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Mark Rydell

Mark Rydell

Director, actor and producer · Died August 13, 2026, aged 97 · New York City, New York, USA

Mark Rydell (March 23, 1929 — August 13, 2026) was an American actor, film director and producer. He has directed many Academy Award-nominated films including The Fox (1967), The Reivers (1969), Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Rose (1979), The River (1984) and For the Boys (1991). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for On Golden Pond (1981). Rydell's initial training was in music. As a youth, he wanted to be a conductor. He began his career as an actor and first became known for his role as Walt Johnson on The Edge of Night and as Jeff Baker on As the World Turns, which he played from 1956 to 1962. When he would not sign a long-term contract to remain on ATWT the producers had his character die in a car crash. He won plaudits for his role of violent Jewish mob kingpin Marty Augustine in Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye (1973). His most recent significant film role was in Woody Allen's Hollywood Ending (2002). As a director, Rydell's credits include The Reivers (1969), The Cowboys (1972), Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Rose (1979), On Golden Pond (1981), for which he received an Oscar nomination as Best Director, The River (1984), For the Boys (1991), and Intersection (1994). He directed the TV movie The Crime of the Century (1996), which starred Isabella Rossellini and Stephen Rea. In 2006, Rydell directed the movie Even Money. Rydell was also the director of the TV bio-pic James Dean (2001), which earned actor James Franco a Golden Globe award. Rydell also acted in the movie, playing Jack L. Warner (head of Warner Bros). In 2009, Rydell, working with actor Martin Landau and screenwriter/playwright Lyle Kessler, produced an education seminar, The Total Picture Seminar. It is a two-day event covering the disciplines of acting, directing, and writing for film. The three have worked together as a team for many decades at The Actors Studio teaching and coaching professional actors, writers, and directors. In 2010, Rydell joined the Advisory Board of Openfilm, an online video sharing site created to help aspiring independent filmmakers. Description above from the Wikipedia article Mark Rydell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 23, 1929
Died
August 13, 2026 (aged 97)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Director, actor and producer
Titles
25 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

What are Mark Rydell's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
Bonds
35%
Self
26%
Morality
15%
Survival
8%
Power
7%
Society
6%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 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 10 · Serious 5 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 17 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 11 · Intense 4

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

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 13 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 3
Trickster
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
13
Tense
9
Bittersweet
7
Contemplative
7
Warm
7
Other
16

How their films linger

Bittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous3
  • 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 Mark Rydell's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Pluto TV (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mark Rydell'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

42 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Senior Entourage(2021)

    as Mark

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Chicanery(2017)

    as Jack Sobel

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Coup in Camelot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • Good Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Marcus

  • Masters of Science Fiction(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Creator

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Even Money(2006)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • An Unfinished Life(2005)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Everwood(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jacob Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Hollywood Ending(2002)

    as Al

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • James Dean(2001)

    Director · Executive Producer · as Jack Warner

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • A Man Is Mostly Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Distributor

  • Crime of the Century(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Intersection(1994)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • For the Boys(1991)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Man in the Moon(1991)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Havana(1990)

    as Meyer Lansky

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Punchline(1988)

    as Romeo

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The River(1984)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • On Golden Pond(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Rose(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Harry and Walter Go to New York(1976)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Cinderella Liberty(1973)

    Director · Producer · as Gutteral Mischief (as Marty Augustine)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Long Goodbye(1973)

    as Marty Augustine

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Breaking of Boys and the Making of Men in 'The Cowboys' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • The Cowboys(1972)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Reivers(1969)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director

  • The Wild Wild West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Long, Hot Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • I Spy(1965)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Reporter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Slattery's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Mr. Novak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

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

    Show 9 episodes · Director

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralph Harris

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Adams

  • Crime in the Streets(1956)

    as Lou Macklin

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 10 episodes · Director

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

A full career of 42 titles from 1948 to 2021.

Biggest box office

On Golden Pond (1981)

$119M worldwide

Highest rated

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

An Unfinished Life (2005)

Film career

  • 1956Screen debut· Crime in the Streets

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting17 of 42: 15 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thDirecting24 of 42: 17 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndProducing9 of 42: 3 only producing, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score75thOther crew1 of 42: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

42 titles, 7 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s5 · 4 acting · 1 crew1960s10 · crew1970s7 · 3 acting · 5 crew1980s3 · 1 acting · 2 crew1990s5 · 1 acting · 4 crew2000s7 · 4 acting · 4 crew2010s3 · 2 acting · 1 crew2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

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.

How do Mark Rydell's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 22 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 22

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 25 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 25 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Senior Entourage (2021)

90th percentile spread · 74% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Midcredits 94th · 80% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 69/100 and the pacing 42/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Mark Rydell's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles27–58 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles18–52 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles40–81 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles10–57 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian 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 Mark Rydell work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mark Rydell's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Williams shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Mixed roles