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James Westerfield

James Westerfield

Actor · Died September 20, 1971, aged 58 · Nashville, Tennessee, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James A. Westerfield (22 March 1913 – 20 September 1971) was an American actor of stage, film, and television. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, to candy-maker Brasher Omier Westerfield and his wife Dora Elizabeth Bailey, he was raised in Detroit, Michigan. (A news story in the June 12, 1949, issue of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle calls the information in the preceding sentence into question. It describes Westerfield as "the son of a famous producer-director" and says that he was "a youngster in Denver, Col.") He became interested in theatre as a young man and in the 1930s joined Gilmor Brown's famed Pasadena Community Playhouse, appearing in dozens of plays. He played in numerous films following his debut in 1940, then went to New York City and appeared on Broadway, winning two New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards for his supporting roles in The Madwoman of Chaillot and Detective Story. He then returned to Hollywood and made more than 40 more films. Westerfield maintained an interest in the theatre. He directed more than 50 musicals in a summer-musical tent he owned in Danbury, Connecticut, and was the original stage director and producer for the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. He directed three seasons of "Theatre Under the Stars" in Vancouver, British Columbia, and appeared in musical roles with the Detroit Civic Light Opera, the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, and the San Francisco Civic Light Opera. On film, Westerfield had roles in The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), On The Waterfront (1954), Lucy Gallant (1955), the 1957 Budd Boetticher-directed Western Decision at Sundown starring Randolph Scott, Cowboy (1958), a repeating role in The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and its sequel Son of Flubber (1963), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Man's Favorite Sport (1964), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), Hang 'Em High (1968) and True Grit (1969). Westerfield had many roles on television, including seven episodes as John Murrel from 1963 to 1964 on ABC's The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, starring child actor Kurt Russell in the title role. He made two guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of Sheriff Bert Elmore in the 1957 episode, "The Case of the Angry Mourner." He also appeared in an episode of The Lone Ranger in 1954 entitled "Texas Draw." Westerfield's other appearances were on such series as The Rifleman, The Californians, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, The Alaskans, The Rebel, Straightaway, Going My Way, The Asphalt Jungle, Hazel, The Andy Griffith Show, Daniel Boone, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Gunsmoke. He played the circus leader, Dr. Marvello, in an episode of Lost in Space "Space Circus" (1966). Westerfield as a young man was a roommate of fellow Pasadena Playhouse actor George Reeves. The two remained close friends until Reeves's death in 1959. Westerfield was married to Alice G. Fay (an actress under the name Fay Tracey), who, along with his mother, survived him. Westerfield died from a heart attack in Woodlands Hills, California, at the age of fifty-eight.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 22, 1913
Died
September 20, 1971 (aged 58)
From
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 111 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 46% in 30 days

What are James Westerfield's films like?

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

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Western2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Western 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
44%
Self
15%
Power
13%
Bonds
13%
Society
11%
Survival
5%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 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 7 · Serious 6 · Dark 6

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

Grounded 14 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 10 · Intense 4

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 4

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 10 · Even-paced 9 · 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 7 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
7
Contemplative
5
Absurd
4
Romantic
5
Other
14

How their films linger

Bittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet9

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 James Westerfield's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (21).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Westerfield'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

111 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page.

  • Dead Aim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as John Applebee

  • Set This Town on Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Cark Rickter

  • The Boy Who Stole the Elephant(1970)

    as Sheriff Berry

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

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

    as The Lawyer

  • The Love God?(1969)

    as Rev. Wilkerson

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • True Grit(1969)

    as Judge Parker

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Smith!(1969)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Now You See It, Now You Don't(1968)

    as Capt. Boyle

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mayberry R.F.D.(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Matson

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • The Outcasts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Blue(1968)

    as Abe Parker

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Hang 'Em High(1968)

    as Prisoner

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • A Man Called Gannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Amos

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round(1966)

    as Jack Balter

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Time Tunnel(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Scalplock(1966)

    as Nehemiah

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Further Adventures of Gallegher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Charley Mardis

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

    Show 1 episode · as McAvity

  • Green Acres(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Lost in Space(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Marvello

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • The Big Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeb Lassiter

  • That Funny Feeling(1965)

    as Officer Brokaw

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Sons of Katie Elder(1965)

    as Mr. Vennar

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Profiles in Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Sen. Samuel Pomeroy

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Hand · as Simon Girty

  • Bewitched(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Bikini Beach(1964)

    as Cop #2

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Man's Favorite Sport?(1964)

    as Policeman

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Murrel

  • The Great Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Attorney Thomas Green

  • Son of Flubber(1962)

    as Officer Hanson

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Dakotas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Going My Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Lucy Show(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Weitzman

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Birdman of Alcatraz(1962)

    as Jess Younger

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Straightaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Homicidal(1961)

    as Alfred S. Adrims

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Absent Minded Professor(1961)

    as Officer Hanson

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Alcatraz Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • The Plunderers(1960)

    as Mike Baron

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Andy Griffith Show(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Uncle Ollie

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • My Three Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Al Matthews

  • The Tall Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wild River(1960)

    as Cal Garth

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rebel(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Suee

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Johnny Ringo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Aben Burke

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Anthony O'Toole

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Law of the Plainsman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Joshua Jones

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Blackwell

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Hangman(1959)

    as Herb Loftus

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Gunfight at Dodge City(1959)

    as Reverend Howard

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Shaggy Dog(1959)

    as Officer Hanson

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Matt Lucas · as Mort Henry

  • Old Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Warden

  • Bat Masterson(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Shapley Howell

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Texan(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Langland

  • The Proud Rebel(1958)

    as Birm Bates

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Cowboy(1958)

    as Mike Adams

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Decision at Sundown(1957)

    as Otis, the Bartender

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Trackdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Walter Winchell File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Roger Quigley · as Sheriff Elmore

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Jungle Heat(1957)

    as Harvey Mathews

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as McAllister

  • The Helen Morgan Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Frank Piggin

  • Three Brave Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Chief O'Reilly

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Bert Farrow

  • State Trooper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Adventures of Jim Bowie(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Away All Boats(1956)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Lucy Gallant(1955)

    as Harry Wilson

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Man with the Gun(1955)

    as Mr. Zender

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Mapes

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Commissioner Cummings · as Pops Lafferty

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Cleed · as Franks · as Harry Duggan · as Rance Bradley

  • The Scarlet Coat(1955)

    as Col. Jameson

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Cobweb(1955)

    as James Petlee

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Chief Crazy Horse(1955)

    as Caleb Mantz

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Violent Men(1955)

    as Sheriff Magruder

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Three Hours to Kill(1954)

    as Sam Minor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

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

    as Marty Harrison

  • Lassie(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • On the Waterfront(1954)

    as Big Mac

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Inner Sanctum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bachelor Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Bookkeeper

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bartender · as The General

  • The Whistle at Eaton Falls(1951)

    as Joe London

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Casey, Crime Photographer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town(1950)

    as Harvey (Zoo Attendant) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Side Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Charlie (policeman)

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Bilgeboy / Jimmy Scaggs · as Captain James Reagan

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as H.T. Carmichael

  • The Chase(1946)

    as Job the Butler

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Undercurrent(1946)

    as Henry Gilson

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Around the World(1943)

    as Bashful Marine

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Pride of the Yankees(1942)

    as Spectator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Magnificent Ambersons(1942)

    as Policeman at Accident (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • About Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Soldier with Daisy (uncredited)

  • Highway West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Swede, Trucker at Cafe

  • The Howards of Virginia(1940)

    as Backwoodsman

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 111 titles from 1940 to 1975; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

On the Waterfront (1954)

$3.8K worldwide

Highest rated

On the Waterfront (1954)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19401975

Peak 1960 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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
Acting111 of 111: 111 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

By decade

1940s10 · acting1950s52 · acting1960s46 · acting1970s3 · acting

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 0% of 24 roles
465661

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 James Westerfield's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 43; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th28
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

39 of their 63 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser39
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

The Boy Who Stole the Elephant (1970)

81st percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

On the Waterfront (1954)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 48. 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 James Westerfield work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Westerfield's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Gene Milford shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles