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Noble Willingham

Noble Willingham

Actor · Died January 17, 2004, aged 72 · Mineola, Texas, USA

Independent Spirit Award nominee

Noble Henry Willingham, Jr. (August 31, 1931 – January 17, 2004) was an American actor who appeared in more than thirty films and in many television shows. He was best known for his role as C.D. Parker on the television series Walker, Texas Ranger. His many other TV credits include guest appearances on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Waltons, Mary Tyler Moore, The Rockford Files, Alice, Dallas, CHiPs, The Dukes of Hazzard, The A-Team, L.A. Law, Home Improvement, and Murder, She Wrote. He also co-starred with Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell in a 1991 episode of Quantum Leap.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 31, 1931
Died
January 17, 2004 (aged 72)
From
Mineola, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
74 on MovieCove · 105 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 54% in 30 days

What are Noble Willingham's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Crime 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
Bonds
37%
Self
20%
Morality
17%
Survival
12%
Society
9%
Power
3%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship9 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 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 14 · Serious 8 · Dark 12

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

Grounded 24 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 11 · Charged 16 · Intense 7

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 2

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 16 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 5

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 17 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 22 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 1

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

Easy watch 13 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 10 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 10
Mentor
3 of 10
Threshold guardian
2 of 10
Herald
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
13
Warm
12
Hopeful
9
Thrilling
7
Other
28

How their films linger

Hopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous5

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 Noble Willingham's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 74 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Noble Willingham'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

105 credits, 74 with a MovieCove page.

  • Blind Horizon(2003)

    as Deputy Shirl Cash

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Corndog Man(1999)

    as Ace Barker

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Up Close & Personal(1996)

    as Buford Sells

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold(1994)

    as Clay Stone

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as C.D. Parker

  • Guarding Tess(1994)

    as Sheriff Janson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Hudsucker Proxy(1994)

    as Zebulon Cardozo

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Ace Ventura: Pet Detective(1994)

    as Riddle

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 178 episodes · as C.D. Parker

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Men Don't Tell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Riley

  • Fire in the Sky(1993)

    as Blake Davies

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Distinguished Gentleman(1992)

    as Zeke Bridges

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Of Mice and Men(1992)

    as The Boss

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Article 99(1992)

    as Inspector General

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Woman with a Past(1992)

    as Chairman

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Last Boy Scout(1991)

    as Sheldon Marcone

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Home Improvement(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Binford

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Sweet Poison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Sheriff

  • City Slickers(1991)

    as Clay Stone

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Career Opportunities(1991)

    as Roger Roy McClellan

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Pastime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Clyde Bigby

  • The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson(1990)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Northern Exposure(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Capital News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ann Jillian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • The Heist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Stuckey

  • Blind Fury(1989)

    as MacCready

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Petermeyer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Road Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Crankcase

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Gene

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Unconquered(1989)

    as Bear Bryant

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story(1988)

    as Ted Simonsen

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • A Stoning in Fulham County(1988)

    as Judge Manning

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Shooter(1988)

    as Rizzo

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Splash, Too(1988)

    as Karl Hooten

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

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

    Actor

  • Good Morning, Vietnam(1987)

    as Gen. Taylor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory(1987)

    as Dr. Pollard

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Texas

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Born in East L.A.(1987)

    as Border Patrol Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • La Bamba(1987)

    as Howard

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Summer Heat(1987)

    as Strother

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Tesch

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Kenyon

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Sunshine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Rev. Morley Phelps

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Atlanta Child Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jerry Armstrong

  • Badge of the Assassin(1985)

    as Airport Guard

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Pat McAllister

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Airwolf(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Chester Hansen

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Cutter to Houston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story(1983)

    as Dr. Graham

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Pete Stockton · as Zack

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Independence Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Andy Parker

  • Missing Children: A Mother's Story(1982)

    as Lander Hughes

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Children Nobody Wanted(1981)

    as McNaulty

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Coward of the County(1981)

    as Car-Wash

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • First Monday in October(1981)

    as Nebraska Attorney

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Harry's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Major Andrews

  • The Howling(1981)

    as Charlie Barton

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Georgia Peaches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Jarvis Wheeler

  • Brubaker(1980)

    as Dr. Fenster

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Gambler(1980)

    as Conductor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • When the Whistle Blows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Butch and Sundance: The Early Days(1979)

    as Captain Prewitt

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider(1979)

    as Pop Bauer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Norma Rae(1979)

    as Leroy Mason

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as 1st Doctor

  • WKRP in Cincinnati(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Charlie

  • Just Me and You(1978)

    as Gas Station Owner

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Dallas(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Senator Pascomb

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

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

    as Sergeant

  • Thaddeus Rose and Eddie(1978)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Boys in Company C(1978)

    as Sergeant Curry

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Man from Atlantis(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Artemus Washburn

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Jake

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Greased Lightning(1977)

    as Billy Joe Byrnes

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Liza’s Pioneer Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Mr. Dunster

  • Alice(1976)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Fighting Mad(1976)

    as Senator Hingle

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York(1975)

    as Principal

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Aloha Bobby and Rose(1975)

    as Uncle Charlie

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Black Bart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Fern Malaga

  • Where Have All the People Gone(1974)

    as Jim Clancy

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Big Bad Mama(1974)

    as Uncle Barney

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as B.J. · as Claude Orzeck

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Artie Jacobs

  • Chinatown(1974)

    as Councilman

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Evel Knievel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jack Decataur

  • Sunshine(1973)

    as Bartender

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Hit!(1973)

    as Warden Springer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Paper Moon(1973)

    as Mr. Robertson

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Hawkins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Jackson

  • The Girls of Huntington House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Harry, Sara's Father

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Picture Show(1971)

    as Chester

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Hal

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • My Sweet Charlie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Grady

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Kirby

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Tuck

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 105 titles from 1955 to 2003; peak year 1992.

Biggest box office

City Slickers (1991)

$179M worldwide

Highest rated

Paper Moon (1973)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)

Film career

19552003

Peak 1992 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting105 of 105: 105 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1950s2 · acting1970s38 · acting1980s41 · acting1990s23 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 30 roles
71768191

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.

Awards

Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award in 2000, Best Male Lead.

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 Noble Willingham's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 53; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 74 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th25
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 74 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser32
  • Broadly Agreed10
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · actor

Splash, Too (1988)

78th percentile spread · 65% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Chinatown (1974)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 31 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 41. 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 Noble Willingham's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles30–71 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles21–58 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles33–79 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles27–56 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles24–76 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian 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 Noble Willingham work with?

People who share at least 2 of Noble Willingham's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Dick Lowry shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles