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Jay Novello

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.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
August 22, 1904
Died
September 2, 1982 (aged 78)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
72 on MovieCove · 145 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 6% in 30 days

What are Jay Novello's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

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

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Thrilling
8
Melancholic
8
Joyful
7
Warm
5
Other
26

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • 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).

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)

    as Capt. Ruiz

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Bronk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Patriarch

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

    Show 1 episode · as Old Priest

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

    as Pablo Sandoval

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Cesare Cimarosa

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • The Comic(1969)

    as Miguel

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Brady Bunch(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Juan Longorio

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Land of the Giants(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Okun

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Rico Pucci Sr. · as Tomas Crespi

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • The Mothers-in-Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Bum

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Morris

  • Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Sloan

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

    Show 1 episode · as Count Gregory

  • Family Affair(1966)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tio Dichoso

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows
  • The Rat Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as La Duc

  • Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • Harum Scarum(1965)

    as Zacha

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Half and Half

  • F Troop(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • The Art of Love(1965)

    as Janitor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Sylvia(1965)

    as Father Gonzales

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Wiggins

  • The Outer Limits(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Prof. Arivello

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Combat!(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Lejeune

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • The Lucy Show(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Bundy · as Tony DiBello

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows
  • Escape from Zahrain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Hassan

  • Pocketful of Miracles(1961)

    as Cortego

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • Atlantis: The Lost Continent(1961)

    as Xandros the Greek Slave

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

    Show 1 episode · as Kang

  • The Andy Griffith Show(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Neil Bentley · as Sheldon Davis / Thomas A. Moody

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Sage

  • The Lost World(1960)

    as Costa

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

    as Papa Montalvo

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

    Show 1 episode · as Victor Azada

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Wonderful Country(1959)

    as Diego Casas

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

    Show 1 episode · as Louis Bon

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

    Show 1 episode · as Willoughby

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rebel(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Guido Morales

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Johnny Nelson

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Don Miguel · as Fairfax

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

    as Juan Greco

  • One Step Beyond(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Carlos Gonzalez

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • The Perfect Furlough(1958)

    as Rene Valentin

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mr. Neidorf · as Rudolf Weisner · as Yegor Danilov

  • Bat Masterson(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Angus MacLeod

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

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Slater

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Antonio Scarzi · as Gio Bartolo · as Juan Menguado

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
  • The Donna Reed Show(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Nick Melinas

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
  • Bronco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Paco

  • Steve Canyon(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Formosa Freddie

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows
  • The Unchained Goddess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Professor Curious / Windy (voice)

  • Zorro(1957)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Murchison

  • The Real McCoys(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Coroner Oliver Poole · as Henry Tree · as Paco Torres · as Pepe

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Nickolas Trevelian

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • M Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Max Williams

  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Carlotti

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

    Show 1 episode · as Pepe Valdez

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Baron Otto von Albrecht

  • The Pride and the Passion(1957)

    as Ballinger

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

    Show 1 episode · as Beanley

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

    Show 1 episode · as Frankie Vargo

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    as Fonseca

  • Jaguar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Tupi

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

    as Lucius Morley

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Lucius Morley · as Shopkeeper

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dalgo

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

    as Basim

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

    as Merchant

  • Sabaka(1954)

    as Damji

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

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Crockett · as Harvey Blake

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

    Show 1 episode · as Gigolo

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

    Show 1 episode · as Carlos De La Marca

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Brooks

  • Lassie(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
  • The Gambler from Natchez(1954)

    as Rene Garonne

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • The Mad Magician(1954)

    as Frank Prentiss

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • The Diamond Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Gujar

  • Crime Wave(1953)

    as Dr. Otto Hessler

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • The Robe(1953)

    as Tiro, slave trader (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • The Iron Mistress(1952)

    as Judge Crain

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Biff Baker U.S.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Maurice

  • Operation Secret(1952)

    as Herr Bauer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Bookkeeper · as Clerk · as Fredrico · as Hutchinson

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
  • Cattle Town(1952)

    as Felipe

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Captain Pirate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Egyptian (uncredited)

  • The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima(1952)

    as António Abóbora dos Santos

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • The Big Sky(1952)

    as Trapper (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • The Sniper(1952)

    as Pete

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
  • Gang Busters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • I Love Lucy(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Mario · as Mr. Beecher · as Mr. Meriweather (uncredited)

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

    Show 1 episode · as Silva

  • Sirocco(1951)

    as Hamal (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Smuggler's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Espinosa

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Dawson · as Rafael

  • Tell It to the Judge(1949)

    as Gancellos (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Kiss the Blood Off My Hands(1948)

    as Sea Captain of Pelicano

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Port Said (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Taurk

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

    as Heinrick

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

    as Pinky

  • The Conspirators(1944)

    as Detective (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Dragon Seed(1944)

    as Japanese Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
  • The Great Alaskan Mystery(1944)

    as Eskimo Chief

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
  • Phantom Lady(1944)

    as Anselmo (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Man from Music Mountain(1943)

    as Henchman Barker

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Sleepy Lagoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Lug (uncredited)

  • Passport to Suez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Mr. Cezanne

  • The Adventures of Smilin' Jack(1943)

    as Kushimi, infiltrator [Chs. 1-3, 12-13]

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • King of the Mounties(1942)

    as Lewis (Ch. 2-3)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Cairo(1942)

    as Italian Officer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Dr. Broadway(1942)

    as Greeny

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Eddie · as Eddie (uncredited)

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

    as Chef Barzumium

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

    as 'Flash' Brand

  • Bad Man of Deadwood(1941)

    as Monte Burns

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • They Met in Bombay(1941)

    as Bolo

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • Sheriff of Tombstone(1941)

    as John Anderson - aka Joe Martinez

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Two Gun Sheriff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Marc Albo

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

    as Santos

  • Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
  • Citadel of Crime(1941)

    as Vince

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Border Legion(1940)

    as Santos

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films
  • The Devil's Pipeline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Bandad

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

    as Manuel

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

    as Prisoner on Train

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

    as Manuel Del Valle

  • Boys Town(1938)

    as Gangster (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • Tenth Avenue Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Hobart

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.

Film career

19381977

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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting144 of 144: 144 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1930s4 · acting1940s28 · acting1950s68 · acting1960s38 · acting1970s6 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
385358

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.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 72 titles, by percentile

  • 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

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles