Skip to content
MovieCove
Robert Emmett O'Connor

Robert Emmett O'Connor

Actor · Died September 4, 1962, aged 77 · Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Robert Emmett O'Connor (March 18, 1885 – September 4, 1962) was an American film actor. He appeared in 204 films between 1919 and 1950. He is probably best known as the warmhearted bootlegger Paddy Ryan in The Public Enemy (1931) and as Detective Sergeant Henderson pursuing the Marx Brothers in A Night at the Opera (1935). He also appeared as Jonesy (the older Paramount gate guard) in Billy Wilder's 1950 film Sunset Boulevard, as well as made a cameo appearance at the very beginning and very end of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon short Who Killed Who? (1943).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 18, 1885
Died
September 4, 1962 (aged 77)
From
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
57 on MovieCove · 139 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 44% in 30 days

What are Robert Emmett O'Connor's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
Bonds
37%
Morality
29%
Self
22%
Society
8%
Survival
2%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 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 6 · Serious 4 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 10 · Intense 1

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Mentor
2 of 3
Threshold guardian
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Thrilling
5
Joyful
4
Absurd
4
Hopeful
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Feel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Robert Emmett O'Connor's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 57 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Emmett O'Connor'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

139 credits, 57 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Sunset Boulevard(1950)

    as Jonesy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Easter Parade(1948)

    as Policeman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Tenth Avenue Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Mr. O'Callan (uncredited)

  • High Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Actor

  • Merton of the Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Mac - Restaurant Counterman (uncredited)

  • The Romance of Rosy Ridge(1947)

    as Southerner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Hucksters(1947)

    as Frank - Hotel Doorman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • High Barbaree(1947)

    as Stationmaster (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Trail Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Drunk (uncredited)

  • Till the Clouds Roll By(1946)

    as Ed (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Undercurrent(1946)

    as Stationmaster (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Courage of Lassie(1946)

    as Deputy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Boys' Ranch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Druggist

  • The Hoodlum Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

  • Up Goes Maisie(1946)

    as Rose Bowl Watchman (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Harvey Girls(1946)

    as Conductor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Adventure(1945)

    as Man in Cantina (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • They Were Expendable(1945)

    as Silver Dollar Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Great American Mug (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Laughing Man (uncredited)

  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood(1945)

    as 2nd Studio Guard (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • A Gun in His Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Veteran Policeman McGuinnes (uncredited)

  • Anchors Aweigh(1945)

    as Cop (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Clock(1945)

    as Policeman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Main Street After Dark(1945)

    as Policeman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Thin Man Goes Home(1944)

    as Baggage Attendant on Train (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Gentle Annie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Childers the Bartender (as Robert Emmet O'Connor)

  • Meet Me in St. Louis(1944)

    as Motorman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Return from Nowhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Diner Cook (uncredited)

  • Barbary Coast Gent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Joe the Bartender (uncredited)

  • Rationing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Sheriff (uncredited)

  • Shoe Shine Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Charlie the Bartender (uncredited)

  • Whistling in Brooklyn(1943)

    as Detective Leo Finnigan

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Best Foot Forward(1943)

    as Train Conductor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Swing Shift Maisie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Proprietor (Uncredited)

  • Who Killed Who? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Host (uncredited)

  • Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case(1943)

    as Samson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Air Raid Wardens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Charlie Beaugart

  • Slightly Dangerous(1943)

    as Reporter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Human Comedy(1943)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Greatest Gift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Brother Xavier (uncredited)

  • The Omaha Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Oxen Owner (uncredited)

  • Jackass Mail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Peter Lawson

  • Maisie Gets Her Man(1942)

    as Benefit Stage Manager (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Inflation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Joe's Co-worker (uncredited)

  • No Time for Comedy(1940)

    as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Dance, Girl, Dance(1940)

    as Plainclothesman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Fugitive from Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Murphy

  • Hot Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Police Inspector

  • I Take This Oath(1940)

    as Police Car Driver

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Double Alibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Patrolman Delaney

  • The Lone Wolf Strikes(1940)

    as House Detective

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Pat Donegan

  • Streets of New York(1939)

    as Police Officer Burke

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

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

    as Capt. Crane

  • You Can't Get Away with Murder(1939)

    as First Detective (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Made for Each Other(1939)

    as Harry (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Professor Beware (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Cop at Estate

  • Boy of the Streets(1937)

    as Police Officer Rourke

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Wells Fargo(1937)

    as Sea Captain

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Trapped by G-Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Federal Agent Jim

  • Super-Sleuth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Casey

  • New Faces of 1937 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Policeman

  • The Last Train from Madrid(1937)

    as Secret Service Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Frame-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Larry Mann (aka John Mench)

  • A Star Is Born(1937)

    as Santa Anita Clubhouse Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Waikiki Wedding(1937)

    as Policeman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Park Avenue Logger(1937)

    as Police Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Crime Nobody Saw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Tim Burke

  • Girl Overboard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Sergeant Hatton

  • We Who Are About to Die(1936)

    as Detective Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Sinner Take All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Police Capt. Greenwood (uncredited)

  • Jailbreak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Policeman

  • Desire(1936)

    as Customs Official

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • At Sea Ashore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as First Immigration Officer

  • Little Lord Fauntleroy(1936)

    as Policeman

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Lone Wolf Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Detective Benson

  • White Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Capt. McHenry (uncredited)

  • A Night at the Opera(1935)

    as Henderson

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Waterfront Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Police Lieutenant

  • Diamond Jim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Brady's Father

  • Stolen Harmony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Warden Clark (uncredited)

  • Star of Midnight(1935)

    as Police Sergeant Cleary

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Mysterious Mr. Wong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Officer 'Mac' McGillicuddy

  • A Wicked Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Dugan (uncredited)

  • Return of the Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Inspector Bradley

  • Bottoms Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Detective Rooney

  • The Big Shakedown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Regan

  • Lady for a Day(1933)

    as Inspector MacCreary

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Penthouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Police Lt. 'Steve' Stevens

  • The Big Brain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Detective (uncredited)

  • Don't Bet on Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Edward Shelton

  • Midnight Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Cop

  • Bed of Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as River Boat Captain Scroggins (uncredited)

  • Picture Snatcher(1933)

    as Police Lt. Casey Nolan

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Gabriel Over the White House(1933)

    as Corrupt Police Inspector (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Mystery of the Wax Museum(1933)

    as Police Sergeant by Christmas Tre

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Frisco Jenny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Jim Sandoval

  • The Kid from Spain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Detective Crawford

  • Blonde Venus(1932)

    as Dan O'Connor

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Blessed Event(1932)

    as Jim

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • American Madness(1932)

    as Police Inspector

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Week-End Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Police Desk Clerk Eddie (uncredited)

  • The Dark Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Sheriff

  • Night World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as The Policeman

  • The Arm of the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Chief of Detectives Capt. Blake

  • Play Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Police Sergeant (uncredited)

  • The Big Timer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Dan Wilson

  • The Beast of the City(1932)

    as Booking Policeman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Taxi(1931)

    as Cop with Jewish Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Two Kinds of Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Tim Gohagen

  • Reckless Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Ryan

  • Fanny Foley Herself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Burns

  • The Public Defender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Detective Brady

  • Three Who Loved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Police Lt. Tom Rooney

  • The Public Enemy(1931)

    as Paddy Ryan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Single Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Detective

  • Paid(1930)

    as Police Sgt. Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Man to Man(1930)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Up the River(1930)

    as Prison Warden (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Shooting Straight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Detective Regan

  • Our Blushing Brides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as The Detective

  • The Big House(1930)

    as Donlin

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Big Fight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Detective

  • Alias French Gertie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Detective Kelcey

  • Framed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Sergeant Schultze

  • In the Next Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Tim Morel

  • The Isle of Lost Ships (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Jackson

  • Smiling Irish Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Sir Timothy

  • Weary River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Police Sergeant (uncredited)

  • The Booster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Actor

  • Freedom of the Press (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Boss Maloney

  • The Singing Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Cafe Owner Bill

  • Four Walls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Sullivan

  • Dressed to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Detective Gilroy

  • The Noose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Jim Conley

  • Tin Gods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Second Foreman

  • Never Weaken(1921)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Drink Hearty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Actor

  • His Royal Slyness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 138 titles from 1920 to 1950.

Biggest box office

The Public Enemy (1931)

$1.2M worldwide

Highest rated

A Night at the Opera (1935)

Midcredits 95th

Film career

  • 1920Screen debut· His Royal Slyness
  • 1943First top-billed film· Who Killed Who?
  • 1943Career best· Who Killed Who?

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting138 of 138: 138 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

By decade

1920s12 · acting1930s75 · acting1940s50 · acting1950s1 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 4% of 26 roles
203540

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 Robert Emmett O'Connor's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 57; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 57 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th23
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

38 of their 57 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser38
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Paid (1930)

69th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Midcredits 99th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 48. 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 Robert Emmett O'Connor work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Emmett O'Connor's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William Nigh shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Editors