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Bill Smitrovich

Bill Smitrovich

Actor · Born May 16, 1947 (79) · Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA

Bill Smitrovich (born William Stanley Zmitrowicz Jr., May 16, 1947, in Bridgeport, Connecticut) is a White American actor of Polish descent, 6′ 0″ (1.83 m) tall. He graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1972 and earned an MFA from Smith College in 1976, taught acting at the University of Massachusetts, and was a founding member of the No Theatre Company (alongside Willem Dafoe and Spalding Gray). He is married to Shaw Purnell (since 1985) and has two children, Alexander John and Maya Christina. His most notable television roles include Det. Danny Krychek in Crime Story (1986), Andrew Thacher in Life Goes On (1989–1993), Lt. Bob Bletcher in Millennium (1996–1997), ADA Kenneth Walsh in The Practice (2001–2004), Chief Alex Olczyk in Without a Trace (2004–2008), Vice President Raymond Jarvis in The Event (2010–2011), and Inspector Cramer in A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001–2002, 27 episodes). His most notable film credits include Captain Watson in Independence Day (1996), General Northwood in Air Force One (1997), General Maxwell Taylor in Thirteen Days (2000), General Stark in Fail Safe (2000), General Gabriel in Iron Man (2008), Mr. Zimburger in The Rum Diary (2011, with Johnny Depp), Frank in Ted (2012) and Ted 2 (2015), CIA head Hanley in The November Man (2014, with Pierce Brosnan), and Judge Herman Rothwax in Joker: Folie à Deux (2024). He also played Alexander Haig in The Reagans (2003) and made guest appearances in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 24, NYPD Blue, Criminal Minds, Dynasty (2017–2018), and Grey's Anatomy.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 16, 1947 (79)
From
Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
80 on MovieCove · 100 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 8% in 30 days

What are Bill Smitrovich's films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
24%
Morality
23%
Self
17%
Survival
13%
Power
13%
Society
7%
Ideas
4%
Justice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 18 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 14 · Intense 11

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 2

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 18 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 5

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 13 · Full focus 4

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 10 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 7
Shadow
2 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Herald
1 of 7
Threshold guardian
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Melancholic
11
Thrilling
7
Warm
9
Contemplative
5
Other
27

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

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 Bill Smitrovich's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 55 of their 80 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bill Smitrovich'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

100 credits, 80 with a MovieCove page.

  • Joker: Folie à Deux(2024)

    as Judge Herman Rothwax

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • We Are Gathered Here Today(2022)

    as Jack Weir

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Penny Dreadful: City of Angels(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Anton Chevic

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Magnum P.I.(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Carlyle

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Valley of Bones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Bill

  • Bitch(2017)

    as Papa

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • MacGyver(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Joshua

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Designated Survivor(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Nate Butcher

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Ted 2(2015)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The November Man(2014)

    as Hanley

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Last Ship(2014)

    Show 7 episodes · as Jed Chandler

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Intelligence(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Stanwick Finnegan

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Ted(2012)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Rum Diary(2011)

    as Zimburger

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Harry's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Horace

  • The Event(2010)

    Show 22 episodes · as Raymond Jarvis

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Black Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • Castle(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Davidson

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Seven Pounds(2008)

    as George Ristuccia

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Eagle Eye(2008)

    as Admiral Thompson

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Flash of Genius(2008)

    as Judge Franks

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Iron Man(2008)

    as General Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Last Lullaby(2008)

    as Martin

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Eli Stone(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Oliver Doyle

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Californication(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Nine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Brothers & Sisters(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Ridge

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Heavens Fall(2006)

    as George Chamlee

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Contract(2006)

    as Wainwright

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Det. Farraday

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Mrs. Harris(2005)

    as Joel Arnou

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Game of Their Lives(2005)

    as Admiral Higgins

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Therapist · as Walter Carr

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Fat Actress(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as John McGuire

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as David Croft

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • While I Was Gone(2004)

    as Daniel Beckett

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Boston Legal(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as D.A. Jack Fitzhugh

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Green

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • LAX (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Nick's Supervisor

  • The Reagans(2003)

    as Alexander Haig

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Reagans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Alexander Haig

  • Two and a Half Men(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 8 episodes · as Alexander Olczyk

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • 24(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Gene McLennen

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • A Nero Wolfe Mystery(2001)

    Show 27 episodes · as Inspector Cramer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Thirteen Days(2000)

    as Gen. Maxwell Taylor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Fail Safe(2000)

    as Gen. Stark

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • God, the Devil and Bob(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery(2000)

    as Inspector Cramer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Kiss Toledo Goodbye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as T. Bud

  • Futuresport(1998)

    as Coach Douglas

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Liam Weller

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The '60s (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Bill Herlihy

  • The '60s (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bill Herlihy

  • Batman Beyond(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Watt (voice) · as Ronny Boxer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Batman Beyond: The Movie(1999)

    as Frank Watt (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Around the Fire(1998)

    as Matt Harris

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ezra

  • Mr. Murder(1998)

    as Lt. Lowbock

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Air Force One(1997)

    as General Northwood

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 23 episodes · as Kenneth Walsh

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Ghosts of Mississippi(1996)

    as Jim Kitchens

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Millennium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 10 episodes · as Lt. Bob 'Bletch' Bletcher

  • The Trigger Effect(1996)

    as Steph

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Independence Day(1996)

    as Captain Watson

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Phantom(1996)

    as Uncle Dave Palmer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ray Urbanski

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Nick of Time(1995)

    as Officer Trust

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Bodily Harm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Lt. Darryl Stewart

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Joseph Dane

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Texas Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Mitch Conlon

  • Fantastic Four: The Animated Series(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Matt Murdock/Daredevil (voice)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill McNabb

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Children of the Dark(1994)

    as Milos Janecek

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • NYPD Blue(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Peter Shennon

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Labor of Love: The Arlette Schweitzer Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Dan Schweitzer

  • Gregory K(1993)

    as George Russ

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Webb

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernie

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Crazy People(1990)

    as Bruce

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Life Goes On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 83 episodes · Director · as Andrew "Drew" Thatcher

  • Renegades(1989)

    as Finch

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Her Alibi(1989)

    as Farrell

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Crime Story(1986)

    Show 43 episodes · as Sgt. Danny Krychek

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Crime Story: Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Det. Danny Krychek

  • Manhunter(1986)

    as Lloyd Bowman

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Band of the Hand(1986)

    as Chavez

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • A Killing Affair(1986)

    as Pink Gresham

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Silver Bullet(1985)

    as Andy Fairton

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Key Exchange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Lenny

  • The Beniker Gang(1984)

    as Laundry Truck Driver

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry Armstrong / Leonard Atkins

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lt. Scott Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Scott Wheeler

  • Maria's Lovers(1984)

    as Bartender

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Splash(1984)

    as Ralph Bauer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Born Beautiful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Jake O'Neill

  • A Little Sex(1982)

    as Technician

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Muggable Mary, Street Cop(1982)

    as Charlie Hock

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Not Dead Yet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Mike

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 100 titles, 99 of them dated from 1982 to 2024; peak year 2007.

Biggest box office

Iron Man (2008)

$586M worldwide

Highest rated

Iron Man (2008)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19822024

Peak 2007 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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.

  • 1984Screen debut· Maria's Lovers
  • 2008Career best· Iron Man

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting100 of 100: 99 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thDirecting1 of 100: 0 only directing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew1990s31 · acting2000s32 · acting2010s14 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 32 roles
8489990409

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 Bill Smitrovich's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 45; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 80 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th24
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

39 of their 80 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved15
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser39
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

We Are Gathered Here Today (2022)

98th percentile spread · 61% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Iron Man (2008)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 43. 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 Bill Smitrovich's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles34–85 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles14–61 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles39–91 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles27–86 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles28–77 · median 49 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian 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 Bill Smitrovich work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bill Smitrovich's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Giovanni Ribisi shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers