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David Spielberg

David Spielberg

Actor · Died June 1, 2016, aged 77 · Weslaco, Texas, USA

David Spielberg (March 6, 1939 – June 1, 2016) was an American television and film actor. Spielberg was born in Weslaco, Texas, and was a resident of Mercedes, Texas. His father was a Romanian-Jewish immigrant, and his mother was a Mexican-American teacher. After serving in the United States Navy for two years, he enrolled in the University of Texas. Two summers' acting experience in New York City led him to drop out of the university and move to New York to pursue a career in acting. He was not related to American film director Steven Spielberg. Spielberg's screen debut was in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972). He also appeared in Newman's Law (1974), Law and Disorder (1974), Hustle (1975), American Raspberry (1977), The Choirboys (1977), Real Life (1979), Winter Kills (1979), Christine (1983), The Stranger (1987), Alice (1990), and Red Ribbon Blues (1996).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 6, 1939
Died
June 1, 2016 (aged 77)
From
Weslaco, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
52 on Motif · 87 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 65 days to Oct 28Down 21% in 30 days

What are David Spielberg's films like?

Across their 15 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their Motif 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
28%
Survival
22%
Bonds
22%
Self
12%
Power
6%
Ideas
6%
Society
4%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 4 · Dark 8

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 7

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 10 · 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 2 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 0

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 4 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Mentor
2 of 4
Ally
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Melancholic
7
Warm
5
Thrilling
4
Contemplative
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic2
  • Cyclical1

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 Spielberg's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 52 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Spielberg's titles on Motif; 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

87 credits, 52 with a Motif page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Flight of the Living Dead(2007)

    as Dr. Conroy

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Eyes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Final Draft(2003)

    as Shmuel

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Beach Boys: An American Family (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Irving Rovell

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Congressman

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Family Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Howard Thomas

  • Silent Predators(1999)

    as Mayor Parker

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Murder(1998)

    as Mobile Home Owner

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as TV Station Executive Colkod

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Mother Knows Best (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as George Cooper

  • Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan(1995)

    as George

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Neil Bernstein

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Where Are My Children?(1994)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • A Place for Annie(1994)

    as Dr. Palmer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Corpse Had a Familiar Face(1994)

    as George

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • SeaQuest 2032(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Donnegan

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Bloodlines: Murder in the Family(1993)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Hearts Afire(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jordan

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story(1992)

    as Gary Pillersdorf

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Nervous Ticks(1992)

    as Mr. Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Us (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Paul Kramer

  • The Last to Go(1991)

    as Albert Holliver

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Alice(1990)

    as Ken, Dorothy's Husband

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Alvin Hoyt · as Isaac Shore

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Northern Exposure(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Dick Schuster

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Preppie Murder(1989)

    as Steven Levin

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Baywatch (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Eric Van Alden

  • Monsters(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Reardon

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Stranger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    as Hobby

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Cmdr. Hutchinson

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Sworn to Silence (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    as Aaron Goodman

  • A Desperate Exit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    as Mr. Brown

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Angelli

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • War and Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    as Aron Szteinman

  • Obsessed with a Married Woman(1985)

    as Sammler

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Det. Lt. Tad Travis · as Lt. Henry Girard

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Milhaus · as Pete Nelson

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Liggett

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Punky Brewster(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Matt Glossy

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Airwolf(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Phelps

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bruce Walsh

  • Christine(1983)

    as Mr. Casey

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Policewoman Centerfold (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Steve Jones

  • Games Mother Never Taught You (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Alan Porter

  • Tucker's Witch (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Wayne Harris

  • Family Ties(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Press

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Maid in America (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Harold Klumper

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ned Vogel

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Jessica Novak (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • The Best Little Girl in the World(1981)

    as Dr. Garrett

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Foul Play (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Lieutenant Hofstra

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Morgan / Inspector Vittorio Mono

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Act of Love(1980)

    as Victor Burton

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Hunter(1980)

    as Sgt. Werblo (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Henderson Monster (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as Mayor Frank Bellona

  • Stone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    as Lt. Carey Roth

  • Winter Kills(1979)

    as Miles Garner

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Real Life(1979)

    as Dr. Jeremy Nolan

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • From Here to Eternity (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lt. Ross

  • The American Girls (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force(1978)

    as David Addlestone

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Wheels (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 5 episodes · as Dr. Patterson

  • King(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as Beamer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Choirboys(1977)

    as Finque

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Storyteller (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    as Louis Kellogg

  • In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    as Dr. Mason

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • American Raspberry (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    as Mr. Dorset

  • The 3,000 Mile Chase(1977)

    as Frank Oberon

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Practice (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 27 episodes · as Dr. David Bedford

  • Hustle(1975)

    as Jerry Bellamy

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • One Day at a Time(1975)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Kate McShane (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Morrison

  • Barbary Coast (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Jesse James

  • Force Five (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    as Norman Ellsworth

  • Law and Disorder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Bobby

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · as Police Sgt. Tom Garvey

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Newman's Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Hinney

  • Judgment: The Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg(1974)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 13 episodes · as Ted Henderson

  • Toma (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Marlowe

  • The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds(1972)

    as Mr. Goodman

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Night of Terror(1972)

    as Dr. Widdocomb

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Trial of the Catonsville Nine(1972)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Banacek(1972)

    Show as Church

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Story Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Ensemble Member

  • Love, American Style (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Lennie Corbett

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 86 titles from 1969 to 2007; peak year 1972.

Biggest box office

Christine (1983)

$21M worldwide

Highest rated

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Banacek (1972)

Film career

19692007

Peak 1972 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

  • 1972Screen debut· The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
  • 1994Career best· ER

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting86 of 86: 86 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score51st

By decade

1960s2 · acting1970s29 · acting1980s30 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s4 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% 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 Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do David Spielberg's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 43rd percentile, the median of all 29; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 52 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 52 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed19

Most divisive · actor

Judgment: The Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg (1974)

90th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972)

Midcredits 92nd · 80% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 48. 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 Midcredits 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 Spielberg work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Spielberg's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Florio shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles