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Strother Martin

Strother Martin

Actor · Died August 1, 1980, aged 61 · Kokomo, Indiana, USA

Strother Martin (March 26, 1919 – August 1, 1980) was an American actor in numerous films and television programs. Martin is perhaps best known as the prison "captain" in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, where he uttered the line, "What we've got here is...failure to communicate."

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 26, 1919
Died
August 1, 1980 (aged 61)
From
Kokomo, Indiana, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
73 on MovieCove · 143 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 32% in 30 days

What are Strother Martin's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 10 · Serious 8 · Dark 14

A split, not a type: Grounded 19 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 3

Gentle 7 · Charged 16 · Intense 9

Steady 14 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 4

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 9

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 0

A split, not a type: Casual 15 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 1

A split, not a type: Easy watch 12 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 9

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 6 of 16 analyzed roles.

Shadow
6 of 16
Ally
4 of 16
Trickster
2 of 16
Threshold guardian
1 of 16
Mentor
1 of 16
Herald
1 of 16
Shapeshifter
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
22
Melancholic
12
Warm
9
Joyful
7
Absurd
6
Other
24

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic3
  • 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 Strother Martin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 73 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (21).

Subscription and free streaming for Strother Martin'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

143 credits, 73 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hotwire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as The Weasel

  • The Secret Life of Nikola Tesla(1980)

    as George Westinghouse

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
  • Better Late Than Never(1979)

    as J.D. Ashcroft

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • The Villain(1979)

    as Parody Jones

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • The Champ(1979)

    as Riley

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
  • Nightwing(1979)

    as Selwyn

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Love and Bullets(1979)

    as Louis Monk

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • Stubby Pringle's Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Old Hollander

  • Steel Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Pinky Pincus

  • Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Turtle Ranch Boss

  • Vega$ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Up in Smoke(1978)

    as Mr. Stoner

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • The End(1978)

    as Dr. Waldo Kling

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Slap Shot(1977)

    as Joe McGrath

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Rooster Cogburn(1975)

    as Shanghai McCoy

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Hard Times(1975)

    as Poe

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • One of Our Own(1975)

    as LeRoy Atkins

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Baretta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · as Thomas Tyler 'T.T.' Flowers

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
  • Movin' On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Paper Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Clate Dobie

  • Sssssss(1973)

    as Dr. Carl Stoner

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • The Boy and the Bronc Buster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Buckshot

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

    Show 5 episodes · as R.J. Hawkins

  • The Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pocket Money(1972)

    as Bill Garrett

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • The Flim Flam Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Lovick

  • Hannie Caulder(1971)

    as Rufus Clemens

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Nichols (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Zachariah

  • Fools' Parade(1971)

    as Lee Cottrill

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • The Brotherhood of Satan(1971)

    as Doc Duncan

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Red Sky at Morning(1971)

    as John Cloyd

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Terry Riggs

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows
  • The Wild Bunch(1969)

    as Coffer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • True Grit(1969)

    as Colonel G. Stonehill

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • The Doris Day Show(1968)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tyrone Lovey

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows
  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Nanyface

  • It Takes a Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Willard Knox

  • The Mountains of the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as O'Keefe

  • Cool Hand Luke(1967)

    as Captain

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • The Danny Thomas Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Rooney

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • He & She (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as The Rev. Mr. Anderson

  • The Flim-Flam Man(1967)

    as Lovick

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Coogan

  • Tarzan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Nevada Smith(1966)

    as Strother (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • An Eye for an Eye(1966)

    as Trumbull

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Harper(1966)

    as Claude

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
  • Lost in Space(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Nerim

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows
  • The Big Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan'l Hawks · as Fludd

  • Run for Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Holly Amberton

  • The Legend of Jesse James (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Meeker

  • The Sons of Katie Elder(1965)

    as Ned Ross

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • Shenandoah(1965)

    as Train Engineer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • Brainstorm(1965)

    as Mr. Clyde

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Profiles in Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Senator James Wadsworth

  • Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • Gilligan's Island(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows
  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Solomon Tarbot

  • McLintock!(1963)

    as Agard

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
  • The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Deputy Shirky Saulter

  • The Lieutenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Taxi Driver

  • Showdown(1963)

    as Charlie Reeder

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • The Dakotas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Stoney Burke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Finley · as Luther Watson

  • Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • The Dick Van Dyke Show(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Harper Worthington Yates

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • The New Breed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · as Benny Kohler

  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frank Geray

  • The Deadly Companions(1961)

    as Parson

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Sanctuary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Dog Boy

  • Pete and Gladys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rebel(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Jess

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Hotel de Paree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 31 episodes · Actor

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Mothershed

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Cole Younger · as Joad Bruder · as Little Meredith Smith · as Lonnie Stern · as Yuri

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • The Horse Soldiers(1959)

    as Virgil

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • The Wild and the Innocent(1959)

    as Ben Stocker

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • The Shaggy Dog(1959)

    as Thurm

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • Black Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Pit Thatcher

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bates

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Sloane

  • Lawman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Texan(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Polk Blackston

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • Bitter Heritage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Earle Eheeler

  • Jefferson Drum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Pete Henke

  • Cowboy(1958)

    as Trailhand Bitten by Rattlesnake

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Trackdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Benny French

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerald Sommers · as Joe Mead · as Pete Gibson · as Roy Hutchinson

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • Black Patch(1957)

    as Petey

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 2 episodes · as Carew · as Fred Coombs

  • Copper Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Pokey

  • Panic! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    as Thorny

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

    Show 1 episode · as Joby

  • Broken Arrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Renton

  • Attack(1956)

    as Ingersol

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • The Adventures of Jim Bowie(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows
  • Johnny Concho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Townsman (uncredited)

  • Telephone Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • World Without End(1956)

    as Nihka (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • Target Zero(1955)

    as Pvt. Dan O'Hirons

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Big Knife(1955)

    as Stillman

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Crossroads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Landry Kersh

  • Navy Log (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Ben Snow · as Billy · as Cooter · as Dillard · as Dooley · as Ed Davey · as Gene Bunch · as Mr. Stooler · as Rowley · as Timble

  • Kiss Me Deadly(1955)

    as Harvey Wallace

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
  • Strategic Air Command(1955)

    as Airman

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Pete Hill

  • The Silver Chalice(1954)

    as Father (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
  • Drum Beat(1954)

    as Scotty

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · as Buckshot · as Thurm

  • A Star Is Born(1954)

    as Delivery Boy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Studio 57 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Pete Dutton

  • Lassie(1954)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
  • The Lone Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Nick Davis

  • World for Ransom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Waiter

  • South Sea Woman(1953)

    as Marine in Audience at Court-martial (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Magnetic Monster(1953)

    as Co-Pilot

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Gunnery Officer Daly · as Obie

  • Androcles and the Lion(1952)

    as Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Wilkins

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Blair

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
  • Storm Over Tibet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Co-pilot

  • Chevron Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dangerous Assignment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Hollander

  • Dragnet(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • I Love Lucy(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Man in Coffee Shop

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Bellhop · as Teeples

  • The Red Badge of Courage(1951)

    as Corporal (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
  • Rhubarb(1951)

    as Michael 'Shorty' McGirk (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • The Damned Don't Cry(1950)

    as Springboard Diver (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • The Asphalt Jungle(1950)

    as William Doldy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 143 titles from 1950 to 1980; peak year 1970.

Film career

19501980

Peak 1970 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 7 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
Acting143 of 143: 143 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score69th

By decade

1950s64 · acting1960s44 · acting1970s33 · acting1980s2 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 5% of 42 roles
535863687378

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 Strother Martin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 57; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 73 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up30
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

38 of their 73 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser38
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed14

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 31 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 47. 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 Strother Martin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles37–69 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles18–52 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles33–65 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles27–57 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles26–75 · median 43 · 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 Strother Martin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Strother Martin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paul Newman shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles