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Alexander Scourby

Alexander Scourby

Actor · Died February 22, 1985, aged 71 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Alexander Scourby (November 13, 1913 – February 22, 1985) was an American film, television, and voice actor known for his deep and resonant voice. He is best known for his film role as the ruthless mob boss Mike Lagana in Fritz Lang's The Big Heat (1953), and is also particularly well-remembered in the English-speaking world for his landmark recordings of the entire King James Version audio Bible, which have been released in numerous editions. He later recorded the entire Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Scourby recorded 422 audiobooks for the blind which he considered his most important work. He has a reputation in the audiobook industry as being one of the greatest narrators: "He is heralded as having the greatest voice ever recorded."

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 13, 1913
Died
February 22, 1985 (aged 71)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 85 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 27Down 19% in 30 days

What are Alexander Scourby's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Society.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Adventure 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
46%
Society
14%
Survival
13%
Power
12%
Self
8%
Bonds
7%
Deception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 12 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 10 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 6 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 6
Herald
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Contemplative
4
Melancholic
3
Warm
3
Hopeful
3
Other
15

How their films linger

Bittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

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 Alexander Scourby's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Alexander Scourby'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

85 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Stuff(1985)

    as Evans

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Among the Wild Chimpanzees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Australia's Animal Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Merton: A Film Biography (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Yellow Star: The Persecution of the Jews in Europe - 1933-1945 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as English language narrator

  • The Jesus Film(1979)

    as Luke (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Etosha: Place of Dry Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Uncommon Women and Others (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • This Other Eden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • Meeting of Minds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Galileo Galilei

  • The Hemingway Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Ernest Hemingway (middle-aged)

  • Buddhism in China (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Narrator (voice)

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

    as Narrator (voice)

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

    Actor

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • People of the Seal, Part 1: Eskimo Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • People of the Seal, Part 2: Eskimo Winter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Executioner(1970)

    as Prof. Parker

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Glory of Their Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Narrator

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Anthony Alquist · as Lucas Coleman

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • The Lonely Dorymen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Grizzly! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · as Count Boria

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • 1999 A.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Incredible World of James Bond(1965)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Gendarme in New York(1965)

    as Alex Scourby

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • National Geographic Specials(1965)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator (voice) · as Self - Narrator

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • China! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Narrator

  • The Unending Struggle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Narrator

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Eli Bothwell

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Amadeus / Wolfgang Wolp

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Novak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Allen Ferguson · as George Andreas

  • The Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

  • The Eleventh Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Garrett Nolan

  • The Devil at 4 O'Clock(1961)

    as The Governor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Cain's Hundred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Philip Hallson

  • The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as George Matthias · as John Wellman

  • The Asphalt Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Roy Bradley

  • Man on a String(1960)

    as Colonel Vadja Kubelov

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Seven Thieves(1960)

    as Raymond Le May

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Philip Marlowe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Steve Vincent

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as George Harper

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Jean Millain

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Johnny Staccato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Big Fisherman(1959)

    as David Ben-Zadok

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Shaggy Dog(1959)

    as Mikhail Andrassy

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Velvet Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Harvey Diedrich

  • Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert Hadley

  • Me and the Colonel(1958)

    as Major Von Bergen

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter Gerrick

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Byron Claremont

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Coogan

  • Shirley Temple's Storybook(1958)

    Show 2 episodes · as King

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Song of Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Walter Winchell File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Agent

  • The Night America Trembled (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Host

  • Venice: Theme and Variations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Giant(1956)

    as Old Polo

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel del Armija - Interrogator

  • Telephone Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Joseph Priestley

  • The Twisted Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Ransom! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Dr. Paul Y. Gorman

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Markheim

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Horace Meade

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Phil Silvers Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Hubbell Robinson (uncredited)

  • The Silver Chalice(1954)

    as Luke

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Sign of the Pagan(1954)

    as Chrysaphius

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Three Two One - Zero! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Narrator

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Mikhail Andrassy

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as David Potter · as Eric Betzdorff · as Frank Martin

  • Victory at Sea(1954)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Rollo Grimbauer

  • The Secret Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 319 episodes · as Dr. Ian Northcoate

  • The Spirit of Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Clement Moore / 'Nativity' Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

  • The Big Heat(1953)

    as Mike Lagana

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Glory Brigade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Lt. Niklas

  • The Redhead from Wyoming(1953)

    as Reece Duncan

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Because of You(1952)

    as Dr. Breen

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as El Indio · as Odysseus

  • Affair in Trinidad(1952)

    as Max Fabian

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Hagen

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Phillips · as Edward · as Narrator (voice) · as Prof. Tom Monev

  • Kraft Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Show 4 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • Hell Gate: The Watery Grave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Narrator (voice)

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 85 titles, 84 of them dated from 1947 to 1985; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

The Big Heat (1953)

$7.1K worldwide

Highest rated

The Big Heat (1953)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

National Geographic Specials (1965)

Film career

19471985

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

  • 1952Screen debut· Affair in Trinidad
  • 1979Career best· Jesus

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting85 of 85: 85 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

By decade

1940s2 · acting1950s41 · acting1960s21 · acting1970s15 · acting1980s5 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
5257

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 Alexander Scourby's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

The Jesus Film (1979)

71st percentile spread · 12% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Big Heat (1953)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 74, 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 Alexander Scourby'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 12 · minimalMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does Alexander Scourby work with?

People who share at least 2 of Alexander Scourby's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; George Duning shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers