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Charles Nelson Reilly

Charles Nelson Reilly

Actor · Died May 25, 2007, aged 76 · The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Charles Nelson Reilly was born to Charles Joseph Reilly and Signe Elvera Nelson. His father was Irish-American and Catholic, his mother was Swedish-American and Lutheran. As a child he amused himself with improvised puppet theater performances. He had a traumatic experience in 1944, when present for the Hartford circus fire in Hartford, Connecticut. A fire during a performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus killed 167 people and injured 700 people. While Reilly was one of the survivors, he was left with a life-long fear of fires. He never attended public performances of theater and circus again, as an audience member, for fear of another fire. Reilly wanted to enter show business as a youth, and in particular to become an opera singer. He took lessons at the University of Hartford Hartt School, but eventually realized that his voice skills were inadequate. He turned to theater next, and debuted in film with a bit role in "A Face in the Crowd" (1957). During the late 1950s, Reilly appeared regularly in comic roles in theatrical performances off-Broadway. In 1960, Reilly first gained critical attention, for a small but noteworthy part in Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie". In 1961, Reilly joined the cast of the musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying". He won his first Tony Award in 1962 for that performance. He kept appearing in Broadway shows for the rest of the decade. As a notable actor, Reilly started making television appearances in the 1960s. He started as a guest in panel shows and as a player in television advertisements. He eventually gained a key role in the television series "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir", where he appeared from 1968 to 1970. In the 1970s, Reilly was a regular in game shows and children's series, such as "Match Game" and "Uncle Croc's Block". In 1976, Reilly started teaching acting to others, while shifting his own career from acting to directing. He directed Broadway shows regularly and was nominated for a Tony Award for directing in 1997. He also directed a number television episodes. In the 1990s, he had guest roles in television series such as "X-Files" and "Millennium". In the 2000s, Reilly was primarily known for the autobiographical play "Save It for the Stage: The Life of Reilly", and for its film adaptation. While touring the United States, he developed respiratory problems which led to his retirement. His illness got worse, and he died due to pneumonia in 2007.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
January 13, 1931
Died
May 25, 2007 (aged 76)
From
The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 61 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 65 days to Oct 28Up 43% in 30 days

What are Charles Nelson Reilly's films like?

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

Genres

Animation6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
40%
Self
23%
Society
20%
Morality
9%
Ideas
7%
Survival
3%
Friendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope3 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

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

Grounded 2 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 5 · Intense 0

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

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 5

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 6 · 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 11 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 7
Shadow
2 of 7
Ally
2 of 7
Trickster
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
11
Warm
4
Hopeful
6
Absurd
2
Thrilling
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet3
  • 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 Charles Nelson Reilly's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Charles Nelson Reilly'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

61 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 25 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Tom and Jerry in Shiver Me Whiskers(2006)

    as Red Parrot Stan (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Gaydar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Uncle Vincent

  • Dinner for Five (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • SpongeBob SquarePants(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as The Dirty Bubble (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The First of May(1999)

    as Dinghy

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Boys Will Be Boys(1998)

    as Mr. Rudnick

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • An All Dogs Christmas Carol(1998)

    as Killer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Hercules(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as King Minos (voice)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Amazing Stories: The Movie III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Father McClintley

  • Babes in Toyland(1997)

    as Humpty Dumpty (voice)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Millennium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Jose Chung

  • All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series(1996)

    Show 41 episodes · as Killer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Second Noah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Drew Carey Show(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Hathaway

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Driving Mr. Pink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Parrot (voice)

  • A Troll in Central Park(1994)

    as Llort (voice)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The 5 Mrs. Buchanans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bandit: Bandit Goes Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Teach

  • The Pink Panther (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 60 episodes · as Jules Parrot (voice)

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Jose Chung

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Goof Troop(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Dutch Spackle (voice)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Nelson Reilly

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Space Cats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 13 episodes · as D.O.R.C. (Disembodied Omnipotent Ruler of Cats)

  • The New WKRP in Cincinnati (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rugrats(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Edmund Haynes / Actor / Director (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Rock-A-Doodle(1991)

    as Hunch (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Evening Shade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Actor

  • All Dogs Go to Heaven(1989)

    as Killer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Family Matters(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Vreeland

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Charles Nelson Reilly

  • The Three Kings(1987)

    as Clerk

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Out of This World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Body Slam(1986)

    as Vic Carson

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Designing Women(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Nelson Reilly

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Father McClintley

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Charles in Charge(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Abba-Kahn

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Cannonball Run II(1984)

    as Don Don

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Wind in the Willows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mr. Toad (voice)

  • Baryshnikov in Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Dialogue Coach

  • The Flintstone Comedy Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 126 episodes · as Frank Frankenstone

  • The Frankenstones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 11 episodes · as Frank Frankenstone (voice)

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jesse Dobson

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The City That Forgot About Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as (voice)

  • It Pays to Be Ignorant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bobby Darin Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Call Her Mom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Dean Walden

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Davison

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The New Dick Van Dyke Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter O'Connell

  • Decisions! Decisions! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Lidsville(1971)

    Show 17 episodes · as Horatio J. Hoodoo

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Arnie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 48 episodes · as Randy Robinson

  • Nanny and the Professor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as The Pathfinder

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert · as Chuck · as Frank

  • The Doris Day Show(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralph Mantley

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Here's Lucy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Elroy P. Clunk

  • The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 50 episodes · as Claymore Gregg

  • The Tiger Makes Out(1967)

    as Registrar

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Patty Duke Show(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Two Tickets to Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Claypoole

  • Let's Rock! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Announcer

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 61 titles from 1958 to 2006; peak year 1997.

Biggest box office

All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)

$27M worldwide

Highest rated

All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)

Midcredits 74th

Most popular right now

All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series (1996)

Film career

19582006

Peak 1997 · 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting61 of 61: 60 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score40thDirecting1 of 61: 0 only directing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s7 · acting1970s11 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s25 · 25 acting · 1 crew2000s3 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 13% of 8 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 Charles Nelson Reilly's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 30th percentile, the median of all 12; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 26th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 29 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

An All Dogs Christmas Carol (1998)

87th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The First of May (1999)

Midcredits 76th · 67% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 42. 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 Charles Nelson Reilly work with?

People who share at least 2 of Charles Nelson Reilly's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Dom DeLuise shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles