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Joe Turkel

Joe Turkel

Actor · Died June 27, 2022, aged 94 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Joseph Turkel (July 15, 1927 – June 27, 2022) was an American actor. A career character actor, he was noted for his craggy Bronx looks and distinctive, penetrating voice. Turkel worked steadily from 1949 to 1998 in both films and television, including in the Stanley Kubrick films The Killing (1956), Paths of Glory (1957), and The Shining (1980). He still made the occasional appearance at fan conventions into his 90s.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 15, 1927
Died
June 27, 2022 (aged 94)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
53 on MovieCove · 105 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 2% in 30 days

What are Joe Turkel's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st 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
45%
Power
13%
Survival
11%
Self
11%
Bonds
11%
Society
5%
Ideas
4%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 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 9

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 8 · Intense 8

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles
Shadow
1 of 6
Herald
1 of 6
Trickster
1 of 6
Shapeshifter
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6
Hero
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
7
Dread
4
Contemplative
5
Cold
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic5
  • 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 Joe Turkel's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 53 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joe Turkel'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

105 credits, 53 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Dark Side of the Moon(1990)

    as Paxton Warner

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Reel Horror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Harry (archive footage)

  • Tales from the Darkside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Kharma

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Levec

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Blade Runner(1982)

    as Tyrell

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Shining(1980)

    as Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Fantasy Island(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Herb Glazer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Which Way Is Up?(1977)

    as Harry Boatwright

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Commitment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Jules

  • The Hindenburg(1975)

    as Detective Moore

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Prisoner of Second Avenue(1975)

    as Man Upstairs (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Sex Symbol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Director

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Swampgas

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Savage Abduction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Harry

  • Six Hundred and Sixty-Six (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Col. Ferguson

  • Black Jack(1972)

    as Corazza

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Animals(1971)

    as Peyote

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Scream Free! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • The Devil's 8(1969)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Land of the Giants(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Vince Warren

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The St. Valentine's Day Massacre(1967)

    as Jake 'Greasy Thumb' Guzik

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as District Attorney

  • The Sand Pebbles(1966)

    as Bronson

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Felony Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rat Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Capt. Bruener

  • King Rat(1965)

    as Dino

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Village of the Giants(1965)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Johnny Cool(1963)

    as Hoodlum

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Yellow Canary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Policeman

  • Combat!(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Klimmer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Famous Ghost Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Nick (segment 'Tormented')

  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Portrait of a Mobster(1961)

    as Joe Noe

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Asphalt Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Tallahassee 7000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Roaring 20's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Andy Griffith Show(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Tormented(1960)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Aquanauts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny

  • The Boy and the Pirates(1960)

    as Abu the Genie

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Purple Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Eddie Olsen

  • The Detectives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie

  • The Untouchables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Birdie Yates · as Deuces Kobler · as Garvin · as Gobo Karsh

  • Lock-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Pvt. Givers

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Lupe · as Private Peters · as Thug #1

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Tightrope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Here Come the Jets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Henley

  • Warlock(1959)

    as Chet Haggin (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Verboten!(1959)

    as Infantryman

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Bat Masterson(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Turkel · as Woody Larkin

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • The Texan(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Evan McBeem

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Case Against Brooklyn(1958)

    as Henchman Monte

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Bonnie Parker Story(1958)

    as Chuck Darrow

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Jefferson Drum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom

  • The Beast of Budapest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Martin

  • Paths of Glory(1957)

    as Pvt. Pierre Arnaud

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • House of Numbers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Bradville - Convict

  • Jeanne Eagels(1957)

    as Eddie, Reporter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Midnight Story(1957)

    as Lothario at Dance (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Hellcats of the Navy(1957)

    as Chick (as Joseph Turkel)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Shadow on the Window(1957)

    as Lounger (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Official Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Friendly Persuasion(1956)

    as Poor Loser (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Killing(1956)

    as Tiny

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Inside Detroit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Pete Link (as Joseph Turkel)

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

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Perroni

  • Highway Patrol(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Navy Log (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Rellance

  • The Naked Street(1955)

    as Shimmy

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Mad at the World(1955)

    as Pete Johnson (as Joseph Turkel)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Cell 2455 Death Row (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Curly

  • The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Stubb Cull

  • The Human Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Delinquent Hood

  • Return from the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Sailor

  • The Bamboo Prison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as P.O.W.

  • Gypsy Colt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Chuck

  • Duffy of San Quentin(1954)

    as Frank Roberts

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Public Defender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Leo Jackson

  • Man Crazy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Ray

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Logan

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • A Slight Case of Larceny(1953)

    as Holdup Man

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Glass Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Freddie Zakoyla (as Joseph Turkel)

  • Down Among the Sheltering Palms(1952)

    as Pvt. Harris

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • I'm the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • I Led Three Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Willie

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Dangerous Assignment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dragnet(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Starlift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Litter Case (uncredited)

  • Fixed Bayonets!(1951)

    as Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Halls of Montezuma(1951)

    as Marine

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Southside 1-1000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Frankie

  • Triple Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Benny the Blood (as Joseph Turkel)

  • Federal Man(1950)

    as Jack 'Sneeze' Norton

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lucky Losers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Johnny Angelo

  • Angels in Disguise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Henchman Johnny Martin

  • The Lone Ranger(1949)

    Show 1 episode · as Judd

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Sword in the Desert(1949)

    as Haganah Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • City Across the River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Shimmy Stockton

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 105 titles from 1949 to 1990; peak year 1981.

Biggest box office

The Shining (1980)

$50M worldwide

Highest rated

Paths of Glory (1957)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Blade Runner (1982)

Film career

19491990

Peak 1981 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting105 of 105: 105 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

By decade

1940s4 · acting1950s59 · acting1960s24 · acting1970s12 · acting1980s5 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
5161

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 Joe Turkel's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th24
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 53 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

Black Jack (1972)

79th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Paths of Glory (1957)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 79, 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.

Is Joe Turkel's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 70 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles18–65 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 35 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 67 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

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 Joe Turkel work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joe Turkel's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Stanley Kubrick shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles