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David Rasche

David Rasche

Actor · Born August 7, 1944 (82) · St. Louis, Missouri, USA

2 Screen Actors Guild Awards

David Rasche (born August 7, 1944) is an American theater, film, and television actor who is best known for his portrayal of the title character in the 1980s satirical police sitcom Sledge Hammer! Since then he has often played characters in positions of authority, in both serious and comical turns. In television he is known for his main role as Karl Muller in the HBO drama series Succession, as well as recurring and guest performances in L.A. Law, Monk, The West Wing, Veep, and Ugly Betty.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 7, 1944 (82)
From
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
82 on MovieCove · 118 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 21% in 30 days

What are David Rasche's films like?

Across their 47 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
33%
Morality
21%
Self
20%
Survival
11%
Society
6%
Ideas
5%
Power
4%
Family bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 42 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 24 · Serious 8 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 26 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 26 · Intense 7

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

Steady 17 · Shifting 20 · Whiplash 5

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 14

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 27 · 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 26 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 0

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 26 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 11

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

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 13 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 11 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 11
Mentor
2 of 11
Threshold guardian
2 of 11
Shadow
2 of 11
Ally
1 of 11
Herald
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
27
Absurd
17
Melancholic
11
Warm
10
Bittersweet
10
Other
46

How their films linger

Fun22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5
  • Cyclical2

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 David Rasche's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 53 of their 82 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (23).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Rasche'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

118 credits, 82 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dying for Sex(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · as Dr. Pankowitz

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Hunting Party(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Sidney Fairfax

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Elsbeth(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Monsignor Frank

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Theater Camp(2023)

    as Dr. Bill Rauch

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • About My Father(2023)

    as William 'Bill' Collins XII

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Good House(2021)

    as Scott

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Paper Spiders(2020)

    as Bill Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Swallow(2019)

    as Michael Conrad

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Father Figurine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Larry Berman

  • Succession(2018)

    Show 31 episodes · as Karl Muller

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Impastor(2015)

    Show 20 episodes · as Alden Schmidt

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Ambassador Arlen Maxwell

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Jefferson Monroe

  • Amira & Sam(2014)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Discoverers(2012)

    as Cyrus Marshall

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Black Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Hunter Black

  • Kill Your Darlings(2013)

    as Dean

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Petunia(2012)

    as Percy Petunia

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Inside Amy Schumer(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as CEO

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • The Big Wedding(2013)

    as Barry O'Connor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich(2012)

    as Public Prosecutor Mr. Hills

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Revenge for Jolly!(2012)

    as Eichelberger

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Men in Black 3(2012)

    as Agent X

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Veep(2012)

    Show 8 episodes · as Jim Marwood

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Missed Connections(2012)

    as George

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Remembrance(2011)

    as Daniel Levine

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Blue Eyes(2009)

    as Marshall

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Rubicon(2010)

    Show as James Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Bored to Death(2009)

    Show 6 episodes · as Bernard

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • In the Loop(2009)

    as Linton Barwick

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Peter and Vandy(2009)

    as Alan

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Crimes of the Past(2009)

    as Thomas Sparrow

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Burn After Reading(2008)

    as CIA Officer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Girl in the Park(2007)

    as Doug

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Flags of Our Fathers(2006)

    as Senator

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Ugly Betty(2006)

    Show 10 episodes · as Calvin Hartley

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • United 93(2006)

    as Donald Freeman Greene

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Sentinel(2006)

    as President Ballentine

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Book of Daniel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The L.A. Riot Spectacular(2005)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Final Approach(2005)

    as Gen. Perkins

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Off the Lip(2004)

    as Dr. Martin Shutte

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Exposed(2003)

    as Warren Ward

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim Valentine

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Just Married(2003)

    as Mr. McNerney

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • She Spies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Norton Andrews

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Nick Patterson

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood(2002)

    as Taylor Abbott

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Teddy Bears' Picnic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Elliot Chevron

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

    Show 5 episodes · as President Whitman

  • Malcolm in the Middle(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Big Tease(1999)

    as Stig

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Hard Time: Hostage Hotel(1999)

    as Robert Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Everett

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Grown Ups (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter

  • Friends & Lovers(1999)

    as Richard 'Richie' Wickham

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Settlement(1999)

    as Denny

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Providence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Doc Croc

  • Pros & Cons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Jack Stanford

  • Tourist Trap(1998)

    as Derek Early

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • That Old Feeling(1997)

    as Alan

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Just Shoot Me!(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Tenzer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Suddenly Susan(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Evan

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Pie in the Sky(1995)

    as Amy's Dad

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Out There(1995)

    as Emmett Davis

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • High Society (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 13 episodes · as Peter Thomas

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

    as Payne

  • Magic in the Water(1995)

    as Phillip, Patient #4

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester(1995)

    as Ben Landry

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Signs and Wonders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 4 episodes · as Brother Nahum

  • Lieberman in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as M.C. at Luau

  • A Million to Juan(1994)

    as Jeff

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die(1994)

    as Alfred Raine

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Duckman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Baron Von Dillweed (voice)

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as John Ramsey

  • Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter(1995)

    as Chaz Frederick

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Partners(1993)

    as "Grave Squad" Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Twenty Bucks(1993)

    as Baker

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Barbarians at the Gate(1993)

    as Ted Forstmann

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Nurses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 46 episodes · as Jack Trenton

  • Bingo(1991)

    as Hal Devlin

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Delirious(1991)

    as Dr. Paul Kirkwood / Dennis

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Silhouette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sheriff Kyle Lauder

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Delaney

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Masters of Menace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Buddy Wheeler

  • Wedding Band (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sloane Vaughn

  • An Innocent Man(1989)

    as Detective Mike Parnell LBPD

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Wicked Stepmother(1989)

    as Steve Fisher

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Empty Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Trenton

  • Secret Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Sandy

  • Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Cal McGinnis

  • Made in Heaven(1987)

    as Donald Summer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Native Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Buckley

  • Sledge Hammer!(1986)

    Show 41 episodes · as Sledge Hammer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as David McCoy

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Cobra(1986)

    as Dan

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Code Name: Foxfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Sam Rawlings

  • Sara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Surf

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Best Defense(1984)

    as Jeff

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Kate & Allie(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Donald Catton

  • Special Bulletin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as David McKeeson

  • Hellfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Rev Howard Woode

  • Fighting Back(1982)

    as Michael Taylor

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Buckley · as Cal McGinnis (segment 'Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall')

  • Honky Tonk Freeway(1981)

    as Eddie White

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Just Tell Me What You Want(1980)

    as Stopwatch Producer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Something Short of Paradise(1979)

    as David Ritchie

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Manhattan(1979)

    as Television Actor #3

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Sanctuary of Fear(1979)

    as Jack Collins

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • An Unmarried Woman(1978)

    as Man who says, "Hello" (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Andros Targets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Smitty

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

    Show 1 episode · as Patrick Kinsley

  • A Trace of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Patrick Kinsley

  • Elderwood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Roker on the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 116 titles, 113 of them dated from 1971 to 2025; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

Burn After Reading (2008)

$164M worldwide

Highest rated

Sledge Hammer! (1986)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Burn After Reading (2008)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19712025

Peak 2013 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 6 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
Acting116 of 116: 116 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score50th

By decade

1970s7 · acting1980s22 · acting1990s35 · acting2000s23 · acting2010s18 · acting2020s8 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 36 roles
7888980813

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.

Awards

2 Screen Actors Guild Awards from 2 major nominations, 2022–2024.

  1. 2024
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  2. 2022
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do David Rasche's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 60; across their 42 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Reach · how many have seen their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Midcredits score across 82 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th21

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 82 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser30
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed32

Most divisive · actor

Off the Lip (2004)

96th percentile spread · 49% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Succession (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 40. 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 David Rasche's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles20–67 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles22–64 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles45–83 · median 60 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles29–41 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles12–61 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all 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 David Rasche work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Rasche's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jenny Slate shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers