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Forrest Tucker

Forrest Tucker

Actor · Died October 25, 1986, aged 67 · Plainfield, Indiana, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Forrest Meredith Tucker (February 12, 1919 – October 25, 1986) was an American actor in both movies and television who appeared in nearly a hundred films. Tucker described himself as a farm boy. He was born in Plainfield, Indiana, on February 12, 1919, a son of Forrest A. Tucker and his wife, Doris Heringlake. His mother has been described as an alcoholic. Tucker began his performing career at age 14 at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, pushing the big wicker tourist chairs by day and singing "Throw Money" at night. After his family moved to Washington, D.C., Tucker attracted the attention of Jimmy Lake, the owner of the Old Gaiety Burlesque Theater, by winning its Saturday night amateur contest on consecutive weeks. After his second win, Tucker was hired there at full time as Master of Ceremonies, but left when it was soon discovered that he was underage. He graduated from Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., in 1938, and, joining the United States Cavalry, was stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington County, Virginia, but discharged for, once again, being underage. He returned to work at the Old Gaiety after his 18th birthday. When Lake's theatre closed for the summer in 1939, Tucker was helped by a wealthy mentor to travel to California and try to break into film acting. He made a successful screen test, and began auditioning for movie roles. In his own estimation, Tucker was in the mold of large "ugly guys" such as Wallace Beery, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen, rather than a matinee idol. His debut was as a powerfully built farmer who clashes with the hero in The Westerner (1940), which starred Gary Cooper. Like many other movie actors at the time, Tucker enlisted in the United States Army during World War II; he earned a commission as a second lieutenant. Tucker married four times: Sandra Jolley (1919–1986) in 1940, divorced in 1950, daughter of the character actor I. Stanford Jolley (who also died of emphysema) and the sister of the Academy Award-winning art director Stan Jolley. They had a daughter, Pamela "Brooke" Tucker. Marilyn Johnson on March 28, 1950 (died on July 19, 1960). Marilyn Fisk on October 23, 1961. They had a daughter, Cindy Tucker, and son, Forrest Sean Tucker. Sheila Forbes on April 15, 1986. Tucker, who had battled lung cancer for more than a year, as well as having a series of minor illnesses, collapsed and was hospitalized, for the second time in a week, on his way to the ceremony for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 21, 1986. He died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on October 25, 1986, a few months after the theatrical release of Thunder Run and Outtakes. He was interred in Forest Lawn–Hollywood Hills Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. CLR

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 12, 1919
Died
October 25, 1986 (aged 67)
From
Plainfield, Indiana, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
61 on MovieCove · 133 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 32% in 30 days

What are Forrest Tucker's films like?

Across their 47 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 45 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Grounded 29 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 0

Gentle 8 · Charged 31 · Intense 6

A split, not a type: Steady 22 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 0

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 5

Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 3

Casual 28 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 0

Resolved 37 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

33 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 13 of 33 analyzed roles.

Shadow
13 of 33
Ally
7 of 33
Hero
5 of 33
Trickster
3 of 33
Shapeshifter
2 of 33
Mentor
2 of 33
Threshold guardian
1 of 33
Show the 33 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
30
Thrilling
15
Romantic
14
Joyful
8
Melancholic
8
Other
45

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy22
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous4
  • 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 Forrest Tucker's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 61 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Subscription and free streaming for Forrest Tucker'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

133 credits, 61 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • La classe américaine(1993)

    as The Fax Man (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • Timestalkers(1987)

    as Texas John Cody

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Thunder Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Charlie Morrison

  • A Rare Breed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Ringstealer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Narrator

  • Blood Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Lyndon B. Johnson

  • Matt Houston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Buck Turley

  • Filthy Rich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Flo(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows
  • The Rebels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Angus Fletcher

  • A Real American Hero(1978)

    as Carl Pusser

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Fantasy Island(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Jake Gordon

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows
  • The Incredible Rocky Mountain Race (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Mike Fink

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Zachary · as Tex · as Tom Preston

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Grizzly Adams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernie

  • Once an Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 7 episodes · as Col. Avery

  • Alice(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows
  • The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West(1976)

    as Wagonmaster Callahan

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
  • The Bionic Woman(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows
  • Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Clint McGraw

  • The Ghost Busters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 15 episodes · Actor

  • The Wild McCullochs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as J. J. McCulloch

  • S.W.A.T.(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows
  • Police Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as O'Malley

  • Little House on the Prairie(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Tyler

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows
  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Det. Paul Zachary

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
  • Dusty's Trail(1973)

    Show 26 episodes · as Wagonmaster Callahan

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows
  • Jarrett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Rev. Vocal Simpson

  • Footsteps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Bradford Emmons

  • Cancel My Reservation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Reese

  • Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol(1972)

    as Harry McMartin

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Bo Williamson

  • Cat Ballou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Kid Sheleen

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Deputy Harker Wilkins

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Ernest Stringfellow

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • Barquero(1970)

    as Mountain Phil

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Chisum(1970)

    as Lawrence Murphy

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Horton · as John

  • Medical Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Ollie Wayne

  • Doc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Dr. Jason Fillmore

  • The Night They Raided Minsky's(1968)

    as Trim Houlihan

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • A Boy Called Nuthin’ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Turkeyneck

  • Hondo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title(1966)

    as Romantic Diner Customer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
  • F Troop(1965)

    Show 65 episodes · as Sergeant. Morgan O'Rourke

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joe Snag

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Cyrus Smuts

  • Channing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Don Landon

  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Evers

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Max Beemis

  • Counterplot(1959)

    as Brock Miller

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Ryan

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Carlock

  • Gunsmoke in Tucson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as John Brazos

  • Auntie Mame(1958)

    as Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • The Crawling Eye(1958)

    as Alan Brooks

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Girl in the Woods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Steve Cory

  • Fort Massacre(1958)

    as McGurney

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Rex Montana

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
  • The Deerslayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Harry March

  • The Abominable Snowman(1957)

    as Tom Friend

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • The Quiet Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Sheriff Carl Brandon

  • Stagecoach To Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Frank Townsend

  • Three Violent People(1956)

    as Deputy Commissioner Cable

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Paris Follies of 1956 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Dan Bradley

  • The Vanishing American (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Morgan

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Benteen · as Brad McClain · as John Charron · as Sergeant Holly · as Sgt. Emmett Holly · as Will Donavan

  • Night Freight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Mike Peters

  • Finger Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Dutch Becker

  • Rage at Dawn(1955)

    as Frank Reno

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Break in the Circle(1955)

    as Baron Keller

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Chips Murphy

  • Trouble in the Glen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Maj. Jim 'Lance' Lansing

  • Jubilee Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as John Ives

  • The Big Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Uri

  • Flight Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Capt. Bill Eaton

  • Laughing Anne(1953)

    as Jem Farrell

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Pony Express(1953)

    as James Butler aka Wild Bill Hickok

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • San Antone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Lt. Brian Culver, CSA

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Marlowe

  • Ride the Man Down(1952)

    as Sam Danfelser

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Montana Belle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Mac

  • Hurricane Smith(1952)

    as Dan McGuire

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Red Healey

  • Hoodlum Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Charles A. 'Charley' Pignatalli

  • Bugles in the Afternoon(1952)

    as Donavan

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Flaming Feather(1952)

    as Lt. Tom Blaine

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • The Wild Blue Yonder(1951)

    as Maj. Tom West

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Warpath(1951)

    as Sgt. O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Steve MacGregor

  • Crosswinds(1951)

    as 'Jumbo' Johnson

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
  • Fighting Coast Guard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Bill Rourk

  • Oh! Susanna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Lt. Col. Unger

  • California Passage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Mike Prescott

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Ken · as William Patterson

  • Rock Island Trail(1950)

    as Reed Loomis

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Slater

  • The Nevadan(1950)

    as Tom Tanner

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • Sands of Iwo Jima(1949)

    as PFC Al J. Thomas

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • Brimstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Sheriff Henry McIntyre

  • Hellfire(1949)

    as Marshall Bucky McLean

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • The Big Cat(1949)

    as Gil Hawks

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • The Last Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Jim Plummer

  • The Plunderers(1948)

    as Whit Lacey

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Two Guys from Texas(1948)

    as 'Tex' Bennett

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Coroner Creek (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Ernie Combs

  • Adventures in Silverado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Zeke Butler

  • Gunfighters(1947)

    as Ben Orcutt

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • The Yearling(1946)

    as Lem Forrester

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
  • Never Say Goodbye(1946)

    as Fenwick Lonkowski

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Dangerous Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Clayton Russell

  • Renegades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Frank Dembrow

  • The Man Who Dared (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Larry James

  • Talk About a Lady(1946)

    as Bart Manners

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Keeper of the Flame(1942)

    as Geoff Midford

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Whipper

  • The Spirit of Stanford(1942)

    as Buzz Costello (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • My Sister Eileen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Sandhog (uncredited)

  • Counter-Espionage(1942)

    as Anton Schugg

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Parachute Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Lt. Tucker

  • Submarine Raider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Pulaski

  • Tramp, Tramp, Tramp! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Blond Bomber

  • Canal Zone(1942)

    as Recruit Madigan

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Shut My Big Mouth(1942)

    as Red

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Honolulu Lu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Barney

  • New Wine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Moritz

  • Emergency Landing(1941)

    as Jerry Barton

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • The Westerner(1940)

    as Wade Harper

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 133 titles from 1940 to 1993; peak year 1969.

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19401993

Peak 1969 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 10 MovieCove titles. 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting133 of 133: 133 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score41st

By decade

1940s29 · acting1950s50 · acting1960s14 · acting1970s29 · acting1980s10 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 13% of 16 roles
4055

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 Forrest Tucker's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 47; across their 45 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Reach · how many have seen their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Midcredits score across 61 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th25
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 61 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed13
  • Mixed24

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 42 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 44. 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 Forrest Tucker work with?

People who share at least 2 of Forrest Tucker's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paul Sawtell shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers