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Louis Zorich

Louis Zorich

Actor · Died January 30, 2018, aged 93 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Louis Zorich (February 12, 1924 – January 30, 2018) was an American actor. He played sporting goods salesman Burt Buchman, Paul Buchman's father, on the NBC series Mad About You from 1993 to 1999.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 12, 1924
Died
January 30, 2018 (aged 93)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
33 on Motif · 61 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 65 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are Louis Zorich's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Motif score: 47th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Motif score: 50th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Motif score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
43%
Morality
20%
Survival
13%
Self
12%
Power
9%
Society
2%
Marriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeParenthood2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 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 5 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 8 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 5 · Intense 3

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 6 · 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 2 · Funny 5

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 5 · Engaged 6 · 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 5 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 5

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Melancholic
6
Absurd
4
Contemplative
5
Warm
3
Other
11

How their films linger

Feel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic2
  • 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 Louis Zorich's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 33 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Louis Zorich's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

61 credits, 33 with a Motif page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • No Pay, Nudity(2016)

    as Lester's Father

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Emily & Tim(2015)

    as Tim (Segment 6)

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Irene & Marie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    as Nick

  • Run It (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    as Angelo

  • A Bird of the Air(2011)

    as Stowalski

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Detachment(2011)

    as Grampa

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Running Funny (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Stan

  • The Armenian Genocide (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Turkish Court Martial Trial Transcript (voice)

  • The Jury (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Hole in One(2004)

    as Sammy

    Motif score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Friends and Family (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Marvin Levine

  • A Fish in the Bathtub(1998)

    as Morris

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Joe the King(1999)

    as Judge

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Kiss & Tell (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Louis

  • Remember WENN(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Sweet

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Young at Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Joe Garaventi

  • Mad About You(1992)

    Show 70 episodes · as Burt Buchman

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Missing Pieces (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Ochenko

  • City of Hope(1991)

    as Mayor Baci

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Brooklyn Bridge (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 33 episodes · as Jules Berger

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Edgar Hynes · as Trial Judge Milton Erdheim

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Bloodhounds of Broadway(1989)

    as Mindy

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Dirty Rotten Scoundrels(1988)

    as Greek Millionaire

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Cheap Shots(1988)

    as Louie Constantine

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Where Are the Children?(1985)

    as Kragopoulos

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Club Paradise(1986)

    as Swiss Buissnessman

    Motif score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Flanagan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    as Lerner

  • Spenser: For Hire(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Equalizer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Zeke

  • Death of a Salesman(1985)

    as Ben Loman

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Muppets Take Manhattan(1984)

    as Pete

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Kate & Allie(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • American Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Mindy

  • Nurse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as John Bloom

  • Charles Ives: A Good Dissonance Like a Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    as George W. Chadwick

  • The New Avengers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Karl

  • W.C. Fields and Me(1976)

    as Gene Fowler

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Seagull (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    as Dorn

  • Antigone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Sunday in the Country(1974)

    as Dinelli

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Newman's Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Frank Lo Falcone

  • For Pete's Sake(1974)

    as Nick

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Antigone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jonas (1st Guard)

  • The Rehearsal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • The Don Is Dead(1973)

    as Mitch

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike DeBrieno

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Honor Thy Father (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Joe Notario

  • Made for Each Other(1971)

    as Pandora's Father

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Fiddler on the Roof(1971)

    as Constable

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Columbo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Staplin

  • They Might Be Giants(1971)

    as 2nd Sanitation Man

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Cold Turkey(1971)

    as Douglas Truesdale (uncredited)

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Great Performances (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorn · as Jonas

  • Popi(1969)

    as Penebaz

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Coogan's Bluff(1968)

    as Taxi Driver

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Gammera the Invincible (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Soviet ambassador

  • Another World (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1,547 episodes · Actor

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Diagnosis: Unknown (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Manos · as Sam

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Folio (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 61 titles from 1955 to 2016; peak year 2011.

Biggest box office

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

$26M worldwide

Highest rated

Death of a Salesman (1985)

Motif 85th

Most popular right now

Mad About You (1992)

Film career

19552016

Peak 2011 · 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
Acting61 of 61: 61 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score59th

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s6 · acting1970s19 · acting1980s13 · acting1990s10 · acting2000s5 · acting2010s6 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
6681

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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, 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 Louis Zorich's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Motif score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Cheap Shots (1988)

89th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Motif 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Louis Zorich's work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 31

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

Who does Louis Zorich work with?

People who share at least 2 of Louis Zorich's Motif titles; Olympia Dukakis shares the most, 2.