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Michael Woods

Michael Woods

Actor · Died May 1, 2018, aged 60 · Detroit, Michigan, USA

Michael Woods was born in Detroit, Michigan to Dr. Joseph and Dorothy Woods. He is a theatre trained actor who received his BFA in drama from The University of Detroit/Marygrove College, where in 1977 he won the ACTF Kennedy Center honor for "The Brig". Michael then did regional theatre in such plays as the Mark Medoff premiere of "The Halloween Bandit" and Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". He received rave reviews opposite Ed Harris in "Scar" at The Met Theatre. In 1981 he got his big break with a contract role on the day time drama "All My Children" (1970). He subsequently starred in five prime time television series, including NightMan (1997), "Bare Essence" (1983) with Ian McShane and "Our Family Honor" (1985) with legendary veteran actor Eli Wallach. The series also marked the series debuts of Ray Liotta and Michael Madsen. He starred in his own critically acclaimed series for NBC, "Private Eye" (1987) which co-starred Josh Brolin. In addition Michael has starred in numerous MOWs and Miniseries, most notably Herman Wouk's sweeping epic "War and Rememberance" (1988), playing son to Robert Mitchum and husband to Sharon Stone, and "Shadow of the Cobra" (1989) with 'Rachel Ward'. His feature film credits include "Lady Beware" (1987) opposite Diane Lane. Most recently Michael has starred in several movies for Lifetime Television and can be seen on "The Closer" (2005) with Kyra Sedgwick.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
July 10, 1957
Died
May 1, 2018 (aged 60)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 42 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 26% in 30 days

What are Michael Woods' films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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%
Survival
24%
Bonds
20%
Self
12%
Power
4%
Ideas
3%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 9 · Intense 5

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 10 · 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 5 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 0

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 6 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 6
Threshold guardian
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Dread
7
Melancholic
4
Hopeful
2
Thrilling
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Michael Woods' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Woods' 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

42 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Perfect In-Laws(2023)

    as Lionel

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • You Can't Take My Daughter(2020)

    as Jim Pike

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Frank and Ava(2018)

    as Joe Nelis

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Gotti(2018)

    as McBratney

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Guilty(2014)

    as Don Scott

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Avenger(2012)

    as Parker Randall

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Hatfields & McCoys(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · as Cat Miller

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Gabe the Cupid Dog(2012)

    as Mr. Caldwell

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Secrets from Her Past(2011)

    as David Collins

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Driving by Braille(2011)

    as Oscar Cichlid

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Secrets of an Undercover Wife(2007)

    as Michael

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Demons from Her Past(2007)

    as Ray Baxter

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Not My Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Jack Kruegher

  • Shock to the System(2006)

    as Dr. Trevor Cornell

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as FBI Agent Bill Blackburn · as FBI Agent Blackburn

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • V.I.P. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Jay Chesler

  • The Magnificent Seven(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gerard Whitman

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

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

    as Lt. Charlie Dann

  • Moment of Truth: Into the Arms of Danger(1997)

    as Bob Lenic

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • NightMan(1997)

    Show as Lt. Charlie Dann

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • The Colony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Dr. Travis Harken

  • Against Their Will (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Capt. Tandy

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Grayson Chandler

  • One West Waikiki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Blindfold: Acts of Obsession(1994)

    as Mike Dalton

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Red Shoe Diaries 2: Double Dare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Sam (archive footage)

  • Red Shoe Diaries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam / Husband · as Tory's Fiancee

  • Double Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Paul

  • Omen IV: The Awakening(1991)

    as Gene York

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 13 episodes · as Clay Gibson

  • The Haunting of Sarah Hardy(1989)

    as Austin Hardy

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • War and Remembrance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 3 episodes · as Warren Henry

  • Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Overunit Webber

  • Private Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Lady Beware(1987)

    as Jack Price

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Hot Shots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Percy

  • Our Family Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 13 episodes · as Jerry Danzig

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Blake · as Lance Brinegar

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 11 episodes · as Sean Benedict

  • Washington Mistress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Somewhere in Time(1980)

    as Dinner Guest [1912]

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Jimmy B. & Andre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Doorman

Career shape

Star power in the 79th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 41 titles from 1980 to 2023; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

Lady Beware (1987)

$170K worldwide

Highest rated

Shock to the System (2006)

Midcredits 68th

Most popular right now

NightMan (1997)

Film career

19802023

Peak 1990 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

  • 1987Screen debut· Lady Beware

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 41: 41 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score21st

By decade

1980s12 · acting1990s14 · acting2000s5 · acting2010s8 · acting2020s2 · acting

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.

How do Michael Woods' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 16th percentile, the median of all 18; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 17th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

17thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

21stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 23 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Driving by Braille (2011)

95th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Hatfields & McCoys (2012)

Midcredits 88th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 55/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 33. 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 Michael Woods work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Woods' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Pierre David shares the most, 6.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers