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David Selby

David Selby

Actor · Born February 5, 1941 (85) · Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. David Lynn Selby (born February 5, 1941) is an American character and stage actor. He has worked in movies, soap operas and television. The naturally black-headed Selby is best known for playing the roles of Quentin Collins on the ABC-TV serial, Dark Shadows (a role he played from 1968 to its ending in 1971 and again in the recent audio revival), and as the evil and compassionate estranged son of Angela Channing (played by Jane Wyman), Richard Channing, on the primetime CBS soap opera Falcon Crest (a role he played from 1982 to 1990). Description above from the Wikipedia article David Selby, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 5, 1941 (85)
From
Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 64 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 22% in 30 days

What are David Selby's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 99th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation 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
25%
Self
22%
Morality
19%
Survival
17%
Power
8%
Society
5%
Ideas
3%
Identity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 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 5 · Serious 8 · Dark 11

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

Grounded 16 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 14 · Intense 6

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 9 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 13 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 13
Mentor
3 of 13
Hero
2 of 13
Shadow
2 of 13
Shapeshifter
1 of 13
Threshold guardian
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
15
Dread
11
Warm
7
Contemplative
4
Other
20

How their films linger

Thought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet13
  • Ambiguous10

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 Selby's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Selby'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

64 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Such a Pretty Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Thanks

  • The Great Nick D (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Jim Hatton

  • Todd Tarantula (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Lucifer Grey

  • Loon Lake(2019)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Back Fork(2019)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Newness(2017)

    as Artie Hallock

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Smartass(2017)

    as Herman

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Legion(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Brubaker

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Equals(2015)

    as Leonard

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • NCIS: New Orleans(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Red

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Mic Whore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Satan

  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Commissioner James Gordon (voice)

  • Are You Here(2013)

    as Karl Stevens

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2(2013)

    as Commissioner Gordon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1(2012)

    as James Gordon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Dark Shadows(2012)

    as Guest

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Deck the Halls(2011)

    as Luke Reilly

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Social Network(2010)

    as Gage

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Inhale(2010)

    as Dr. White

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Senator Malcolm Humphrey

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Dark Shadows: The Haunting of Collinwood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as The Ghost of Quentin Collins (archive footage)

  • Raising the Bar(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Patrick Woolsey III

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Tell Me You Love Me(2007)

    Show 10 episodes · as Arthur Foster

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Mad Men(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Horace Cook, Sr.

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Unknown(2006)

    as Police Captain Parker

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • End Game(2006)

    as Shakey Fuller

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Black Hole(2006)

    as Ryker

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Larva(2005)

    as Fletcher Odermatt

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Surviving Christmas(2004)

    as Horace Vanglider

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Shadow of Fear(2004)

    as Mr. Steve Palmer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Dom Barron (2007)

  • Soldier of Fortune, Inc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Xavier Trout

  • Alone(1997)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 37 episodes · as Xavier Trout

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Rohr

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • D3: The Mighty Ducks(1996)

    as Dean Buckley

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • White Squall(1996)

    as Francis Beaumont

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Headless Body in Topless Bar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Bradford Lumpkin

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Abraham Lincoln

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Intersection(1994)

    as Richard Quarry

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Gordon Sunshine

  • Lady Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Martin Swanson

  • Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive(1992)

    as Shag Williams

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Dying Young(1991)

    as Richard Geddes

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • King of the Olympics: The Lives and Loves of Avery Brundage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Avery Brundage

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 209 episodes · as Richard Channing

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Rich and Famous(1981)

    as Doug Blake

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Flamingo Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 15 episodes · Actor

  • Raise the Titanic(1980)

    as Dr. Gene Seagram

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Doctor Franken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Dr. Mike Foster

  • Love for Rent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Phil

  • Rich Kids(1979)

    as Steve Sloan

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Night Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Lord Thomas Earl

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

    as Roy Hansen

  • Washington: Behind Closed Doors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 6 episodes · as Roger Castle

  • The Norming of Jack 243 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Jack 243

  • Police Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Nate Fesler

  • The Super Cops(1974)

    as Robert Hantz

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Jimmy O'Connor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • U-Turn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Scott Laithem

  • Up the Sandbox(1972)

    as Paul Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Night of Dark Shadows(1971)

    as Charles Collins / Quentin Collins

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Dark Shadows(1966)

    Show 771 episodes · as Quentin Collins

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 64 titles from 1966 to 2025; peak year 2012.

Biggest box office

Dying Young (1991)

$82M worldwide

Highest rated

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Dark Shadows (1966)

Film career

19662025

Peak 2012 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 9 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
Acting63 of 64: 63 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thOther crew1 of 64: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s13 · acting1980s6 · acting1990s13 · acting2000s11 · acting2010s17 · acting2020s3 · 2 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 4% of 24 roles
71910611

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 David Selby's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 24 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 24

Approval · how many liked their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 42 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Loon Lake (2019)

90th percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 36. 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 Selby's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles15–90 · median 31 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles22–76 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles38–58 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles33–50 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian 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 Selby work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Selby's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Boaz Davidson shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles