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Jim Staahl

Jim Staahl

Actor and writer, also producer · Born March 20, 1947 (79) · Evanston, Illinois, USA

Jim Staahl began his professional career as a resident member of Chicago's Second City Theater and wrote for SCTV. Staahl performed and wrote for an array of Variety shows starring Steve Allen, Sid Caesar, Martin Mull, Steve Martin, and Marty Short. Jim was also a co-head writer for shows that starred John Candy, Mike Myers, Howie Mandel, Fred Willard and Louie Anderson. Jim was also the star and co-head writer of his own series, Laugh Trax (1982). Jim Staahl's half hour writing credits include Mork & Mindy (1978), Married People (1990), Lightning Force (1991), 'Searcher in the Mist' segment of Danger Theatre (1993), Charles in Charge (1984), Young Hercules (1998), and Sledge Hammer! (1986). Staahl has also written numerous TV Pilots for NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX. He received two Emmy nominations for writing on Bobby's World, an animated series he co-created with Howie Mandel and co-produced for 8 years. Staahl has written animation series for Disney, Sony Wonder, Warner Brothers, Film Roman, DIC and Dream Works. He also co-wrote multiple episodes for Emmy Award winning Disney series Teacher's Pet (2004). Feature writing credits include Here Come the Munsters (1995), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), Under Surveillance (1991), Star Kid II, and Blow Hard. As an actor Jim has numerous network appearances and was a series regular on network series: Mork & Mindy (1978), Goodnight, Beantown (1983), The King of Queens (1998), Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000), and Normal Life (1990). Staahl has also appeared in a number of features including Spies Like Us (1985), Max Dugan Returns (1983), and Night Shift (1982). Staahl continues to perform.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 20, 1947 (79)
From
Evanston, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor and writer, also producer
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 37 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 31% in 30 days

What are Jim Staahl's films like?

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

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
36%
Self
25%
Society
19%
Morality
7%
Power
6%
Ideas
5%
Survival
2%
Friendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 6 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 3 · Wry 1 · Earnest 1

Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 6 · Serious 0 · Dark 0

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

Grounded 1 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 0 · Intense 0

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
8
Absurd
7
Warm
4
Triumphant
3
Manic
2
Other
4

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy8
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical2

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 Jim Staahl's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jim Staahl'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

37 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page.

  • VeggieTales- Duke and the Great Pie War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Writer

  • VeggieTales: Duke and the Great Pie War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Writer

  • Trollz(2005)

    Show Writer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Songs · Writer

  • Teacher's Pet(2004)

    Additional Writing

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Liberty's Kids(2002)

    Show Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer(2000)

    Producer · Writer · as Santa Claus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 5 episodes · as Restaurant Manager

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • Teacher's Pet(2000)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm(1999)

    as Jim Swenson

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Dragon Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 6 episodes · Writer

  • Sabrina: The Animated Series(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The King of Queens(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Halliburton

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Young Hercules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 4 episodes · Writer

  • Here Come the Munsters(1995)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Writer

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1993)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Goof Troop(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Howard (voice)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Bobby's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 81 episodes · Development Producer · Writer · Actor

  • I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Man #1 at Party

  • 110 Lombard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Creator · Writer

  • The Princess Who Had Never Laughed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Palace Guard

  • Popples (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Dad

  • Spies Like Us(1985)

    as Bud Schnelker

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Howie Mandel: Live from Carnegie Mall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Writer · Actor

  • Goodnight, Beantown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 13 episodes · as Frank Fletcher

  • Max Dugan Returns(1983)

    as Man at Shoe Store

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Airplane II: The Sequel(1982)

    as International Inquirer Reporter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Class Reunion(1982)

    as Egon von Stoker

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Palace Guard

  • Night Shift(1982)

    as Red

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Mae West(1982)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Twilight Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Writer · Actor

  • Mork & Mindy(1978)

    Show 48 episodes · as Nelson Flavor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Cracking Up(1977)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • SCTV(1976)

    Show Writer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

Career shape

A full career of 34 titles from 1977 to 2005.

Biggest box office

The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)

$57M worldwide

Highest rated

Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Mork & Mindy (1978)

Film career

  • 1978Screen debut· Mork & Mindy
  • 1982First film· Night Shift

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting21 of 34: 17 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thWriting16 of 34: 9 only writing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score22ndProducing2 of 34: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew4 of 34: 1 only other crew, 3 with another role

34 titles, 7 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s14 · 13 acting · 3 crew1990s10 · 4 acting · 7 crew2000s8 · 2 acting · 7 crew

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 6 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 Jim Staahl's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 12; across their 6 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 25th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Approval · how many liked their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 21 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · writer

Trollz (2005)

90th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 32. 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 Jim Staahl's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 44 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does Jim Staahl work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jim Staahl's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jim Fisher shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Producers