
Jay Novello
Actor · Died September 2, 1982, aged 78 · Chicago, Illinois, USA
Short, dapper Jay Novello specialized in playing ethnic types, sometimes Spanish, Greek or Mexican but usually Italian--not surprising, since his parents were Italian immigrants and he grew up speaking the language before he learned English. Born in Chicago in 1904, he came from a very diverse neighborhood and, in addition to speaking Italian and English, also picked up a working knowledge of German and Greek. He got a job acting with various theater companies in the Chicago area, and his facility with languages got him work in radio as a dialect specialist. He soon moved to Hollywood and got work in the radio industry there, and made his film debut in an uncredited bit part in 1930. He played in everything from westerns to action pictures to serials (in one of which, The Adventures of Smilin' Jack (1943), he played a Japanese spy!). He did much television work, and one of his best known roles was as the scheming Mayor Lugato in the Ernest Borgnine comedy series McHale's Navy (1962). He died of lung cancer in North Hollywood in 1982.
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Biography from IMDb.
- August 22, 1904
- September 2, 1982 (aged 78)
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Actor
- 72 on MovieCove · 145 credits in all
What are Jay Novello's films like?
Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 2 · Earnest 24
A split, not a type: Light 13 · Serious 9 · Dark 4
Grounded 11 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 2
Gentle 9 · Charged 13 · Intense 4
Steady 11 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 1
Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 4
Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 1
Casual 19 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1
Easy watch 15 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 1
Resolved 24 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1
Roles they play
- Tricksteras John Anderson - aka Joe Martinez in Sheriff of Tombstone (1941)
- Tricksteras Damji in Sabaka (1954)
Moods and endings
- Happy18
- Bittersweet4
- Tragic2
- Ambiguous2
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 Jay Novello's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 72 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (25).
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) · actor · free
- The Outer Limits (1963) · actor · free
- Pocketful of Miracles (1961) · actor · free
- One Step Beyond (1959) · actor · free
- The Adventures of Smilin' Jack (1943) · actor · free
- Bonanza (1959) · actor · free
- The Rebel (1959) · actor · free
- The Real McCoys (1957) · actor · free
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) · actor · free
- What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966) · actor · free
- The Donna Reed Show (1958) · actor · free
- The Mad Magician (1954) · actor · free
- All their movies on Tubi
- Combat! (1962) · actor · free
- Perry Mason (1957) · actor
- Pocketful of Miracles (1961) · actor
- Mannix (1967) · actor
- The Rebel (1959) · actor
- The Real McCoys (1957) · actor
- The Donna Reed Show (1958) · actor
- The Mad Magician (1954) · actor
- The Lucy Show (1962) · actor
- Steve Canyon (1958) · actor
- McCloud (1970) · actor
- Family Affair (1966) · actor
- +5 more
- Perry Mason (1957) · actor · free
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) · actor · free
- I Love Lucy (1951) · actor · free
- Mannix (1967) · actor · free
- The Real McCoys (1957) · actor · free
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) · actor · free
- The Donna Reed Show (1958) · actor · free
- Bat Masterson (1958) · actor · free
- The Lucy Show (1962) · actor · free
- Family Affair (1966) · actor · free
- The Wonderful Country (1959) · actor · free
- The Brady Bunch (1969) · actor · free
- +3 more
- The Outer Limits (1963) · actor · free
- One Step Beyond (1959) · actor · free
- Bonanza (1959) · actor · free
- The Rebel (1959) · actor · free
- The Real McCoys (1957) · actor · free
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) · actor · free
- The Donna Reed Show (1958) · actor · free
- Bat Masterson (1958) · actor · free
- The Lucy Show (1962) · actor · free
- Kojak (1973) · actor · free
- McCloud (1970) · actor · free
- Family Affair (1966) · actor · free
- +2 more
- ScreenPix, show their 5 titles on ScreenPix
- Best Westerns Ever, show their 4 titles on Best Westerns Ever
- Great American Pure Flix, show their 4 titles on Great American Pure Flix
- Shout! TV, show their 4 titles on Shout! TV
- IndieFlix, show their 3 titles on IndieFlix
- Best TV Ever, show their 2 titles on Best TV Ever
- Cineverse, show their 2 titles on Cineverse
- Dove Channel, show their title on Dove Channel
- Howdy, show their title on Howdy
- UP Faith & Family, show their title on UP Faith & Family
Subscription and free streaming for Jay Novello'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
145 credits, 72 with a MovieCove page.

The Domino Principle(1977)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Bronk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

Kojak(1973)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

Powderkeg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

McCloud(1970)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
The Comic(1969)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

The Brady Bunch(1969)
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows
Then Came Bronson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

The Mod Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Land of the Giants(1968)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
Mannix(1967)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
The Mothers-in-Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

The Guns of Will Sonnett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

Mr. Terrific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

Family Affair(1966)
Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows
The Rat Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Harum Scarum(1965)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

F Troop(1965)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
A Very Special Favor(1965)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
The Art of Love(1965)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
Sylvia(1965)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

The Outer Limits(1963)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Combat!(1962)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
The Lucy Show(1962)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows
Escape from Zahrain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

Pocketful of Miracles(1961)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
The Case of the Dangerous Robin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

The Andy Griffith Show(1960)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
The Islanders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

My Three Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

Coronado 9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

The Lost World(1960)
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
This Rebel Breed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

Hong Kong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

Johnny Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

The Wonderful Country(1959)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

Adventures in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

Bourbon Street Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

The Rebel(1959)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
Wichita Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

Lock-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

Bonanza(1959)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
Zorro, the Avenger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

One Step Beyond(1959)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
The Perfect Furlough(1958)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

Bat Masterson(1958)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows
Lawman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

Naked City(1958)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
The Donna Reed Show(1958)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
Bronco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

Steve Canyon(1958)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all showsThe Unchained Goddess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

Zorro(1957)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
Trackdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

The Real McCoys(1957)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
Maverick(1957)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
Perry Mason(1957)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
M Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

Wagon Train(1957)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
Sugarfoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Richard Diamond, Private Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

Meet McGraw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

Lisbon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

Jaguar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Life of Vernon Hathaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

Screen Director's Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

Bengazi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

The Prodigal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

Sabaka(1954)
Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

The Bob Cummings Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

Studio 57 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

Lassie(1954)
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
The Gambler from Natchez(1954)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
The Mad Magician(1954)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef(1953)
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
The Diamond Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

Crime Wave(1953)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
The Robe(1953)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
The Iron Mistress(1952)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Biff Baker U.S.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

Operation Secret(1952)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
Four Star Playhouse(1952)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
Cattle Town(1952)
Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
Captain Pirate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
The Big Sky(1952)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
The Sniper(1952)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all filmsGang Busters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

I Love Lucy(1951)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

Sirocco(1951)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
Smuggler's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

Tell It to the Judge(1949)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Port Said (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

Federal Operator 99 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

The Chicago Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

The Conspirators(1944)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Dragon Seed(1944)
Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
Phantom Lady(1944)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Man from Music Mountain(1943)
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Sleepy Lagoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

Passport to Suez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
King of the Mounties(1942)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Cairo(1942)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Dr. Broadway(1942)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

Sleepytime Gal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

Swamp Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

Bad Man of Deadwood(1941)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
They Met in Bombay(1941)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Sheriff of Tombstone(1941)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Two Gun Sheriff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

The Great Train Robbery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

Robin Hood of the Pecos(1941)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Citadel of Crime(1941)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Border Legion(1940)
Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films
The Devil's Pipeline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Girl from Havana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Sergeant Madden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

Flirting with Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Boys Town(1938)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
Tenth Avenue Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Career shape
Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 144 titles from 1938 to 1977; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)

Highest rated
Crime Wave (1953)

Most popular right now
The Domino Principle (1977)
Film career
Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.
- 1938Screen debut· Boys Town
- 1953Career best· Crime Wave
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 Jay Novello's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 46; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up14
- 50th to 74th32
- 25th to 49th22
- Below 25th4
Shape of the crowd
36 of their 72 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved7
- Universally Panned1
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser36
- Broadly Agreed11
- Mixed16
Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 46. 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 Jay Novello work with?
People who share at least 2 of Jay Novello's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joseph Kane shares the most, 4.
Directors
- Joseph KaneShared titles: Bad Man of Deadwood (1941), Robin Hood of the Pecos (1941), Sheriff of Tombstone (1941), The Border Legion (1940)See all 4 shared titles with Joseph Kane

- Stanley KramerShared titles: The Domino Principle (1977), The Pride and the Passion (1957)See all 2 shared titles with Stanley Kramer

- Blake EdwardsShared titles: What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966), The Perfect Furlough (1958)See all 2 shared titles with Blake Edwards

- John BrahmShared titles: The Mad Magician (1954), The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)See all 2 shared titles with John Brahm

Writers
- Crane WilburShared titles: The Mad Magician (1954), Crime Wave (1953), The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Crane Wilbur

- Olive CooperShared titles: Robin Hood of the Pecos (1941), Sheriff of Tombstone (1941), The Border Legion (1940)See all 3 shared titles with Olive Cooper
- William Peter BlattyShared titles: What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966), The Man from the Diners' Club (1963)See all 2 shared titles with William Peter Blatty

- Gerald Drayson AdamsShared titles: Harum Scarum (1965), The Gambler from Natchez (1954)See all 2 shared titles with Gerald Drayson Adams

Actors
- George 'Gabby' HayesShared titles: Bad Man of Deadwood (1941), Robin Hood of the Pecos (1941), Sheriff of Tombstone (1941), The Border Legion (1940)See all 4 shared titles with George 'Gabby' Hayes

- Roy RogersShared titles: Bad Man of Deadwood (1941), Robin Hood of the Pecos (1941), Sheriff of Tombstone (1941), The Border Legion (1940)See all 4 shared titles with Roy Rogers

- Hal TaliaferroShared titles: Bad Man of Deadwood (1941), Sheriff of Tombstone (1941), The Border Legion (1940)See all 3 shared titles with Hal Taliaferro

- Sally PayneShared titles: Bad Man of Deadwood (1941), Robin Hood of the Pecos (1941), Sheriff of Tombstone (1941)See all 3 shared titles with Sally Payne

Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Thomas ReillyShared titles: Crime Wave (1953), Cattle Town (1952), The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Thomas Reilly
- Mort GlickmanShared titles: Bad Man of Deadwood (1941), Citadel of Crime (1941), Robin Hood of the Pecos (1941)See all 3 shared titles with Mort Glickman
- Murray SeldeenShared titles: Citadel of Crime (1941), Robin Hood of the Pecos (1941), The Border Legion (1940)See all 3 shared titles with Murray Seldeen
- Philip H. LathropShared titles: What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966), The Perfect Furlough (1958)See all 2 shared titles with Philip H. Lathrop

Producers
- Bryan FoyShared titles: The Mad Magician (1954), Crime Wave (1953), Cattle Town (1952), The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)See all 4 shared titles with Bryan Foy

Mixed roles
- Gene NelsonShared titles: Harum Scarum (1965), Crime Wave (1953)See all 2 shared titles with Gene Nelson




