Skip to content
MovieCove
Bubba Smith

Bubba Smith

Actor · Died August 3, 2011, aged 66 · Beaumont, Texas, USA

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith (February 28, 1945 – August 3, 2011) was an American actor and former athlete. He was a professional football player in the 1960s and 1970s who became an actor in the late 1970s. Born in Orange, Texas, he attended high school in Beaumont, Texas. He is well known for his tremendous size at 6 ft 7 in (2 m). Description above from the Wikipedia article Bubba Smith, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 28, 1945
Died
August 3, 2011 (aged 66)
From
Beaumont, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 47 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 31% in 30 days

What are Bubba Smith's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Action 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
30%
Self
23%
Morality
20%
Society
16%
Power
8%
Survival
2%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 2 · Dark 1

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 4 · Intense 1

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 10 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 6 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 6
Trickster
1 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
8
Joyful
8
Tense
3
Thrilling
4
Hopeful
1
Other
5

How their films linger

Fun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous1

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 Bubba Smith's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bubba Smith'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

47 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Full Clip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Sleepy

  • Down 'n Dirty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Det. Jerry Cale

  • Police Academy: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Capt. Moses Hightower

  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Security Guard

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Drifting School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Peter Jackson

  • The Silence of the Hams(1994)

    as Olaf

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Dick Ramsey

  • Fist of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Detective Johnson

  • The Naked Truth(1992)

    as The Cop

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Gremlins 2: The New Batch(1990)

    as Bubba Smith

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Stuck with Each Other(1989)

    as Augie

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Family Matters(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Bones

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Police Academy 6: City Under Siege(1989)

    as Hightower

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Coach(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Bubba Smith

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach(1988)

    as Hightower

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Pair(1987)

    as Benny Avalon

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Bubba Smith · as Spare Tire Dixon

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol(1987)

    as Hightower

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Police Academy 3: Back in Training(1986)

    as Moses Hightower

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Black Moon Rising(1986)

    as Johnson

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bailey

  • Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment(1985)

    as Moses Hightower

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Half Nelson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 8 episodes · as  Kurt

  • Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Bubba

  • Bubba Until It Hurts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Executive Producer · Actor

  • Police Academy(1984)

    as Moses Hightower

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Blue Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 11 episodes · as Lyman Kelsey

  • Stroker Ace(1983)

    as Arnold

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Open All Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 13 episodes · as Robin

  • Escape from DS-3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as MacKenzie 'Mac' Gynn

  • The Big Black Pill(1981)

    as Big Foot

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Fighting Back: The Story of Rocky Bleier(1980)

    as Jacobs

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Semi-Tough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang(1979)

    as Luther

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Pleasure Doing Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Joe Marsh

  • B. J. and the Bear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Vega$ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Taxi(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucius Franklin

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

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

    as Moses Gordine

  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Battle of the Network Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Toby

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Wonder Woman(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Rojak

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Good Times(1974)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Odd Couple(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Bubba Smith

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Monday Night Football (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 2 episodes · as Defensive end · as Defensive End

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 47 titles from 1970 to 2004; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

Police Academy (1984)

$81M worldwide

Highest rated

Police Academy (1984)

Midcredits 69th

Film career

19702004

Peak 1987 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 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
Acting47 of 47: 46 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score32ndProducing1 of 47: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s14 · acting1980s23 · 23 acting · 1 crew1990s8 · acting2000s2 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 22% of 9 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 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.

How do Bubba Smith's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 24th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 26th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

18thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 26 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

The Naked Truth (1992)

86th percentile spread · 68% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Good Times (1974)

Midcredits 77th · 80% liked

Reviewers score the acting 52/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 66, detractors 33. 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 Bubba Smith's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, 2 of the 5 categories sit near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles20–55 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles25–57 · median 28 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 28 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 12 · minimalMedian 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 Bubba Smith work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bubba Smith's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Neal Israel shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers