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Sam Wanamaker

Sam Wanamaker

Actor and director · Died December 18, 1993, aged 74 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Sam Wanamaker (June 14, 1919 – December 18, 1993 an American film director and actor, and is credited as the person most responsible for the modern recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. He is father to actress Zoë Wanamaker. He is known for his roles in the films Death on the Nile (1978), Private Benjamin (1989), and Baby Boom (1987). Description above from the Wikipedia article Samuel Wanamaker, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 14, 1919
Died
December 18, 1993 (aged 74)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor and director
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 96 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 31% in 30 days

What are Sam Wanamaker's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure 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
36%
Bonds
24%
Power
14%
Self
12%
Survival
8%
Ideas
4%
Society
2%
Justice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 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 8 · Serious 6 · Dark 14

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

Grounded 22 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 18 · Intense 7

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 11 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 9 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 12 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 12
Shadow
3 of 12
Hero
1 of 12
Threshold guardian
1 of 12
Trickster
1 of 12
Shapeshifter
1 of 12
Mentor
1 of 12
Herald
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
11
Contemplative
8
Thrilling
6
Warm
4
Other
26

How their films linger

Thought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous1
  • 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 Sam Wanamaker's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sam Wanamaker'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

96 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page.

  • Wild Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Kingston Parker

  • Bloodlines: Murder in the Family(1993)

    as Gerald Woodman

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Killer Rules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Joe Gambon

  • Running Against Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Doctor Koopman

  • Pure Luck(1991)

    as Highsmith

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Guilty by Suspicion(1991)

    as Felix Graff

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Always Remember I Love You(1990)

    as Grandfather Mendham

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Shell Seekers(1989)

    as Richard

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Baby Boom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 13 episodes · as Fritz Curtis

  • Cognac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Ambassador Morley

  • Judgment in Berlin(1988)

    as Bernard Hellring

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Sadie and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Marty Goldstein

  • Baby Boom(1987)

    as Fritz Curtis

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace(1987)

    as David Warfield

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Grace Kelly: The American Princess(1987)

    Thanks · as Self

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as District Attorney

  • Raw Deal(1986)

    as Luigi Patrovita

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Deceptions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Jim Nolan

  • Deceptions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jim Nolan

  • Embassy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Ambassador Arthur Ingram

  • The Aviator(1985)

    as Bruno Hansen

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Berrenger's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Heartsounds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Moe Silverman

  • Irreconcilable Differences(1984)

    as David Kessler

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Ghost Writer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as E.I. Lonoff

  • I Was a Mail Order Bride(1982)

    as Frank Tosconi

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as E.I. Lonoff

  • Aida - San Francisco Opera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director

  • Our Family Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Ralph

  • Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernard Baruch

  • The Killing of Randy Webster(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • My Kidnapper, My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • The Competition(1980)

    as Andrew Erskine

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Private Benjamin(1980)

    as Teddy Benjamin

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Charlie Muffin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Ruttgers

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • From Hell to Victory(1979)

    as Ray MacDonald

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • David Cassidy: Man Under Cover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Death on the Nile(1978)

    as Rockford

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Return of the Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Domenico

  • The Billion Dollar Bubble(1978)

    as Stanley Goldblum

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Holocaust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Moses Weiss

  • Rafferty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger(1977)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Billy Jack Goes to Washington(1977)

    as Bailey

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Voyage of the Damned(1976)

    as Carl Rosen

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Sell Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Harry Sickles

  • The Spiral Staircase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Lieut. Fields

  • The Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jules Benson

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

    as Inspector

  • The Fifth Facade: The Making of the Sydney Opera House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Narrator

  • The Gangster Show: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as O'Casey

  • Catlow(1971)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Executioner(1970)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The File of the Golden Goose(1969)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Champions(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Lancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Legend of Custer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • Danger Route(1967)

    as Lucinda

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Day the Fish Came Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Elias

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Armitage

  • Judd, for the Defense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cimarron Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Dundee and the Culhane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Coronet Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Warning Shot(1966)

    as Frank Sanderman

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Hawk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • The Spy Who Came in from the Cold(1965)

    as Peters

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Solomon Ithimar, PhD

  • The Wild Wild West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Run for Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Joe Rankin

  • Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes(1965)

    as George Gruber

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Winston Affair(1964)

    as Major Kaufman

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Sprague

  • The Outer Limits(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Simon Holm

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Paradise Suite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Frank Engel

  • Taras Bulba(1962)

    as Filipenko

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Man of the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Nicola

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

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Dr. Ralph Ames · as Edward Banter · as James Henry David · as United States Attorney Brooker

  • Sunday-Night Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as B.F. Halliran

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

    as Mike Carter

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Patrick Laurence

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Armchair Mystery Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Battle of the Sexes(1960)

    as Commentary spoken

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Copeland · as Frank Engel

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

    Show 1 episode · as Asa Longworth

  • The Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Nick Delaney

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard

  • Mr. Denning Drives North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Chick Eddowes

  • Sunday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernie Pandish · as Pepe

  • Give Us This Day(1949)

    as Geremio

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • My Girl Tisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Mark Denek

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 96 titles from 1948 to 1994; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

Private Benjamin (1980)

$70M worldwide

Highest rated

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Raw Deal (1986)

Film career

19481994

Peak 1986 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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.

  • 1960Screen debut· The Battle of the Sexes
  • 1986Career best· Raw Deal

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting75 of 96: 73 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thDirecting22 of 96: 20 only directing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score39thOther crew1 of 96: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1940s2 · acting1950s6 · acting1960s32 · 22 acting · 11 crew1970s22 · 15 acting · 8 crew1980s27 · 23 acting · 4 crew1990s7 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 17 roles
6075

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 Sam Wanamaker's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 33; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)

79th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 40. 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 Sam Wanamaker's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 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 & Gore3 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles13–42 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 35 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian 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 Sam Wanamaker work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sam Wanamaker's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Charles Shyer shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers