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William Daniels

William Daniels

Actor · Born March 31, 1927 (99) · Brooklyn, New York, USA

William David Daniels (born March 31, 1927) is an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild (1999 to 2001). He is known for his performance as Dustin Hoffman's father in The Graduate (1967), as John Adams in 1776, as Carter Nash in Captain Nice, as Mr. George Feeny in ABC's Boy Meets World, as the voice of KITT in Knight Rider, and as Dr. Mark Craig in St. Elsewhere, for which he won two Emmy Awards.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 31, 1927 (99)
From
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
53 on MovieCove · 103 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 63 days to Oct 26Down 11% in 30 days

What are William Daniels' films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
23%
Bonds
23%
Self
19%
Survival
13%
Power
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
7%
Justice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 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 15 · Serious 7 · Dark 8

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

Grounded 20 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 14 · Intense 8

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

Steady 20 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 3

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 15 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 5

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 5

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 14 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 12 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 12
Ally
3 of 12
Threshold guardian
2 of 12
Mentor
2 of 12
Herald
1 of 12
Hero
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Warm
9
Melancholic
13
Contemplative
7
Joyful
7
Other
28

How their films linger

Thought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous7

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 William Daniels' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 53 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Daniels' 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

103 credits, 53 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Creeps - Behind the Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Thanks

  • The Creeps(2025)

    as Kitt

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • 115 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Kraft Intelligence (voice)

  • Superintelligence(2020)

    as KITT (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Girl Meets World(2014)

    Show 5 episodes · as George Feeny

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as K.I.T.T. (voice)

  • Blades of Glory(2007)

    as Commissioner Ebbers

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Andrew Schmidt

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 5 episodes · as Craig Thomas

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Boston Legal(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Milton Brody

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Lyon's Den (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kim Possible(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Robot Pilot (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Douglas

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The King of Queens(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Phillip Waldscott

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Lottery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Reverend Hutchinson

  • Maybe This Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as George Feeny

  • Magic Kid II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Manny

  • The American Revolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 6 episodes · as John Adams

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as George · as Whit Russell

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 158 episodes · as George Feeny

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Back to the Streets of San Francisco(1992)

    as Julius Burns

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Clara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Detective Lieutenant Fine

  • The General Motors Playwrights Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Lieutenant Fine

  • On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story(1990)

    as John Nicks

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

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as KITT (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder(1989)

    as Slaney

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Her Alibi(1989)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Little Match Girl(1987)

    as Haywood Dutton

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Blind Date(1987)

    as Harold Bedford

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Princess Who Had Never Laughed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Narrator

  • Laugh Busters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as KITT (voice)

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 137 episodes · Director · as Mark Craig

  • Drop-Out Father(1982)

    as Draper Wright

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 84 episodes · as KITT (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Knight Rider: Knight of the Phoenix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as KITT (voice)

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

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

    as Dr. DeVega

  • Rehearsal for Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Walter Lamb

  • Reds(1981)

    as Julius Gerber

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Million Dollar Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Henry Burns

  • All Night Long(1981)

    as Richard H. Copleston

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Conquest of the Earth(1980)

    as Norman

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Freebie and the Bean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 9 episodes · as Walter Cruikshank

  • Damien: The Leper Priest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bishop Koeckemann

  • The Blue Lagoon(1980)

    as Arthur Lestrange

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • City in Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Freeman Stribling

  • Galactica 1980(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Norman Blore

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Simon Richardson

  • Sunburn(1979)

    as Crawford

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Blind Ambition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as G. Gordon Liddy

  • Bleacher Bums (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • The Rebels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Adams

  • The Chinese Typewriter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as C. Donald Devlin

  • Diff'rent Strokes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Grandpa Goes to Washington (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    as Father Veller

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

  • Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Lawrence Stepwell III

  • The Bastard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Samuel Adams

  • The One and Only(1978)

    as Mr. Crawford

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer(1977)

    as Major Marcus Reno

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Return of the Incredible Hulk(1977)

    as John Bonifant

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. John Bonifant

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Killer on Board (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Marshall Snowden

  • Oh, God!(1977)

    as George Summers

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Soap(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Heinrich Himmel

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Black Sunday(1977)

    as Pugh

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Charlie Volmer · as Paul Reardon

  • The Nancy Walker Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 12 episodes · as Kenneth Kitteridge

  • Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident(1976)

    as Bissell

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Adams Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 7 episodes · as John Quincy Adams

  • Barbary Coast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Boyle

  • Medical Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeffrey Brody

  • One of Our Own(1975)

    as Dr. Moresby

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic(1975)

    as Matt Hodges

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Kolchak: The Night Stalker(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Lt. Jack Matteo

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Bevins · as Thomas Caine

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Parallax View(1974)

    as Austin Tucker

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • A Case of Rape(1974)

    as Leonard Alexander

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Fabulous Doctor Fable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Elliot Borden

  • The Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Albert

  • Murdock's Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Roger Bates

  • 1776(1972)

    as John Adams

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Bob Newhart Show(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Edgar T. Vickers Jr.

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Commander Campbell

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Pearson

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Marlowe(1969)

    as Mr. Cromwell

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Good Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Graduate(1967)

    as Mr. Braddock

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The President's Analyst(1967)

    as Wynn Quantrill

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Judd, for the Defense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Two for the Road(1967)

    as Howard Manchester

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Captain Nice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 15 episodes · as Carter Nash

  • T.H.E. Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony Webb

  • A Thousand Clowns(1965)

    as Albert Amundsen

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ladybug Ladybug(1963)

    as Mr. Calkins

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Malloy · as Mike Herman

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Culverin

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as John Quincy Adams

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 103 titles from 1951 to 2026; peak year 1988.

Biggest box office

The Graduate (1967)

$105M worldwide

Highest rated

The Graduate (1967)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Boy Meets World (1993)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19512026

Peak 1988 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting102 of 103: 101 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thDirecting1 of 103: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 103: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s13 · acting1970s41 · acting1980s23 · 23 acting · 1 crew1990s11 · acting2000s7 · acting2010s2 · acting2020s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 5% of 20 roles
636878

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 William Daniels' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 53 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

One of Our Own (1975)

82nd percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Graduate (1967)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 43. 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 William Daniels' work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles12–62 · median 34 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles13–55 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles20–47 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles22–46 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles17–58 · median 34 · mildnear 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 William Daniels work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Daniels' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Richard C. Sarafian shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers