Skip to content
MovieCove
Bill Duke

Bill Duke

Actor and director, also producer · Born February 26, 1943 (83) · Poughkeepsie, New York, USA

William Henry "Bill" Duke, Jr. (born February 26, 1943) is an American actor and film director. Known for his physically imposing frame, Duke's acting work frequently dwells within the action/crime and drama genres but also includes comedy. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bill Duke , licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 26, 1943 (83)
From
Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and director, also producer
Titles
71 on MovieCove · 112 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 25% in 30 days

What are Bill Duke's films like?

Across their 43 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
Morality
24%
Bonds
20%
Self
18%
Society
13%
Power
12%
Survival
10%
Ideas
3%
Justice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal10 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 41 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 14 · Dark 14

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 23 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 6

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 15 · Intense 18

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 5

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

Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 16 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 4

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 15 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 34 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 4 of 16 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
4 of 16
Mentor
4 of 16
Ally
3 of 16
Herald
2 of 16
Trickster
2 of 16
Shadow
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
29
Melancholic
14
Thrilling
13
Hopeful
11
Contemplative
10
Other
38

How their films linger

Hopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet25
  • 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 Bill Duke's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 49 of their 71 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (28).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bill Duke'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

112 credits, 71 with a MovieCove page; 15 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director

  • Gaslit(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Anderson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Vandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Harold

  • No Sudden Move(2021)

    as Aldrick Watkins

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Hollow Point(2019)

    as Senior Guard James

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • High Flying Bird(2019)

    as Spence

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Mandy(2018)

    as Caruthers

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Black Lightning(2018)

    Show 21 episodes · as Agent Percy Odell

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Clipped Wings, They Do Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as D.A. Adam Stevenson

  • American Satan(2017)

    as Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Created Equal(2017)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Restored Me(2016)

    as Officer Brantley

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Light Girls(2015)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Preying for Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Bad Country(2014)

    as John Nokes

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Battledogs(2013)

    as President Donald Sheridan

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Freaky Deaky(2012)

    as Wendell Robinson

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Dark Girls(2011)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Big Bang(2010)

    as Drummer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Henry's Crime(2010)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Not Easily Broken(2009)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Prince Among Slaves(2007)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Cover(2007)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Yellow(2006)

    as Miles Emory

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • X-Men: The Last Stand(2006)

    as Trask

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Pact(2006)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Get Rich or Die Tryin'(2005)

    as Levar

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Boondocks(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Deacons for Defense(2003)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Miracle's Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Battlestar Galactica(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Phelan

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Lost(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Warden Harris

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Karen Sisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 10 episodes · as Amos Andrews

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Grover Boone

  • National Security(2003)

    as Lieutenant Washington

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Red Dragon(2002)

    as Police Chief

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Fastlane(2002)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · as Capt. Bob Parish

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Love and a Bullet(2002)

    as Mysterious Voice on Phone

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Partners of the Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • DMX: Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Justice League(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Exit Wounds(2001)

    as Chief Hinges

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Never Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Earl

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Who Killed Atlanta's Children?(2000)

    as Sheriff Chirumenga Jenga

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery(2000)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Limey(1999)

    as Head DEA Agent (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ed Pastrino

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Fever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Detective Glass

  • Foolish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Studio Producer

  • Payback(1999)

    as Det. Hicks

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Susan's Plan(1998)

    as Detective Scott

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Always Outnumbered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Blackbird Wills

  • Hoodlum(1997)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • America's Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • New York Undercover(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit(1993)

    Director · as Mr. Johnson

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Menace II Society(1993)

    as Detective

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Cemetery Club(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Deep Cover(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • A Rage in Harlem(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Bird on a Wire(1990)

    as Albert Diggs

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Outsiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Brewster Place(1990)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Street of No Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Lieutenant Borel

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

    Director

  • Gideon Oliver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • A Raisin in the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • A Man Called Hawk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Action Jackson(1988)

    as Capt. Earl Armbruster

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • No Man's Land(1987)

    as Malcolm

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Tour of Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Predator(1987)

    as Mac Eliot

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI(1986)

    Director

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

  • Amen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Crime Story(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Starman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Dallas: The Early Years(1986)

    as Seth Foster

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Commando(1985)

    as Cooke

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Spenser: For Hire(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Hell Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Berrenger's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Call to Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Maximum Security (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Killing Floor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Emerald Point N.A.S. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Trauma Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 3 episodes · Director · as FBI Agent #2

  • Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Flamingo Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Palmerstown, U.S.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 18 episodes · as Luther Freeman

  • American Gigolo(1980)

    as Leon James

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force(1978)

    as Sgt. Langford

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Love Is Not Enough(1978)

    as 'Happy' Jordan

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dallas(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Car Wash(1976)

    as Duane – Abdullah

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as David Pearl

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer Dryden

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Santiago's America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Mr. Sands

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Sylk

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Santiago's Ark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Mr. Sands

  • Redd Foxx Biopic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Scavenger Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Joe

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 110 titles, 108 of them dated from 1972 to 2024; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

Payback (1999)

$162M worldwide

Highest rated

Predator (1987)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19722024

Peak 1986 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting59 of 110: 56 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thDirecting54 of 110: 48 only directing, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thProducing3 of 110: 0 only producing, 3 with another role

110 titles, 6 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1970s10 · 8 acting · 2 crew1980s36 · 9 acting · 28 crew1990s17 · 10 acting · 8 crew2000s25 · 16 acting · 10 crew2010s16 · 12 acting · 4 crew2020s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 26 roles
76960616

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 Bill Duke's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 48; across their 41 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Midcredits score across 71 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th22
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 71 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · actor

Restored Me (2016)

97th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Predator (1987)

Midcredits 96th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 33 reviewed titles; fans 76, 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 Bill Duke's work okay for kids?

Across up to 19 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles39–92 · median 80 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity19 titles20–72 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles57–89 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles15–88 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles29–81 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most 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 Bill Duke work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bill Duke's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kurt Farquhar shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles