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Roscoe Orman

Roscoe Orman

Actor · Born June 11, 1944 (82) · Bronx - New York - USA

While a student at New York's High School of Art and Design, Orman made his theatrical debut in the 1962 topical revue "If We Grow Up." He was an early member of the Free Southern Theater for two years in the mid-1960s and a founding member of Harlem, New York's New Lafayette Theatre, where he acted in and directed numerous plays. His many other stage appearances have included roles in "Julius Caesar" and "Coriolanus" at Joseph Papp's Public Theater, the Broadway production of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fences", and Matt Robison's one-man play "The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit" at the American Place Theatre. Orman is the recipient of an Audelco Theatre Award and a five-time nominee. He made his feature film debut in the title role of Universal Studios' 1974 drama, Willie Dynamite and has also appeared in such films as F/X, Striking Distance, New Jersey Drive, Follow That Bird, Twilight's Last Gleaming,The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, and "Jeremy Fink And The Meaning of Life". His television credits include work on such shows as All My Children, Kojak, Sanford and Son, Cosby, Sex and the City, The Wire, andLaw & Order. He most recently appeared on episode 5 of the Garry Trudeau/Amazon streaming production Alpha House. In June 2006, Orman's memoir Sesame Street Dad: Evolution of An Actor was released. In September 2007, his children's book Ricky and Mobo was released. On October 8, 2008, he became the Chief Storyteller of AudibleKids.com (a service of Audible.com), a website for parents, teachers, and children to connect with one another and download and listen to audiobooks oniPods, MP3 players, and computers. In his role as Chief Storyteller, Orman narrates audiobooks and communicates with children, parents and teachers online and at community, literacy and library events, lectures and conferences, and via other media to encourage the use of audiobooks to help build an interest in reading and develop literacy skills. He commented on being Chief Storyteller on October 8, 2008: “When Sesame Streetbegan, television was a new and even controversial medium. But we showed how that technology, if used correctly, could become a powerful learning tool...I see the same kind of opportunity emerging today as parents and educators increasingly view iPods with skepticism. With AudibleKids.com, I believe we can help turn these players into magnificent storytellers, tools for learning, and a way to promote a lifelong love of stories and language.” His new role was announced at a community event at The Educational Alliance Boys & Girls Club in New York City, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office commended Orman’s life work and willingness to embrace new technology to help encourage children to read books, by naming October 8, 2008 AudibleKids Day in New York City. Orman is a resident of New Jersey. He has four children, Rasheda, Solana, Miles, and Cheyenne. His son, Miles Orman, was on Sesame Street playing Gordon and Susan's adopted son Miles Robinson from the mid-1980s into the early 1990s.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 11, 1944 (82)
From
Bronx - New York - USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 54 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 156 days to Oct 27Up 14% in 30 days

What are Roscoe Orman's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Self.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Family3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Family movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Short2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Short 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
Society
33%
Self
23%
Bonds
20%
Morality
19%
Survival
2%
Power
2%
Ideas
2%
Community10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 4 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 12 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 12 · Charged 2 · Intense 4

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 14 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
10
Warm
10
Hopeful
8
Tense
6
Contemplative
4
Other
9

How their films linger

Hopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet7
  • 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 Roscoe Orman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on HBO Max (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Roscoe Orman'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

54 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Original Sound(2026)

    as Fred

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special(2020)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • You Can't Take My Daughter(2020)

    as McDevitt

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Holiday Rush(2019)

    as Reginald Miller

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration(2019)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Gordon Robinson (archive footage)

  • All These Small Moments(2018)

    as Dr. Rogers

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • New Amsterdam(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Rodger Conway

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Night Of(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Jury Foreman

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Sesame Street: Play All Day with Elmo! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Gordon

  • Alpha House(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Randall

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic Numbers(2012)

    as Roscoe

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life(2011)

    as Dr. Grady

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures(2011)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sesame Street: C Is for Cookie Monster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • Sesame Street: P is for Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Gordan Robinson

  • Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Gordon (uncredited) (archive footage)

  • Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Sesame Street: Bedtime with Elmo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Gordon Robinson

  • A Sesame Street Christmas Carol(2006)

    as Gordon (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • 30 Days(2006)

    as Jo Jo

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Elmo's Potty Time(2006)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Gordon

  • Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?(2004)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!(2002)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Wire(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Off. Oscar Requer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • American Pimp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Willie Dynamite

  • The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland(1999)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Bryant Davis · as Jerome Howard

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Sing and Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Gordon (archive footage)

  • Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs(1999)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sex and the City(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Train Waiter

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Elmopalooza!(1998)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas(1996)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • New Jersey Drive(1995)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!(1994)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Sesame Street Stays Up Late!(1993)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Striking Distance(1993)

    as Sid

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Cameron · as Trial Judge

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie(1988)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Sesame Street: Sing Along (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Gordon

  • F/X(1986)

    as Captain Wallenger

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Gordon Robinson

  • Follow That Bird(1985)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art(1983)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Coriolanus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Adrian

  • A Walking Tour of Sesame Street(1979)

    as Gordon (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Christmas Eve on Sesame Street(1978)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Willie Dynamite(1974)

    as Willie

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Lieutenant Connors

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Sanford and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sesame Street(1969)

    Show 3,551 episodes · as Gordon Robinson

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Harlem Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Sesame Street: Big Bird's Favorite Party Games (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Gordon

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 54 titles, 53 of them dated from 1969 to 2026; peak year 2019.

Biggest box office

F/X (1986)

$21M worldwide

Highest rated

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

F/X (1986)

Film career

19692026

Peak 2019 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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.

  • 1969Screen debut· Sesame Street
  • 1974First film· Willie Dynamite
  • 1974First top-billed film· Willie Dynamite

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting54 of 54: 54 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

By decade

1960s2 · acting1970s6 · acting1980s6 · acting1990s12 · acting2000s10 · acting2010s14 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 11% of 9 roles

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.

How do Roscoe Orman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic8
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song? (2004)

97th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 32. 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.

Is Roscoe Orman's work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 24 · mildMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does Roscoe Orman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Roscoe Orman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Caroll Spinney shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles