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Leland Orser

Leland Orser

Actor, also director and writer · Born August 6, 1960 (66) · San Francisco, California, USA

Leland Jones Orser (born August 6, 1960) is an American film and television actor. He's best known for his role as Sam Gilroy in the Taken film trilogy. Additional roles include Mr. Nevins in Amsterdam, Richard Stratton on the series American Giggolo, Peter Sullivan on I am the Night, Robert Kirsch on Berlin Station, Ansel Roth in the film Faults, Chief of Surgery Dr. Lucien Dubenko on ER, Bernie Teitel in The Good German, Wesley Owen Welch in the film Daredevil, Richard Thompson in The Bone Collector, Major Jackson in Pearl Harbor, Lt. DeWindt in Saving Private Ryan, and Larry Purvis in Alien Resurrection. He's appeared in other films including Runaway Jury, Escape from L.A., Independence Day, Piranha, and Se7en. He has guest starred on TV shows including Ray Donovan, Revolution, Scandal, NCIS: LA, 24, Magic City, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Star Trek: Enterprise, CSI, Law & Order: SVU, The Pretender, NYPD Blue, Married... with Children, Boston Common, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Mad About You, The X-Files, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Cheers, and The Golden Girls. He.has been married to actress Jeanne Tripplehorn since 2000; they have 1 child together. He was previously married to actress Roma Downey (m.1987;d.1989).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 6, 1960 (66)
From
San Francisco, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also director and writer
Titles
62 on MovieCove · 76 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

What are Leland Orser's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th 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
Morality
39%
Bonds
22%
Self
14%
Survival
13%
Society
5%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Justice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 4 · Dark 13

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 6 · Intense 13

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 6

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 7

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 6 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6
Shapeshifter
1 of 6
Hero
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Melancholic
8
Dread
6
Thrilling
6
Contemplative
6
Other
11

How their films linger

Unsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

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 Leland Orser's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 49 of their 62 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Leland Orser'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

76 credits, 62 with a MovieCove page.

  • Deaf President Now!(2025)

    as Greg

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Amsterdam(2022)

    as Mr. Nevins

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • American Gigolo(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Richard Stratton

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Corporate Animals(2019)

    as Rescue Team Leader

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Art of Self-Defense(2019)

    as Detective McCallister

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • I Am the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Peter Sullivan

  • Blindspotting(2018)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Candy(2015)

    as TV Preacher

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Berlin Station(2016)

    Show 29 episodes · as Robert Kirsch

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Gambler(2014)

    as Larry Jones

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Taken 3(2014)

    as Sam Gilroy

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Guest(2014)

    as Spencer Peterson

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Faults(2014)

    as Ansel

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Morning(2010)

    Director · Writer · as Mark

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Ray Donovan(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · as Father Romero

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Taken 2(2012)

    as Sam Gilroy

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Revolution(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · as John Sanborn

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Scandal(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Sanders Black

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Magic City(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Strauss

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Touch(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Linus

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Pleading Guilty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Bert Kamin

  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Gareth Carlyle

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Malone(2009)

    as Murphy

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Taken(2008)

    as Sam Gilroy

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Good German(2006)

    as Bernie Teitel

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Shark(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Brent Gilroy

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Homeland Security (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Sol Binder

  • Homeland Security (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Sol Binder

  • Twisted(2004)

    as Edmund Cutler

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Runaway Jury(2003)

    as Lamb

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Confidence(2003)

    as Lionel Dolby

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Daredevil(2003)

    as Wesley Owen Welch

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Brother's Keeper(2002)

    as Travis Adler

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • 24(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · as Martin Collier

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Wyler

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Enterprise(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Loomis

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Pearl Harbor(2001)

    as Major Jackson

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Morris Pearson

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Wendall Rickle

  • The Bone Collector(1999)

    as Richard Thompson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Harris Vernon · as Kevin James Walker

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Resurrection(1999)

    as Det. Andrew Hollinsworth

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Very Bad Things(1998)

    as Charles Moore

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Saving Private Ryan(1998)

    as Lieutenant DeWindt

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Alien: Resurrection(1997)

    as Purvis

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Brooklyn South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as ER Intern

  • Excess Baggage(1997)

    as Detective Barnaby

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • To Love, Honor and Deceive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as FBI Special Agent Kyle Lassiter

  • Lifeform(1996)

    as Michael Perkett, NASA

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Pretender(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · as Argyle

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Back to Back(1996)

    as Wheelchair Guy

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Escape from L.A.(1996)

    as Test Tube

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Independence Day(1996)

    as Techy / Med Asst #1

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Boston Common (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Leon

  • Girl in the Cadillac(1995)

    as Used Car Salesman

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Piranha(1995)

    as Terry Wechsler

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Seven(1995)

    as Crazed Man in Massage Parlor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Murder One(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Myron Elkins

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Ned & Stacey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Phil

  • Red Ribbon Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as James

  • Dead Badge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Pellman

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Arthur Zeller

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Voyager(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dejaren

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Phoenix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Doctor Riley

  • ER(1994)

    Show 26 episodes · as Lucien Dubenko

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Cover Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Julian

  • NYPD Blue(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Zeppo

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Jason Ludwig

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Gai · as Lovok

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Clerk

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Mad About You(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Gittleson

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Eerie, Indiana(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Director · as Mark

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Waiter

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Cheers(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Safe Houses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Sen. Douglas Patterson

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 75 titles, 74 of them dated from 1982 to 2022; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

Taken 2 (2012)

$376M worldwide

Highest rated

Deaf President Now! (2025)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

The Bone Collector (1999)

Film career

19822022

Peak 2013 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. 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
Acting75 of 75: 74 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thDirecting1 of 75: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 75: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s3 · acting1990s33 · acting2000s18 · acting2010s18 · 18 acting · 1 crew2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 4% of 24 roles
950010

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 Leland Orser's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 62 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 62 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Universally Panned2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor, director, writer

Morning (2010)

83rd percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 41. 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 Leland Orser's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles51–87 · median 76 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles16–64 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles46–72 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles30–70 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles54–86 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Leland Orser work with?

People who share at least 2 of Leland Orser's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Luc Besson shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers