41 with a Motif page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Littlest Hobo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Willie Brogan

  • The Seekers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Capt. Hull

  • World of Darkness (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    as Dr. Thomas Madsen

  • Thieves(1977)

    as Street Man

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Zodiac Murders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Movin' On (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Huckleberry Finn(1974)

    as Pap

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Murder and the Computer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Gordon Craig

  • The Murderers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Pueblo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Adm. Thomas E. Moorer

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Hoyle

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Earth II(1971)

    as Walter Dietrich

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Young Dr. Kildare (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 24 episodes · as Dr. Leonard Gillespie

  • Cannon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Secret of the Sacred Forest (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    as Mike Parks

  • Medical Center (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Orlando 'Cord' Corday

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Loving Badly (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Then Came Bronson (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Inspector Otis

  • Run, Psycho, Run (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as George Dennison

  • The Power(1968)

    as Mark Corlane

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Clambake(1967)

    as Sam Burton

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Incident(1967)

    as Douglas McCann

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Hondo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Hondo and the Apaches(1967)

    as General Philip Sheridan

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Last Challenge(1967)

    as Squint Calloway

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones(1966)

    as Marshal Duncan

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Time Tunnel(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Senator Leroy Clark

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Destination Inner Space(1966)

    as Dr. LaSatier

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films

  • In Search of Hart Crane (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Atomic Power Today: Service with Safety (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Narrator

  • Ride Beyond Vengeance(1966)

    as Dub Stokes

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Around the World Under the Sea(1966)

    as Dr. August 'Gus' Boren

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Catacombs (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Raymond Garth

  • Branded (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Profiles in Courage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as John Marshall

  • Reporter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • The Searching Eye (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Narrator

  • Kraft Suspense Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Jordan

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Outer Limits(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. James Hamilton / Major Roger Brothers

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Paragon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as John Pemberton

  • A Girl Named Tamiko(1962)

    as Max Wilson

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Combat!(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Capt. August

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Jarvis · as John Pemberton

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Sam Benedict (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mysterious Island(1961)

    as Gideon Spilitt

    Motif score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The New Breed (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Karl Lippert

  • Ben Casey (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bus Stop (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Pleasure of His Company(1961)

    as James Dougherty

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Great Impostor(1960)

    as Pa Demara

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 27 episodes · as Narrator

  • Outlaws (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Savage Eye(1959)

    as The Poet

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Rhapsody of Steel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Wonderful Country(1959)

    as Major Colton

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Joseph Paradine

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Laramie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • New York Confidential (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Crash Landing (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Captain Steve Williams

  • The Missouri Traveler(1958)

    as Doyle Magee

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Alcoa Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Dick Bowen

  • Suspicion (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • If You Knew Elizabeth (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Walter Hubbard

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Col. Boyd Nelson · as Luke Cannon · as Noah Rawlins

  • Bermuda Affair (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Bob Scoffield

  • Navy Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Jack Blain

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as David Trask

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Adams · as Cash Bentley · as Joseph Pond · as Sgt. Rockwell · as Ted Franklin

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Human Jungle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    as John Danforth

  • The Black Dakotas(1954)

    as Brock Marsh (alias Zachary Paige)

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Witness to Murder(1954)

    as Police Lt. Lawrence Mathews

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Justice (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 91 episodes · as Jason Tyler

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Masters

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • A Blueprint for Murder(1953)

    as Fred Sargent

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as John Dwight · as McMasters

  • Night Without Sleep (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1952)

    as Richard Morton

  • The Girl in White(1952)

    as Dr. Seth Pawling

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Phone Call from a Stranger(1952)

    as David Trask

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Decision Before Dawn(1951)

    as Col. Devlin

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Another Man's Poison(1951)

    as George Bates

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as John Beasley / Nash

  • Rawhide(1951)

    as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Frogmen(1951)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Pete Vincent

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • All About Eve(1950)

    as Bill Sampson

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Where the Sidewalk Ends(1950)

    as Tommy Scalise

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Mother Didn't Tell Me (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    as Dr. Peter Roberts

  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Felice Benuzzi

  • Twelve O'Clock High(1949)

    as Colonel Keith Davenport

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Slattery's Hurricane (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    as Cmdr E.T. Kramer

  • Studio One (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Gormay

  • Strange Victory (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    as Narrator

  • Winged Victory (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    as Captain McIntyre

  • This Is the Army(1943)

    as Backstage MP on Right (uncredited)

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 95 titles from 1943 to 1979; peak year 1968.

Biggest box office

All About Eve (1950)

$163K worldwide

Highest rated

All About Eve (1950)

Motif 98th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19431979

Peak 1968 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 8 Motif 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
Acting95 of 95: 95 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score68th

By decade

1940s6 · acting1950s34 · acting1960s40 · acting1970s15 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
435363

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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, 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 Gary Merrill's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Motif score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 41 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Thieves (1977)

78th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

All About Eve (1950)

Motif 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Gary Merrill's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 9 · minimalMedian of all films: 31

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

Who does Gary Merrill work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gary Merrill's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Arthur O'Connell shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers