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Ron Rifkin

Ron Rifkin

Actor · Born October 31, 1939 (86) · New York City, New York, USA

Ron Rifkin (born October 31, 1939) is an American actor. His is best-known for his roles as Arvin Sloane on the spy drama Alias and as Saul Holden on the American family drama Brothers & Sisters.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 31, 1939 (86)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
77 on MovieCove · 114 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 7% in 30 days

What are Ron Rifkin's films like?

Across their 38 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
28%
Self
26%
Bonds
20%
Society
11%
Survival
8%
Power
6%
Ideas
1%
Justice14 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 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 12 · Serious 9 · Dark 13

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

Grounded 29 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 17 · Intense 8

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 3

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 6

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 20 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 14 · Engaged 16 · 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 9 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 4 of 10 analyzed roles.

Mentor
4 of 10
Shadow
3 of 10
Trickster
2 of 10
Threshold guardian
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Melancholic
15
Contemplative
13
Warm
6
Bittersweet
9
Other
33

How their films linger

Hopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet21
  • Ambiguous8

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 Ron Rifkin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 50 of their 77 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ron Rifkin'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

114 credits, 77 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Funny Pages(2022)

    as Grandfather

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Minyan(2020)

    as Josef

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Daddy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Mr. Smith

  • A Star Is Born(2018)

    as Carl

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • New Amsterdam(2018)

    Show 7 episodes · as Peter Fulton

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • They Shall Not Perish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Henry Morgenthau

  • True Memoirs of an International Assassin(2016)

    as Amos

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Limitless(2015)

    Show 22 episodes · as Dennis Finch

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Blindspot(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Rob Donnelly

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Gotham(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Father Creal · as Father Creel

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Wayne Vachs

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Words(2012)

    as Timothy Epstein

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Smash(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Ron Rifkin

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Touch(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Isaac

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Peep World(2010)

    as Henry Meyerwitz

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Spencer Randolph

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Brothers & Sisters(2006)

    Show 109 episodes · as Saul Holden

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Pulse(2006)

    as Dr. Waterson

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Tadpole(2002)

    as Professor Tisch

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Just a Kiss(2002)

    as Dr. Fauci

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Sum of All Fears(2002)

    as Secretary of State Owens

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Dragonfly(2002)

    as Charlie Dickinson

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Majestic(2001)

    as Kevin Bannerman

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Alias(2001)

    Show 105 episodes · as Arvin Sloane

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • A Nero Wolfe Mystery(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Attorney Perry Helmar · as Nikola Miltan · as Perry Helmar

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Sam the Man(2001)

    as Richard

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Warden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Judge Faschbinder

  • Deliberate Intent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Howard Siegel

  • Keeping the Faith(2000)

    as Larry Friedman

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Flowers for Algernon(2000)

    as Dr. Jonah Strauss

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Boiler Room(2000)

    as Judge Marty Davis

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Drop Back Ten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 6 episodes · as Marvin Exley

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Negotiator(1998)

    as Cdr. Grant Frost

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Sex and the City(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Julian Fisher

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • L.A. Confidential(1997)

    as D.A. Ellis Loew

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Leaving L.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dr. Neil Bernstein

  • I'm Not Rappaport(1996)

    as Feigenbaum

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Substance of Fire(1996)

    as Isaac Geldhart

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Norma Jean & Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Johnny Hyde

  • Red Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Frank Barsaly

  • Last Summer in the Hamptons(1995)

    as Eli Garfield

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Martin Nodel

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • W.S.H.: The Myth of the Urban Myth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Professor Pulling

  • ER(1994)

    Show 9 episodes · as Carl Vucelich

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Wolf(1994)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Fallen Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Barsaly

  • Manhattan Murder Mystery(1993)

    as Sy

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Husbands and Wives(1992)

    as Richard

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Buying a Landslide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Teddy Weinfeld

  • Queen Esther (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Mordecai (voice)

  • JFK(1991)

    as Mr. Goldberg (Spiesel)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Trials of Rosie O'Neill(1990)

    Show 34 episodes · as Ben Meyer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Alex Drakos · as Defense Attorney Phillip Nevins

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • America's Funniest Home Videos(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8(1987)

    as Allen Ginsberg

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Courage(1986)

    as Eppy Lucido

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Dress Gray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Maj. Consor

  • Do You Remember Love(1985)

    as Gerry Kaplan

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Solly

  • The Ratings Game(1984)

    as TV Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Kidco(1984)

    as George Tuskle

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Sleeping Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as The Squire

  • The Sting II(1983)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Winds of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Hartley

  • Another Woman's Child(1983)

    as Barry Stein

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

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as The Squire

  • The Day the Bubble Burst(1982)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

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

    Show 1 episode · as Leonard (segment 'The Home')

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 9 episodes · as Dr. Hal Lantry

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • The Chosen(1981)

    as Baseball Coach

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Monty DiMair

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Stan Lesser

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Mrs. R's Daughter(1979)

    as Deputy D.A. Joseph Barron

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Mary Tyler Moore Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • Greatest Heroes of the Bible (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Beseleel

  • The Big Fix(1978)

    as Randy

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Rabbit Test (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Dr. Briscoe

  • Husbands, Wives & Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • A Question of Guilt(1978)

    as Assistant District Attorney Verrell

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Heroes(1977)

    as VA Doctor #2 (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Soap(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Kanter

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Rafferty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • In the Glitter Palace(1977)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Tony Randall Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alice(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • One Day at a Time(1975)

    Show 21 episodes · as Nick Handris

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • The Sunshine Boys(1975)

    as T.V. Floor Manager

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Night That Panicked America(1975)

    as Mercury Theatre Player

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Doc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • When Things Were Rotten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 9 episodes · as Prince John

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Robertson · as Warren Weeks

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Get Christie Love!(1974)

    as Normand

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick Levene

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Adam's Rib (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 13 episodes · as Assistant District Attorney Roy Mendelsohn

  • The Suicide Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Barnaby Jones(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Snipper Wilcox

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • The Sandy Duncan Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bob Newhart Show(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff Boggs

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Fuzz(1972)

    as Cop Guarding the Mayor's Mansion (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Silent Running(1972)

    as Marty Barker

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Awake and Sing! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Sam Feinschreiber

  • The Love Song of Charles Faberman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Charles Faberman

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Aaron Leacock

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Marty Dyer

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

    Show 1 episode · as Luther

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Schroeder

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Flareup(1969)

    as Sailor

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Medical Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Room 222 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Devil's 8(1969)

    as Stewart Martin

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Gidget(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Valentine's Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    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 114 titles from 1964 to 2022; peak year 2001.

Biggest box office

The Sum of All Fears (2002)

$194M worldwide

Highest rated

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Brothers & Sisters (2006)

Film career

19642022

Peak 2001 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 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
Acting114 of 114: 114 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1960s6 · acting1970s36 · acting1980s18 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s17 · acting2010s13 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 4% of 27 roles
7292970212

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 Ron Rifkin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 46; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 77 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up28
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

35 of their 77 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser35
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · actor

Sam the Man (2001)

82nd percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 31 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.

Is Ron Rifkin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 18 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles33–71 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity18 titles9–61 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity15 titles24–85 · median 46 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles27–57 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles27–66 · median 53 · moderateheavier 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 Ron Rifkin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ron Rifkin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jeremy Kagan shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers