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Sylvia Sidney

Sylvia Sidney

Actor · Died July 1, 1999, aged 88 · The Bronx, New York, USA

Sylvia Sidney (born Sophia Kosow, August 8, 1910 – July 1, 1999) was an American stage, screen and film actress whose career spanned over 70 years. She rose to prominence in dozens of leading roles in the 1930s. She later gained attention for her role as Juno, a case worker in the afterlife, in Tim Burton's film Beetlejuice, for which she won a Saturn Award as Best Supporting Actress. She also was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 9, 1910
Died
July 1, 1999 (aged 88)
From
The Bronx, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 101 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 11% in 30 days

What are Sylvia Sidney's films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Crime8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
30%
Bonds
24%
Survival
15%
Self
13%
Society
8%
Power
6%
Ideas
3%
Redemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAddiction2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 6 · Dark 16

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

Grounded 17 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 15 · Intense 9

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 18 · 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 11 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 13

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

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 13 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 13
Hero
3 of 13
Herald
2 of 13
Threshold guardian
2 of 13
Mentor
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
20
Melancholic
15
Dread
9
Romantic
6
Warm
3
Other
17

How their films linger

Thought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous4

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 Sylvia Sidney's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sylvia Sidney'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

101 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Fantasy Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 13 episodes · as Clia

  • Mars Attacks!(1996)

    as Grandma Norris

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Used People(1992)

    as Becky

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Andre's Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Mrs. Downes

  • Dear John (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Lumenski

  • Beetlejuice(1988)

    as Juno

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Witching of Ben Wagner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Grammy (Regina's Grandmother)

  • thirtysomething (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Fern Stobbs

  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge

  • An Early Frost(1985)

    as Beatrice McKenna

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Finnegan Begin Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Margaret

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s(1984)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Order of Death(1983)

    as Margaret Smith

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Brass Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Grandmother

  • Having It All(1982)

    as Marney

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Hammett(1982)

    as Donaldina Cameron

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Come Along with Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Mrs. Flanner

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Downs · as Mrs. Flanner

  • A Small Killing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Sadie Ross

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Elizabeth Barrett

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Shadow Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Felicity

  • F.D.R.: The Last Year(1980)

    as Cousin Polly

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Gossip Columnist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Alma Lewellyn

  • Supertrain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Agatha Wills

  • WKRP in Cincinnati(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Lillian Carlson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Kaz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Molly

  • Damien: Omen II(1978)

    as Aunt Marion

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Siege (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Lillian Gordon

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Natalie Corson

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • I Never Promised You a Rose Garden(1977)

    as Miss Coral

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Snowbeast(1977)

    as Mrs. Carrie Rill

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Aunt Fealty

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Raid on Entebbe(1976)

    as Dora Bloch

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • God Told Me To(1976)

    as Elizabeth Mullin

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Death at Love House(1976)

    as Clara Josephs

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Olga Grossman

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Winner Take All(1975)

    as Anne Barclay

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Secret Night Caller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Kitty

  • Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams(1973)

    as Mrs. Pritchard - Rita's Mother

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate(1971)

    as Elizabeth Gibson

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Adela Collins

  • Special for Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Minna Borden

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Hannah Ellis · as Lonnie Taylor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • My Three Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Houk

  • The DuPont Show with June Allyson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Beulah Ridges

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Florence Nunda

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • No Time at All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Mrs. Kramer

  • The Helen Morgan Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Lulu Morgan

  • Playhouse 90 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Kramer

  • Behind the High Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Hilda Carmichael

  • Man on the Ledge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Mrs. Cosick

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Cosick

  • Playwrights '56 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Violent Saturday(1955)

    as Elsie Braden

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Louella Wheedron

  • Kraft Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Gloria Roma

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Blake

  • Les Miserables(1952)

    as Fantine

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Tales of Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Joyce · as Laura Barrie

  • Cameo Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Screen Snapshots 1860: Howdy, Podner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Sylvia Sidney

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Love from a Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Cecily Harrington

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Searching Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Cassie Bowman

  • Mr. Ace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Margaret Wyndham Chase

  • Blood on the Sun(1945)

    as Iris Hilliard

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Wagons Roll at Night(1941)

    as Flo Lorraine

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • One Third of a Nation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mary Rogers

  • You and Me(1938)

    as Helen Roberts

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Dead End(1937)

    as Drina

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • You Only Live Once(1937)

    as Joan Graham

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Sabotage(1936)

    as Mrs. Verloc

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Fury(1936)

    as Katherine Grant

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Trail of the Lonesome Pine(1936)

    as June Tolliver

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Mary Burns, Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mary Burns

  • Accent on Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Linda Brown

  • Behold My Wife! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tonita Storm Cloud

  • Thirty Day Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Nancy Lane / Princess Catterina

  • Good Dame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Lillie Taylor

  • Jennie Gerhardt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Jennie Gerhardt

  • Pick-up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Mary Richards

  • Madame Butterfly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Cho-cho San

  • Make Me a Star(1932)

    as Sylvia Sidney (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Merrily We Go to Hell(1932)

    as Joan Prentice

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Miracle Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Helen Smith aka Helen Vail

  • Ladies of the Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Kathleen Storm McNeil

  • Street Scene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Rose Maurrant

  • An American Tragedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Roberta 'Bert' Alden

  • Confessions of a Co-Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Patricia Harper

  • The House That Shadows Built (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as (archive footage)

  • City Streets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Nan Cooley

  • Five Minutes from the Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Carrie Adams

  • Thru Different Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Valerie Briand

  • Broadway Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Performer

  • The Sorrows of Satan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Bridesmaid (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 101 titles from 1926 to 1998; peak year 1976.

Biggest box office

Beetlejuice (1988)

$75M worldwide

Highest rated

Fury (1936)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Beetlejuice (1988)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19261998

Peak 1976 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 8 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.

  • 1931Screen debut· City Streets
  • 1931First top-billed film· Street Scene
  • 1936Breakout· Fury

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting101 of 101: 101 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1920s3 · acting1930s25 · acting1940s8 · acting1950s19 · acting1960s4 · acting1970s17 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s5 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 33% of 21 roles
314181

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 Sylvia Sidney's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

F.D.R.: The Last Year (1980)

84th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Fury (1936)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 51. 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 Sylvia Sidney's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 63 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 21 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 20 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 29 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 54 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

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

Who does Sylvia Sidney work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sylvia Sidney's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Fritz Lang shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers