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Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson

Actor · Died April 8, 1996, aged 77 · Foraker, Shidler, Oklahoma, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Ben "Son" Johnson, Jr. (June 13, 1918 – April 8, 1996) was an American motion picture actor who was mainly cast in Westerns. He was also a rodeo cowboy, stuntman, and rancher. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ben Johnson (actor) , licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 13, 1918
Died
April 8, 1996 (aged 77)
From
Foraker, Shidler, Oklahoma, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
64 on MovieCove · 97 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 18% in 30 days

What are Ben Johnson's films like?

Across their 54 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Western3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Western movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th 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
Bonds
33%
Morality
20%
Self
16%
Survival
14%
Society
8%
Power
6%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival13 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty13 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 54 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 23 · Dark 16

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 34 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 12 · Charged 31 · Intense 11

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

Steady 19 · Shifting 32 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 41 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 25 · Even-paced 27 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 28 · Engaged 25 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 20 · Affecting 22 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 47 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

30 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 9 of 30 analyzed roles.

Hero
9 of 30
Ally
8 of 30
Mentor
6 of 30
Threshold guardian
4 of 30
Trickster
1 of 30
Shapeshifter
1 of 30
Herald
1 of 30
Show the 30 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
37
Melancholic
23
Hopeful
15
Warm
13
Thrilling
11
Other
44

How their films linger

Bittersweet23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet27
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous5
  • 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 Ben Johnson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 36 of their 64 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (21).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ben Johnson'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

97 credits, 64 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Backstabber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Lance

  • The Evening Star(1996)

    as Arthur Cotton

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Ruby Jean and Joe(1996)

    as Big Man

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart(1995)

    as Jack Parrish

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Bonanza: Under Attack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Bronc Evans

  • Angels in the Outfield(1994)

    as Hank Murphy

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Bonanza: The Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Bronc Evans

  • Radio Flyer(1992)

    as Geronimo Bill

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys(1991)

    as Jesse Dalton

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Chase(1991)

    as Laurienti

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Last Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Back to Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Eli Hix

  • Stranger on My Land(1988)

    as Vern Whitman

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Dark Before Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as The Sheriff

  • Cherry 2000(1987)

    as Six Fingered Jake

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Let's Get Harry(1986)

    as Mr. Burck Sr.

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

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

    as August Klein

  • Wild Horses(1985)

    as Bill Ward

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Red Dawn(1984)

    as Mason

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Champions(1984)

    as Burly Cocks

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Always in My Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • The Shadow Riders(1982)

    as Uncle 'Black Jack' Traven

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Tex(1982)

    as Cole Collins

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.(1981)

    as Isum Gorch

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Terror Train(1980)

    as Carne

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

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

    as Sam Bellows

  • The Hunter(1980)

    as Sheriff John Strong

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Wild Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Doc Bogardus

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Cap Rountree

  • The Swarm(1978)

    as Felix

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Grayeagle(1977)

    as John Colter

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Savage Bees(1976)

    as Sheriff Donald McKew

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Greatest(1977)

    as Hollis

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Town That Dreaded Sundown(1976)

    as JD Morales

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Hustle(1975)

    as Marty Hollinger

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Breakheart Pass(1975)

    as Deputy U.S. Marshal Nathan Pearce

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Bite the Bullet(1975)

    as Mister

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

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

    as Amos Fletcher

  • The Sugarland Express(1974)

    as Captain Tanner

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Blood Sport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Dwayne Birdsong

  • Runaway! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Holly Gibson

  • Dillinger(1973)

    as Melvin Purvis

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Red Pony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Jess Taylor

  • The Train Robbers(1973)

    as Jesse

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Kid Blue(1973)

    as Sheriff 'Mean John' Simpson

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Getaway(1972)

    as Jack Beynon

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Junior Bonner(1972)

    as Buck Roan

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Bull of the West(1972)

    as Spinner

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Corky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Boland

  • Something Big(1971)

    as Jesse Bookbinder

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Last Picture Show(1971)

    as Sam the Lion

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Chisum(1970)

    as James Pepper

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Undefeated(1969)

    as Short Grub

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Bunch(1969)

    as Tector Gorch

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Ride a Northbound Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Will Parker

  • Hang 'Em High(1968)

    as Marshal Dave Bliss

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Will Penny(1967)

    as Alex

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Noon Wine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Sheriff Barbee

  • ABC Stage 67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Barbee

  • The Monroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The Rare Breed(1966)

    as Jeff Harter

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Major Dundee(1965)

    as Sergeant Chillum

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Branded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cheyenne Autumn(1964)

    as Trooper Plumtree (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (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 Jim Brandt · as Joe Hogan · as Spinner

  • Tomboy and the Champ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Uncle Jim

  • One-Eyed Jacks(1961)

    as Bob Amory

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Ten Who Dared(1960)

    as George Bradley

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Del McNab

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Deputy Sheriff Stan Mace · as Kelly James · as Sgt. Samuel Bellis

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Fort Bowie(1958)

    as Capt. Thomas Thompson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Slim Carter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Montana Burriss

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Kelly

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • War Drums(1957)

    as Luke Fargo

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Rebel in Town(1956)

    as Frank Mason

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Oklahoma!(1955)

    Stunt Double · as Wrangler (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Jeff

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Crown · as Hannon · as Vern Morland

  • Shane(1953)

    as Chris Calloway

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Cal Bennett

  • Wild Stallion(1952)

    as Dan Light (as an adult)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Fort Defiance(1951)

    as Ben Shelby

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Rio Grande(1950)

    as Trooper Travis Tyree

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Wagon Master(1950)

    as Travis Blue

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • She Wore a Yellow Ribbon(1949)

    as Sgt. Tyree

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Mighty Joe Young(1949)

    as Gregg Johnson

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • 3 Godfathers(1948)

    Stunts · as Posse man #1

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Gallant Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Ranger

  • Fort Apache(1948)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Naughty Nineties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Coach Driver (uncredited)

  • Tall in the Saddle(1944)

    Stunts · as Townsman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Bordertown Gun Fighters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Stunts

  • The Outlaw(1943)

    Stunts · as Deputy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 96 titles from 1943 to 2011; peak year 1974.

Biggest box office

Angels in the Outfield (1994)

$50M worldwide

Highest rated

The Last Picture Show (1971)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

The Wild Bunch (1969)

Film career

19432011

Peak 1974 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 18 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
Acting94 of 96: 90 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thOther crew6 of 96: 2 only other crew, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score79th

96 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1940s9 · 7 acting · 5 crew1950s17 · 17 acting · 1 crew1960s19 · acting1970s24 · acting1980s18 · acting1990s8 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 10% of 40 roles
435368737883

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 Ben Johnson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 60; across their 54 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 54

Approval · how many liked their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 54

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 54

Midcredits score across 64 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

34 of their 64 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser34
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. (1981)

82nd percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Last Picture Show (1971)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 54 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 46. 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 Ben Johnson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles28–82 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles8–52 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles18–46 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles22–42 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles21–71 · median 55 · 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 Ben Johnson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ben Johnson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Harry Carey Jr. shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers