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Sheb Wooley

Sheb Wooley

Actor · Died September 16, 2003, aged 82 · Erick, Oklahoma, USA

Shelby Fredrick "Sheb" Wooley (April 10, 1921 – September 16, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He recorded a series of novelty songs including the 1958 hit rock and roll comedy single "The Purple People Eater"[1] and under the name Ben Colder the country hit "Almost Persuaded No. 2". As an actor, he portrayed Cletus Summers, the principal of Hickory High School and assistant coach in the 1986 film Hoosiers; Ben Miller, brother of Frank Miller in the film High Noon; Travis Cobb in The Outlaw Josey Wales, and scout Pete Nolan in the television series Rawhide.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 10, 1921
Died
September 16, 2003 (aged 82)
From
Erick, Oklahoma, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
43 on MovieCove · 58 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 39 days to Oct 28Up 15% in 30 days

What are Sheb Wooley's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Western2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: 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
27%
Power
24%
Society
14%
Bonds
13%
Self
11%
Ideas
6%
Survival
5%
Community3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 8 · Serious 2 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 3 · Intense 0

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Ally
1 of 3
Mentor
1 of 3
Threshold guardian
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
6
Warm
5
Absurd
4
Tense
4
Hopeful
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Fun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet3
  • 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 Sheb Wooley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 43 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sheb Wooley'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

58 credits, 43 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Oggy and the Cockroaches: The Movie(2013)

    as Screaming Policeman

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • George and A.J.(2009)

    as George and A.J.'s Screams

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Your Friend the Rat(2007)

    as Screaming Astronaut

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Lifted(2006)

    as Ernie

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit(2005)

    as Screaming Citizen (archive sound, uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones(2002)

    as Crewmate's Scream (archive sound) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Golden Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Screaming Native American

  • A Goofy Movie(1995)

    as Concert Crewmember's Scream (archive sound) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Purple People Eater(1988)

    as Harvey Skitters

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Hoosiers(1986)

    as Cletus Summers

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Uphill All the Way(1986)

    as Anson Sudro

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Silverado(1985)

    as Cavalry Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Ray Parker

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Dollmaker(1984)

    as Mr. Kendrick

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • History of the World: Part I(1981)

    as Screaming Peasants (archive sound) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Battle Creek Brawl(1980)

    as Screaming Thug

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Outlaw Josey Wales(1976)

    as Travis Cobb

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Young Rebels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Mod Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The War Wagon(1967)

    as Snyder

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Country Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • PT 109(1963)

    as Edmund Drewitch's Scream (archive sound) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Sergeant Rutledge(1960)

    as Screaming Trooper (archive sound) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

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

    Show 114 episodes · Story · as Pete Nolan

  • Terror in a Texas Town(1958)

    as Baxter

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Ride a Violent Mile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Jonathan Long

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Pete Martin

  • Trooper Hook(1957)

    as Townsman

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Without Incident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • The Black Whip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Bill Lassater

  • Giant(1956)

    as Gabe Target

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Brock

  • My Friend Flicka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Chev Jones

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Luke McGuire (uncredited)

  • Man Without a Star(1955)

    as Latigo

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Seven Brides for Seven Brothers(1954)

    as Undetermined Role (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Guitar(1954)

    as Posseman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Arrow in the Dust(1954)

    as Trooper (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Rose Marie(1954)

    as Corporal

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Boy from Oklahoma(1954)

    as Pete Martin

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Texas Bad Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Mack

  • The Charge at Feather River(1953)

    as Pvt. Wilhelm's Scream (archive sound) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Lusty Men(1952)

    as Gambler with Buster (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Toughest Man in Arizona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Cattle Town(1952)

    as Miller

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Hellgate(1952)

    as Neill Price

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • High Noon(1952)

    as Ben Miller

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Distant Drums(1951)

    as Pvt. Jessup

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Kit Carson(1951)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Fort Worth(1951)

    as Outrider (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Little Big Horn(1951)

    as Quince

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison(1951)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Apache Drums(1951)

    as Townsman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Rocky Mountain(1950)

    as Kay Rawlins

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Lone Ranger(1949)

    Show 1 episode · as Don Wyman · as Hatton · as Tex

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 54 titles from 1949 to 2005; peak year 1985.

Biggest box office

Hoosiers (1986)

$29M worldwide

Highest rated

Lifted (2006)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Hoosiers (1986)

Film career

19492005

Peak 1985 · 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.

  • 1951Screen debut· Distant Drums
  • 1986Career best· Hoosiers

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting54 of 54: 53 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thWriting1 of 54: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s34 · 34 acting · 1 crew1960s5 · acting1970s2 · acting1980s8 · acting1990s1 · acting2000s3 · acting

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 0% of 13 roles
5156

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 Sheb Wooley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 43 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 43 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Purple People Eater (1988)

87th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

High Noon (1952)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 74, 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.

Who does Sheb Wooley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sheb Wooley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jeff Pidgeon shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers