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Craig Richard Nelson

Craig Richard Nelson

Actor, also director · Died March 3, 2025, aged 77 · Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Craig Richard Nelson (born September 17, 1947) is an American theater, film and television character actor. Description above from the Wikipedia article Craig Richard Nelson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 17, 1947
Died
March 3, 2025 (aged 77)
From
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Works as
Actor, also director
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 51 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 43% in 30 days

What are Craig Richard Nelson's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th 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
Self
29%
Bonds
23%
Survival
18%
Morality
15%
Society
10%
Power
4%
Identity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 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 2 · Serious 1 · Dark 6

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 4 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 2 · 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 5 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

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 4 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 4

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 4 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
6
Tense
4
Warm
4
Absurd
4
Dread
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Bittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

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 Craig Richard Nelson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Craig Richard Nelson'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

51 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Rat Pack(1998)

    as Louis Milestone

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Charlie Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. McCann

  • Star Trek: Voyager(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Vaskan Arbiter

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Blown Away(1994)

    as Boston Pops Conductor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Clayton Franklin

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Thatcher

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Grace Under Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Home Improvement(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Bjorn

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Another You(1991)

    as Walt

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Get a Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Hastings

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Andre

  • Wings(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Auctioneer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Doogie Howser, M.D.(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Sean Licht

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Nick Knight(1989)

    as Fenner

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Honey, I Shrunk the Kids(1989)

    as Professor Frederickson

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as The Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Empty Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as The Waiter

  • Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as The Businessman

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Krag

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Bates Motel(1987)

    as Funeral Director

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • From the Hip(1987)

    as Witness (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as U.S. Attorney Donald Kelly (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • A Fine Mess(1986)

    as The Director (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Betrayed by Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Warren Berman

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Dick Castel

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Thurber

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The History of White People in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Chiller(1985)

    as Dr. Collier

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Do You Remember Love(1985)

    as Richard Vogt

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Malice in Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Radio Producer (uncredited)

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Felix Wesker · as Rob Hazlitt

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Night Court(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Binnit · as Steward

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Square Pegs(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • My Bodyguard(1980)

    as Griffith

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • A Small Circle of Friends(1980)

    as Harry Norris

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Carol Burnett & Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Quintet(1979)

    as Redstone

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank(1978)

    as Hal Watson

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • A Wedding(1978)

    as Capt. Reedley Roots

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • American Raspberry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Bud Schuler

  • Stick Around (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Earl

  • Stick Around (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Earl

  • 3 Women(1977)

    as Doctor Maas

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • What's Happening!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Ron Michaels

  • Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Osgood

  • Barney Miller(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnold Moraz

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 15 episodes · Actor

  • Blood Sport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Michael Braun

  • The Paper Chase(1973)

    as Willis Bell

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 89th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 51 titles from 1972 to 1998; peak year 1978.

Biggest box office

Another You (1991)

$2.9M worldwide

Highest rated

3 Women (1977)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Square Pegs (1982)

Film career

19721998

Peak 1978 · 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
Acting51 of 51: 50 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thDirecting1 of 51: 0 only directing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s15 · acting1980s24 · 24 acting · 1 crew1990s12 · acting

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
7383

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 Craig Richard Nelson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 17; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Bates Motel (1987)

71st percentile spread · 62% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

3 Women (1977)

Midcredits 94th · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 49. 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 Craig Richard Nelson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Craig Richard Nelson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Dennis M. Hill shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors