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Nancy Stafford

Nancy Stafford

Actor, also director · Born June 5, 1954 (72) · Wilton Manors, Florida, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Nancy Elizabeth Stafford (born June 5, 1954) is an American prolific character actress of stage, speaker and author, known for her roles in soap operas and television. She came to prominence in the 1980s as Ben Matlock's (played by Andy Griffith) law partner and friend, Michelle Thomas, on Matlock (a role she played from 1987 to 1992), before she played Judge Bell on Judging Amy. She hosted a syndicated TV series called "Main Floor" (1995–2005), a show about fashion and beauty. Husband Larry Myers is a pastor. They have a daughter and grandson. Her older brother Tracy Stafford was a two-term Mayor of Wilton Manors and a five-term member of the Florida House of Representatives. Description above from the Wikipedia article Nancy Stafford, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 5, 1954 (72)
From
Wilton Manors, Florida, USA
Works as
Actor, also director
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 43 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 27Up 45% in 30 days

What are Nancy Stafford's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
32%
Morality
28%
Society
16%
Survival
9%
Self
8%
Ideas
6%
Power
1%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeForgiveness3 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 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 6 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 15 · 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 8 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

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

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Hopeful
10
Warm
8
Tense
8
Joyful
5
Melancholic
5
Other
11

How their films linger

Hopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet4

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 Nancy Stafford's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nancy Stafford'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

43 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • All Is Merry & Bright(2025)

    as Janie Gilbert

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Far Haven(2023)

    as Alma Watkins

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Paul's Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Judy

  • The Mulligan(2022)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Damaged Goods(2021)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Love by Drowning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Stacy Martin

  • First Lady(2020)

    as Kathryn Morales

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Faith, Hope & Love(2019)

    as Mary Sue

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • A Mermaid's Tale(2017)

    as Thaleia

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Nazareth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Olivia Taylor

  • Heaven Bound(2017)

    as Josie

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • I'm Not Ashamed(2016)

    as Mrs. Talbot

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Heritage Falls(2016)

    as Laura Fitzpatrick

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Christmas for a Dollar(2013)

    as Mrs. Rathbone

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Season of Miracles(2013)

    as Nurse Barbara

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Assumed Memories(2013)

    as Dr. Weston

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Christmas Oranges(2012)

    as Mrs. Hartley

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Scandal(2012)

    Show 8 episodes · as BNC Anchor

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Christmas with a Capital C(2011)

    as Kirsten Reed

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Rosemary Tennant

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Wager(2007)

    as Annie Steele

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Bell

  • Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare(1995)

    as Karen Ingram

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Alan's Mom

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Babylon 5(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Mary Kirkish

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Moment of Truth: A Child Too Many (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Sharon Davis

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Barnes

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Saved by the Bell: The College Years(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Judith Trudell

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Pageant Coordinator Peg Myers

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • U.S. Marshals: Waco & Rhinehart(1987)

    as Joyce Hunter

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

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

    Show 23 episodes · Actor

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 112 episodes · as Caryn Nelson / Caroline Nathan · as Michelle Thomas

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Electric Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Patricia Blake

  • Who's the Boss?(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Nell Armstrong

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Scarecrow and Mrs. King(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Colleen Donnelly

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 30 episodes · as Joan Halloran

  • Remington Steele(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Jennifer Davenport

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Q: The Winged Serpent(1982)

    as Eyewitness

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Amy Griswald

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Miss America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Florida 1976

  • Florida Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Dianne

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 42 titles, 41 of them dated from 1954 to 2025; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Faith, Hope & Love (2019)

$210K worldwide

Highest rated

Christmas Oranges (2012)

Midcredits 74th

Most popular right now

Matlock (1986)

Film career

19542025

Peak 2018 · at the high point of their film career. 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.

  • 1982Screen debut· Q

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 42: 41 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndDirecting1 of 42: 1 only directing, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1980s13 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s2 · acting2010s11 · acting2020s7 · 6 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · 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 Nancy Stafford's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 34th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive6
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Heaven Bound (2017)

99th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Christmas for a Dollar (2013)

Midcredits 79th · 70% liked

Reviewers score the acting 53/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 27. 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.

Who does Nancy Stafford work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nancy Stafford's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Lyde shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles