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David Shackelford

David Shackelford

Actor

Works as
Actor
Titles
21 on Motif · 27 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Up 56% in 30 days

What are David Shackelford's films like?

Across their 7 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.

Genres

Comedy3 titlesTypical Motif score: 27th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Motif score: 27th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
30%
Society
22%
Morality
13%
Power
12%
Self
11%
Survival
11%
Community2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 0 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 6 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 4 · Intense 1

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

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 2 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 2 · 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 4 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
4
Absurd
3
Warm
3
Hopeful
2
Melancholic
1
Other
4

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet1
  • Ambiguous2

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 Shackelford's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 21 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Shackelford's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

27 credits, 21 with a Motif page.

  • The Invisible Raptor(2023)

    as Deniel 'Denny' Denielson

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Hot Bot(2016)

    as Benny

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all films

  • True Detective(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · as Kenny

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Jonas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    as Charles

  • Beneath(2013)

    as Van Horn

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Power of Few(2013)

    as Bob

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Double(2011)

    as Security Guard

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Stay Cool(2009)

    as John John

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Shoot the Hero (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Red

  • Vacancy 2: The First Cut(2008)

    as Truck Driver

    Motif score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Car Babes(2006)

    as Pat Skis

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Love for Rent(2005)

    as Tony

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Blowing Smoke(2004)

    as Leo

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • 30 Days Until I'm Famous(2004)

    as Christopher

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Trail to Hope Rose(2004)

    as A.J. Foster

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Neal Graham

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Sand (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Groom

  • The Michael Richards Show (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Drunk Guy

  • Strong Medicine (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Truck Driver

  • Happy, Texas(1999)

    as Varnel

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Hungry Bachelors Club (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Marlon

  • There's Something About Mary(1998)

    as Coconut Guy

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Some Girl(1998)

    as Earl

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Good Burger(1997)

    as Attendant

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Dogtown(1997)

    as Jessie Jim

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Kingpin(1996)

    as Red Neck Stutterer

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Gun Shop Proprietor

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 84th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 27 titles from 1993 to 2024; peak year 1997.

Highest rated

The Invisible Raptor (2023)

Motif 37th

Most popular right now

Beneath (2013)

Film career

19932024

Peak 1997 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. 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
Acting27 of 27: 27 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score37th

By decade

1990s8 · acting2000s10 · acting2010s8 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 20th · top billed in 0% 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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do David Shackelford's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 33rd percentile, the median of all 18; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 23rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

23rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Motif score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 21 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Blowing Smoke (2004)

94th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

True Detective (2014)

Motif 98th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 David Shackelford work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Shackelford's Motif titles; Cary Gries shares the most, 2.