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James Whitmore Jr.

James Whitmore Jr.

Director and actor · Born October 24, 1948 (78) · Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Grammy Award nominee

James Whitmore Jr. is an American actor and director for film and television.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 24, 1948 (78)
From
Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Director and actor
Titles
70 on MovieCove · 115 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 27Up 11% in 30 days

What are James Whitmore Jr.'s films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Action 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
37%
Bonds
22%
Survival
21%
Self
12%
Power
6%
Society
1%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 3

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 5 · 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 4 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Warm
5
Melancholic
6
Thrilling
2
Contemplative
3
Other
4

How their films linger

Fun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous2

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 Whitmore Jr.'s films?

As of October 24, 2026, 50 of their 70 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (25).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Whitmore Jr.'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

115 credits, 70 with a MovieCove page.

  • NCIS: Origins(2024)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Elsbeth(2024)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • NCIS: Hawai'i(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Evil(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • The Resident(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Good Fight(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Quantico(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • NCIS: New Orleans(2014)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Ray Donovan(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Person of Interest(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Suits(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 9 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 12 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Harper's Island(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Cleaner(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Moonlight(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Cane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Jericho(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Unit(2006)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • CSI: NY(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • 10-8: Officers on Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 49 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Dead Like Me(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Mister Sterling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • American Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • First Monday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • 24(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Enterprise(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Witchblade(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Dark Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Young Americans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • Roswell(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Angel(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Get Real (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Providence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Charmed(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Dawson's Creek(1998)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Sleepwalkers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Brooklyn South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Pensacola: Wings of Gold(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Pacific Palisades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Profiler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Pretender(1996)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · as Captain Russ Osborne · as Captain Russ Osborne (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Wiseguy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Strange Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Nowhere Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Crowfoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Hercules: The Legendary Journeys(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A.(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Models Inc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Renegade(1992)

    Show 22 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Melrose Place(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Tequila and Bonetti (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 11 episodes · Director

  • The Commish(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Broken Badges (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)

    Show 11 episodes · Director · as Stagecoach Passenger

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Ferris Bueller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Sky High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Booker(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 15 episodes · Director · as Bob Crockett · as Clayton Fuller · as Police Captain

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Tricks of the Trade(1988)

    as Delroy

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Wiseguy(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • 21 Jump Street(1987)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Firefighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Capt. Bukowski

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as (segment "Nightcrawlers") · as (segment "The Girl I Married")

  • Street Hawk(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Neil Jacobs

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Gaines

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 22 episodes · Director · as Bernie Terwilliger

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac(1984)

    as Captain Larry Wheaton

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Airwolf(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Maj. Sam Roper · as Sam Houston

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Scarecrow and Mrs. King(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Sykes

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Hardcastle and McCormick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenneth Boyer

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick Calley

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder(1982)

    as Major Flaherty

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Bryce

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Bret Maverick(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The Five of Me(1981)

    as Harry

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Greatest American Hero(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Norman Fackler

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • The Killing of Randy Webster(1981)

    as Officer Vane

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Billy Joe Bob Little · as Sebastian Nuzo

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Yeagers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • The Long Riders(1980)

    as Mr. Rixley

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop(1980)

    as Jeff Allen

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Tenspeed and Brown Shoe(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • A Force of One(1979)

    as Moskowitz

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Chinese Typewriter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Jim Kilbride

  • Human Feelings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Detective

  • Battlestar Galactica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Robber

  • The Critical List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Jack Hermanson

  • The Eddie Capra Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bastard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Esau Sholto

  • The Gypsy Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Captain Sheldon 'Shelly' Alhern

  • The Boys in Company C(1978)

    as Lt. Archer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Baa Baa Black Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 36 episodes · as Jim Gutterman

  • Law and Order (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Pete Caputo

  • Doctors' Hospital (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Beamer · as Freddie Beamer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Jeff Allen

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

Career shape

A full career of 115 titles from 1971 to 2024.

Highest rated

The Boys in Company C (1978)

Midcredits 76th

Most popular right now

Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting44 of 115: 40 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thDirecting75 of 115: 71 only directing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score76th

115 titles, 4 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1970s16 · acting1980s30 · 26 acting · 6 crew1990s31 · 2 acting · 31 crew2000s25 · crew2010s10 · crew2020s3 · crew

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.

Awards

Nominated for a Grammy Award in 2026, Best R&B Song.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do James Whitmore Jr.'s films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 10; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 70 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up30
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

34 of their 70 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser34
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop (1980)

87th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The X-Files (1993)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 58/100 and the pacing 46/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 James Whitmore Jr.'s work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 44 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 38 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does James Whitmore Jr. work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Whitmore Jr.'s MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jack Bender shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles