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Gwen Van Dam

Gwen Van Dam

Actor · Died December 19, 2024, aged 96 · San Francisco, California, USA

Gwen Van Dam was born on 5 November 1928 in San Francisco, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Star Trek: Generations (1994), Burlesque (2010) and Stir Crazy (1980). She was married to Bill Smillie. She died on 19 December 2024 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Biography from IMDb.

Born
November 5, 1928
Died
December 19, 2024 (aged 96)
From
San Francisco, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
54 on MovieCove · 75 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are Gwen Van Dam's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th 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
Self
31%
Bonds
31%
Survival
15%
Morality
13%
Society
7%
Power
3%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 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 3 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 10 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 3 · Intense 4

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

A split, not a type: Steady 5 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 4 · 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 7 · Engaged 5 · 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 5 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 4
Mentor
2 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Absurd
5
Melancholic
5
Hopeful
4
Warm
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3
  • 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 Gwen Van Dam's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 54 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gwen Van Dam'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

75 credits, 54 with a MovieCove page.

  • Christmas at Mistletoe Manor(2025)

    as Hortense Pollard

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • No Tears in Hell(2025)

    as Mother

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Blood Star(2024)

    as Ma

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Interior Chinatown(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hazel Carrey

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • You're Doing Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Elderly Woman

  • Hope Street Holiday(2023)

    as Nanna Margaret

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

  • Diamond in the Rough(2022)

    as Elderly Lady

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Home(2020)

    as Nancy

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Me You Madness(2021)

    as Grandma Betty

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Good Mourning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Grandma Leanne

  • 100 Humans: Life's Questions. Answered.(2020)

    Show as Senior Citizen

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Big Boy Pants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Stella

  • Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Woman at Restaurant

  • Pocket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Grandma

  • Homecoming(2018)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mrs. Trotter

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Dead Night(2017)

    as Crone

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Sleepwalk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Lady at the House

  • The Ugly Christmas Sweater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Edna

  • Mercy Christmas(2017)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Orville(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Grandmother

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Insecure(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Lady

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Angie Tribeca (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Kindly Old Woman

  • Grace and Frankie(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Marie

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Reset(2015)

    as Tina

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Great Aunt Agnes

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • New Girl(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Docent

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Wilfred(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Patient #2

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Workaholics(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Shameless(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Erma

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Burlesque(2010)

    as Curler Woman at Grundy Bus Stop

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It(2010)

    as 80 Year Old Woman

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Flexing with Monty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Granny

  • The League(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Grams

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Still Waiting...(2009)

    as Senile Woman

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Fall of Hyperion(2008)

    as Elderly Woman

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Matters of Life and Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Grandma Barbara

  • Long Lost Son(2006)

    as Travel Agent

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Joey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Grandma

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Emma

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Legion of the Dead(2001)

    as Old Woman

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Gilmore Girls(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Van Wyck

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • BeetleBorgs(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Norma Desdoom

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Etta

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Doogie Howser, M.D.(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Woman

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Take My Daughters, Please(1988)

    as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Feldman

  • The Ladies Club(1985)

    as Woman No. 1

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Shadow Chasers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Waitress

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • A Touch of Scandal(1984)

    as White Woman

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

  • The Awakening of Candra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mrs. Stern

  • Second Thoughts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain(1982)

    as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Woman Hostage

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Help Wanted: Male (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Dr. Quinn

  • The Two Lives of Carol Letner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Matron

  • True Confessions(1981)

    as Mrs. Fazenda

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Stand by Your Man(1981)

    as Mrs. Sims

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Best Little Girl in the World(1981)

    as O.R. Nurse

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Second-Hand Hearts(1980)

    as Waitress at Frankie's

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Stir Crazy(1980)

    as Mrs. Beatty

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Jayne Mansfield Story(1980)

    as Vivian

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Gideon's Trumpet(1980)

    as Mrs. Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Sales Clerk

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • The French Atlantic Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Barney's Wife

  • Joni(1979)

    as Nurse Pauline

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Terror Out of the Sky(1978)

    as Ms. Logan

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Lassie: A New Beginning(1978)

    as Mrs. Waldrup

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Having Babies III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Molly

  • Coming Home(1978)

    as Mrs. Harris

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mayor Claire Murphy

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Teenage Seductress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Emily Nelson

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

    as Madame Suburbia

  • Husbands(1970)

    as Gwen

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 87th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 72 titles from 1970 to 2025; peak year 2009.

Biggest box office

True Confessions (1981)

$13M worldwide

Highest rated

Husbands (1970)

Midcredits 82nd

Most popular right now

True Confessions (1981)

Film career

19702025

Peak 2009 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. 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
Acting72 of 72: 72 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score54th

By decade

1970s11 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s2 · acting2000s10 · acting2010s20 · acting2020s9 · acting

Billing

usually 15th · top billed in 0% of 10 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 Gwen Van Dam's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 37th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 27th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 54 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th15

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 54 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Reset (2015)

99th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Coming Home (1978)

Midcredits 87th · 76% liked

Reviewers score the acting 55/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 30. 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 Gwen Van Dam's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 53 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.