
Jessica Walter
Actor · Died March 24, 2021, aged 80 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Jessica Walter (January 31, 1941 – March 24, 2021) was an American actress, known for appearing in the films Play Misty for Me (1971), Grand Prix and The Group (both 1966), her role as Lucille Bluth on the sitcom Arrested Development, and providing the voice of Malory Archer on the FX animated series Archer. Walter studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Walter was a series regular for the first half of season one of 90210, provided the voice of Fran Sinclair on the series Dinosaurs, and starred as the title character of the series Amy Prentiss, for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jessica Walter, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Read moreShow less
Biography from TMDB.
- January 31, 1941
- March 24, 2021 (aged 80)
- Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
- Actor
- 76 on MovieCove · 139 credits in all
What are Jessica Walter's films like?
Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 0 · Earnest 24
A split, not a type: Light 11 · Serious 5 · Dark 9
Grounded 18 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2
Gentle 7 · Charged 14 · Intense 4
Steady 11 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 5
Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 1
Casual 14 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 3
Easy watch 10 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 4
Resolved 17 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 2
Roles they play
Usually the Threshold guardian: 4 of 13 analyzed roles.
Show the 13 rolesHide the roles
- Tricksteras Libby in The Group (1966)
- Shadowas Evelyn Draper in Play Misty for Me (1971)
- Shadowas Morgan LeFay in Dr. Strange (1978)
- Threshold guardianas Christina Wood in Secrets of Three Hungry Wives (1978)
- Allyas Gertrude Simon in The Execution (1985)
- Threshold guardianas Fern in Dummy (2002)
- Shadowas Lucille Bluth in Arrested Development (2003)
- Allyas Gennifer in I Do (But I Don't) (2004)
- Mentoras Malory Archer in Archer (2009)
- Mentoras Maggie in Jennifer Falls (2014)
- Mentoras Sarah in Keep the Change (2017)
- Threshold guardianas Carrie in Keep the Change (2017)
- Threshold guardianas Mrs. Barrington in Rediscovering Christmas (2019)
Moods and endings
- Happy11
- Bittersweet17
- Ambiguous1
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 Jessica Walter's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 48 of their 76 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (19).
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) · actor · free
- Banacek (1972) · actor · free
- The Magic School Bus (1994) · actor · free
- Law & Order (1990) · actor · free
- American Housewife (2016) · actor · free
- Route 66 (1960) · actor · free
- Rules of Engagement (2007) · actor · free
- McMillan & Wife (1971) · actor · free
- Coach (1989) · actor · free
- McCloud (1970) · actor · free
- Knots Landing (1979) · actor · free
- Just Shoot Me! (1997) · actor · free
- +7 more
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) · actor
- Banacek (1972) · actor
- The Magic School Bus (1994) · actor
- Route 66 (1960) · actor
- Mannix (1967) · actor
- Rules of Engagement (2007) · actor
- McMillan & Wife (1971) · actor
- Clarence (2013) · actor · free
- Coach (1989) · actor
- McCloud (1970) · actor
- Barnaby Jones (1973) · actor
- I Do (But I Don't) (2004) · actor
- +6 more
- Archer (2009) · actor · free
- The Magic School Bus (1994) · actor · free
- Route 66 (1960) · actor · free
- Dummy (2002) · actor · free
- The Group (1966) · actor · free
- Knots Landing (1979) · actor · free
- Just Shoot Me! (1997) · actor · free
- Tapeheads (1988) · actor · free
- I Do (But I Don't) (2004) · actor · free
- The Execution (1985) · actor · free
- Number One (1969) · actor · free
- They Call It Murder (1971) · actor · free
- +4 more
- Mission: Impossible (1966) · actor · free
- NCIS (2003) · actor · free
- Route 66 (1960) · actor · free
- Mannix (1967) · actor · free
- Barnaby Jones (1973) · actor · free
- Just Shoot Me! (1997) · actor · free
- I Do (But I Don't) (2004) · actor · free
- Touched by an Angel (1994) · actor · free
- Leave of Absence (1994) · actor · free
- Undercover Grandpa (2017) · actor · free
- The Love Boat (1977) · actor · free
- Flipper (1964) · actor · free
- Lionsgate+, show their 2 titles on Lionsgate+
- ScreenPix, show their 2 titles on ScreenPix
- Shout! TV, show their 2 titles on Shout! TV
- Howdy, show their title on Howdy
- Kino Film Collection, show their title on Kino Film Collection
- MovieSphere+, show their title on MovieSphere+
- Sony Pictures Core, show their title on Sony Pictures Core
Subscription and free streaming for Jessica Walter'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
139 credits, 76 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

The Mimic(2020)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
Rediscovering Christmas(2019)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
Harley Quinn(2019)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
Keep the Change(2017)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Good Girls(2018)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows
Undercover Grandpa(2017)
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
Perfect Roast Potatoes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

Justice League Action(2016)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows
American Housewife(2016)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
Difficult People(2015)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows
The Odd Couple(2015)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
Jennifer Falls(2014)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows
Clarence(2013)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows
Turbo FAST(2013)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows
Bending the Rules(2012)
Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
Retired at 35 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows
Gravity(2010)
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows
Archer(2009)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
90210(2008)
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows
The Big Bang Theory(2007)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows
Saving Grace(2007)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
The Wedding Bells (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

Rules of Engagement(2007)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
Unaccompanied Minors(2006)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Happy Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

The Life and Times of Juniper Lee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

I Do (But I Don't)(2004)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Best Week Ever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

Arrested Development(2003)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
NCIS(2003)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
Dummy(2002)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
My Best Friend's Wife(2001)
Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
Jack & Jill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
Oh Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

Slums of Beverly Hills(1998)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
You Wish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Doomsday Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

Mother Knows Best (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

Just Shoot Me!(1997)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows
Wing Commander Academy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

Temptress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

Touched by an Angel(1994)
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
The Magic School Bus(1994)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
Leave of Absence(1994)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
PCU(1994)
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
Babylon 5(1993)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Ghost in the Machine(1993)
Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all filmsThe Round Table (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

Jack's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

Dinosaurs(1991)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows
The Pirates of Dark Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

Law & Order(1990)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
Dad's A Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

Coach(1989)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
Tapeheads(1988)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all filmsAaron's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

J.J. Starbuck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

Just a Regular Kid: An AIDS Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

Wildfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

Killer in the Mirror(1986)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
The Execution(1985)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
The Flamingo Kid(1984)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Murder, She Wrote(1984)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

Bare Essence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

Thursday's Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

Spring Fever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

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

Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

Joanie Loves Chachi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

Scruples (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

Going Ape!(1981)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
Miracle on Ice(1981)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Aloha Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

Magnum, P.I.(1980)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
Knots Landing(1979)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows
She's Dressed to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

Black Market Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

Vampire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

Goldengirl(1979)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Dr. Strange(1978)
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
Wheels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

Wild and Wooly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

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

The Love Boat(1977)
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows
The Return of Wonder Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

All That Glitters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

Victory at Entebbe(1976)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
Having Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Wonder Woman(1975)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows
Amy Prentiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

Hurricane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

Home for the Holidays(1972)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
The Magician (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

Barnaby Jones(1973)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows
The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

Banyon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

Banacek(1972)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
Women in Chains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

The Sixth Sense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

They Call It Murder(1971)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Play Misty for Me(1971)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
McMillan & Wife(1971)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

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

McCloud(1970)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
Three's a Crowd(1969)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Immortal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

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

Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows
Then Came Bronson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

Number One(1969)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Hawaii Five-O(1968)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Bye Bye Braverman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Mannix(1967)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

Grand Prix(1966)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Mission: Impossible(1966)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
The Group(1966)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

For the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

Lilith(1964)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Flipper(1964)
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows
The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

Route 66(1960)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows
Naked City(1958)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
Career shape
Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 139 titles from 1951 to 2021; peak year 2017.

Biggest box office
The Flamingo Kid (1984)

Highest rated
Archer (2009)

Most popular right now
Arrested Development (2003)
Film career
Peak 2017 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 3 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.
- 1964Screen debut· Lilith
- 1971Breakout· Play Misty for Me
- 1974First top-billed film· Home for the Holidays
- 1991Career best· Dinosaurs
Billing
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 Jessica Walter's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 31; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up22
- 50th to 74th22
- 25th to 49th16
- Below 25th16
Shape of the crowd
33 of their 76 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved9
- Cult Classic3
- Crowd Pleaser33
- Broadly Agreed2
- Mixed29
Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 76, 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 Jessica Walter's work okay for kids?
Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.
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 Jessica Walter work with?
People who share at least 2 of Jessica Walter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jo Heims shares the most, 2.
Writers
- Jo HeimsShared titles: Secrets of Three Hungry Wives (1978), Play Misty for Me (1971)See all 2 shared titles with Jo Heims
- Robert Alan AurthurShared titles: Grand Prix (1966), Lilith (1964)See all 2 shared titles with Robert Alan Aurthur

Actors
- Philip SterlingShared titles: Killer in the Mirror (1986), Dr. Strange (1978)See all 2 shared titles with Philip Sterling

- Allan MillerShared titles: The Execution (1985), Miracle on Ice (1981)See all 2 shared titles with Allan Miller

- Michael LernerShared titles: The Execution (1985), Three's a Crowd (1969)See all 2 shared titles with Michael Lerner

Producers
- Frank von ZerneckShared titles: I Do (But I Don't) (2004), Miracle on Ice (1981)See all 2 shared titles with Frank von Zerneck

- Jack GrossbartShared titles: Leave of Absence (1994), Killer in the Mirror (1986)See all 2 shared titles with Jack Grossbart




