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Ken Swofford

Ken Swofford

Actor · Died November 1, 2018, aged 85 · DuQuoin - Illinois - USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Ken Swofford (July 25, 1933 - November 1, 2018) was an American film and television actor noted for his red hair and ruddy complexion. He was often cast as "everyman", villains, or policemen. Between 1962 and 1995, Swofford's film credits included The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson, Thelma and Louise, Black Roses and The Andromeda Strain, while his TV career during the same period was prolific. Appearing repeatedly as a guest and/or in recurring roles, he is best remembered as Quentin Morlock in Fame, Lt. Griffin in Switch, Cutler in The Oregon Trail, Al Barber in Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, Lt. Catalano in Murder, She Wrote and columnist Frank Flanagan in Ellery Queen.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 25, 1933
Died
November 1, 2018 (aged 85)
From
DuQuoin - Illinois - USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 69 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 30% in 30 days

What are Ken Swofford's films like?

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

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Crime 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
41%
Survival
26%
Bonds
12%
Society
7%
Power
5%
Ideas
5%
Self
4%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 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 4 · Serious 4 · Dark 6

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

Grounded 12 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 7 · Intense 5

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Melancholic
5
Dread
3
Warm
3
Hopeful
3
Other
6

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 Ken Swofford's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ken Swofford'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

69 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page.

  • Teacher's Pet(2004)

    as Officer White (voice)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Recess: School's Out(2001)

    as Coach (voice)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Cops n Roberts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Rupert Leverton

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Gunsmoke: To the Last Man(1992)

    as Charlie Tewksbury

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Taking of Beverly Hills(1991)

    as Coach

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Rewrite for Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Al Barbar

  • Murder in High Places(1991)

    as Van Stamp

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

  • Thelma & Louise(1991)

    as Major

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Black Roses(1988)

    as Mayor Farnsworth

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Wonder Years(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Al

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Stepford Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Frank Gregson

  • Hunter's Blood(1986)

    as Al Coleman

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Ned Salem

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Terror at London Bridge(1985)

    as Ed Nebel

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 6 episodes · as Alan Forsythe · as Grover Barth · as Leo Kowalski · as Lt. Catalano · as Sheriff Tugman · as Sid Sharkey

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Gambler: The Adventure Continues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Witchita Pike

  • The Gambler: The Adventure Continues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · as Witchita Pike

  • The Rousters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers(1983)

    as Sergeant Wagner

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Annie(1982)

    as Weasel

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 73 episodes · as Principal Morloch

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as March Ridley

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • S.O.B.(1981)

    as Harold Harrigan

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • All God's Children(1980)

    as Capt. Sam Pierce

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

  • Sultan and the Rock Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as George Mackenzie

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Pickett

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Captain America II: Death Too Soon(1979)

    as Everett Bliss

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Battlestar Galactica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as General Maxwell

  • The Eddie Capra Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 13 episodes · as J.J. Devlin

  • To Kill a Cop(1978)

    as Lt. Fitzgerald

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • To Kill a Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lt. Fitzgerald

  • Crisis in Sun Valley(1978)

    as Thorndike

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Greenway

  • The Domino Principle(1977)

    as Warden Ditcher

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Scott Free (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Ed McGraw

  • Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 6 episodes · as Al Barber

  • Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Flannigan

  • Man on the Outside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Lt. Matthews

  • Sky Hei$t (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Deputy Pat Connelly

  • Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Capt. Griffin

  • A Cry for Help(1975)

    as Paul Church

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Wronko · as Col. John 'Howling Mad' Smith · as DEA Agent Al Jollett · as FBI Agent Patrick · as P.I. Floyd Ross

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Petrocelli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Phillip Armor

  • Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • A Case of Rape(1974)

    as Det. Riley

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dan Kelly · as Roy Palmer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • One Little Indian(1973)

    as Pvt. Dixon

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Lieutenant

  • The Boy and the Bronc Buster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Gentry

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Tracer · as Max Frazer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Herman Ledeker - Bus Driver

  • Skyjacked(1972)

    as John Bimonte

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Stone

  • Bless the Beasts & Children(1971)

    as Wheaties

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Andromeda Strain(1971)

    as Toby (technician)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Intruders(1970)

    as Pomerantz

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Partridge Family(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach · as Monty

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • The Odd Couple(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Cop

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Lawyer(1970)

    as Charlie O'Keefe

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Cutter's Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Clay Wooten

  • Shadow on the Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Private

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Floyd Delman

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Common Law Cabin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Barney Rickert

  • First to Fight(1967)

    as O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Deputy Mayor Charles Peck · as Florian Vaclav

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • I Spy(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Clay

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Father Goose(1964)

    as Helmsman, Submarine USS Sailfin

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Captain Newman, M.D.(1963)

    as Patient (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 69 titles from 1963 to 2004; peak year 1972.

Highest rated

Bless the Beasts & Children (1971)

Midcredits 72nd

Most popular right now

Murder, She Wrote (1984)

Film career

19632004

Peak 1972 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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.

  • 1964Screen debut· Father Goose
  • 1967First top-billed film· Common Law Cabin

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting69 of 69: 69 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

By decade

1960s8 · acting1970s35 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s2 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 7% of 14 roles
6474

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 Ken Swofford's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Crisis in Sun Valley (1978)

84th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Thelma & Louise (1991)

Midcredits 96th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 73, 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.

Who does Ken Swofford work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ken Swofford's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bruce Glover shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers