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Jack Starrett

Jack Starrett

Actor and director · Died March 27, 1989, aged 52 · Refugio, Texas, USA

Jack Starrett (November 2, 1936 – March 27, 1989) was an American actor and film director. He is credited as Claude Ennis Starrett, Jr. in some of his films. Starrett is perhaps best known for his role as Gabby Johnson, a parody of Gabby Hayes, in the 1974 classic parody film Blazing Saddles and is also known for his role as the brutal deputy Galt in the 1982 action film First Blood. He also played the cruel foreman Swick in The River. Starrett was often typecast as a tough-talking police officer and played essentially the same character in a trio of biker films: The Born Losers (the film that introduced Billy Jack), Hells Angels on Wheels (both from 1967), and Angels from Hell (1968). He acted in another biker film, Hell's Bloody Devils (1970), and directed two more: Run, Angel, Run in 1969 and Nam's Angels (1970). Description above from the Wikipedia article Jack Starrett, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 2, 1936
Died
March 27, 1989 (aged 52)
From
Refugio, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor and director
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 53 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 27Down 15% in 30 days

What are Jack Starrett's films like?

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

Genres

Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
Morality
35%
Survival
22%
Power
17%
Self
12%
Bonds
6%
Society
4%
Ideas
3%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 5 · Dark 6

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 10 · Intense 5

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 4

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

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 10 · 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 8 · Engaged 8 · 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 8 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 4
Shadow
1 of 4
Herald
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Thrilling
7
Melancholic
7
Dread
4
Absurd
4
Other
8

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous4

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 Jack Starrett's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jack Starrett'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

53 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Grizzly II: Revenge(1983)

    as Papas

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Nightwish(1989)

    as Professor

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Family Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Charlie

  • Brothers in Arms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Father

  • Death Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Lt. MacGrew

  • Hollywood Heartbreak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Lou Budowski

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The River(1984)

    as Swick

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Bartender · as Bartender (uncredited) · as Dennis Balzer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Wade Blackburn

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • First Blood(1982)

    as Deputy Sgt. Arthur Galt

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Hagen · as Lt. George Barth · as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Kiss My Grits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Treachery and Greed on the Planet of the Apes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Beyond Westworld(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • The Rose(1979)

    as Dee

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • A Man Called Sloane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Eischied (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Survival of Dana(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mr. Horn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gen. George Crook

  • Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Thaddeus Rose and Eddie(1978)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • What Really Happened to the Class of '65? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Big Hawaii (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Final Chapter: Walking Tall(1977)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Nowhere to Hide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director · as Gus

  • Roger & Harry: The Mitera Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • Hollywood Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director

  • A Small Town in Texas(1976)

    Director · as Buford Tyler

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Race with the Devil(1975)

    Director · as Gas Station Attendant

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Planet of the Apes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Dion Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · as Gentleman Rancher (as Claude Ennis Starrett Jr.)

  • Blazing Saddles(1974)

    as Gabby Johnson

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Cleopatra Jones(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Kid Blue(1973)

    as Tough Guy (as Claude Ennis Starrett Jr.)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Slaughter(1972)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Night Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • The Girls from Thunder Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Sheriff

  • Cry Blood, Apache(1970)

    Director · as The Deacon

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Losers(1970)

    Director · as Chet Davis (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Hell's Bloody Devils(1970)

    as Rocky

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Gay Deceivers(1969)

    as Colonel Dixon

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Run, Angel, Run! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • House of Zodiac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • The Gun Runner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Editor

  • Angels from Hell(1968)

    as Bingham

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Born Losers(1967)

    as Deputy Fred

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Hells Angels on Wheels(1967)

    as Sagt. Bingham

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 53 titles from 1967 to 2020.

Biggest box office

First Blood (1982)

$125M worldwide

Highest rated

First Blood (1982)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting30 of 53: 23 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score48thDirecting29 of 53: 22 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score38thEditing1 of 53: 1 only editing, 0 with another role

53 titles, 7 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1960s8 · 4 acting · 4 crew1970s29 · 13 acting · 22 crew1980s15 · 12 acting · 4 crew2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 8 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 Jack Starrett's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 27 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · director

Thaddeus Rose and Eddie (1978)

74th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

First Blood (1982)

Midcredits 96th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 53/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 67, 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 Jack Starrett's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity8 titles27–47 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32

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 Jack Starrett work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jack Starrett's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joe Solomon shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers