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Ted McGinley

Ted McGinley

Actor, also producer · Born May 30, 1958 (68) · Newport Beach, California, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee

Theodore Martin 'Ted' McGinley (born May 30, 1958) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Jefferson D'Arcy on the television sitcom Married... with Children, and as Charley Shanowski on the ABC sitcom Hope & Faith. He was a late regular on Happy Days, Dynasty and The Love Boat and is known for playing the villainous role of Stan Gable in the film Revenge of the Nerds and in several made-for-television sequels. He has been married to actress Gigi Rice since 1991.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 30, 1958 (68)
From
Newport Beach, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
65 on MovieCove · 90 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 2% in 30 days

What are Ted McGinley's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Thriller3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Thriller 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
40%
Self
17%
Society
13%
Survival
11%
Morality
11%
Power
5%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds17 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 25 · Serious 7 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 28 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 11 · Charged 21 · Intense 2

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

Steady 21 · Shifting 11 · 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 19 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 8

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 21 · 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 25 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

23 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 7 of 23 analyzed roles.

Hero
7 of 23
Mentor
5 of 23
Threshold guardian
4 of 23
Shadow
3 of 23
Shapeshifter
1 of 23
Trickster
1 of 23
Herald
1 of 23
Ally
1 of 23
Show the 23 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
18
Hopeful
18
Tense
13
Joyful
15
Romantic
10
Other
42

How their films linger

Feel-good24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy24
  • Bittersweet11
  • Ambiguous6

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 Ted McGinley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 51 of their 65 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ted McGinley'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

90 credits, 65 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Blowin' Smoke(2026)

    as Luke Parsons

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Engagement Plan(2024)

    as Ed Jones

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Silent Thunder(2023)

    as Marshal Spencer Sunday

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Baxters(2024)

    Show 34 episodes · as John Baxter

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Platonic(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnny Rev

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Shrinking(2023)

    Show 32 episodes · as Derek

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Keeping Up with the Joneses(2021)

    Show 7 episodes · as Webb Devereux

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Christmas Reservations(2019)

    as Duffy Johnson

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • No Good Nick(2019)

    Show 8 episodes · as Sam

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • A-X-L(2018)

    as George Fontaine

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness(2018)

    as Thomas Ellsworth

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Landlord(2017)

    as Robert J. Farnsworth

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Area of Conflict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Carter

  • The Outcasts(2017)

    as Principal Whitmore

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Happily Never After(2017)

    as Gene

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Expendable Assets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • The Bridge Part 2(2016)

    as Charlie Barton

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • No Tomorrow(2016)

    Show as Greg Covington

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • The Bridge(2015)

    as Charlie Barton

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Underdog Kids(2015)

    as Mr. Hershfeld

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Do You Believe?(2015)

    Producer · as Matthew

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Redeemed(2014)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Rescuing Madison(2014)

    as Douglas

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Transformers: Robots in Disguise(2014)

    Show as Denny Clay

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Bad Behavior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Bruce

  • Mom(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Berenson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • A Mother's Rage(2013)

    as Stan

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Imaginary Friend(2012)

    as Officer Cameron

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Notes from the Heart Healer(2012)

    as Kingston Danville

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Christmas with a Capital C(2011)

    as Dan Reed

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Breaking In(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster(2010)

    as Uncle Thorny

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as FBI Special Agent Sam Collins

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Melissa & Joey(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Castle(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Brock Harmon

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Taking a Chance on Love(2009)

    as Kingston Danville

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Batman: The Brave and the Bold(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Aquaman 2 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Hunt

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Eavesdrop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Grant

  • The Note(2007)

    as Kingston Danville

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Wizards of Waverly Place(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Superintendent Clanton

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Mad Men(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Mel

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • 'Til Death(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Webby

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Randy Labayda

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Retrosexual: The '80s (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 5 episodes · as (archive footage)

  • NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323(2004)

    as Reese Faulkner

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Hope & Faith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 73 episodes · as Charley Shanowski

  • Charlie Lawrence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 7 episodes · as Graydon Cord

  • Frozen Impact(2003)

    as Dan Blanchard

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Ted Wayne Giblen

  • Justice League(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Burns (voice) · as Tom Turbine (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Pearl Harbor(2001)

    as Army Corps Major

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Cahoots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Brad

  • Daybreak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Dillon Johansen

  • Face the Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Marcus

  • The Big Tease(1999)

    as Johnny Darjerling

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Hard Time: Hostage Hotel(1999)

    as FBI Agent Hopkins

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mark Gottfried

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Dick(1999)

    as Roderick

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as (voice) · as Helicopter Rental Agent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Follow Your Heart(1999)

    as James Allen Bailey

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Sports Night(1998)

    Show 8 episodes · as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Every Mother's Worst Fear(1998)

    as Scanman

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Major League: Back to the Minors(1998)

    as Leonard Huff

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Hale

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Deadly Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Peter Lawrence

  • Tails You Live, Heads You're Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jeff Quint

  • Wild Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Aubrey Billings

  • Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love(1994)

    as Stan Gable

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Wayne's World 2(1993)

    as Mr. Scream

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Linda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Brandon 'Jeff' Jeffries

  • The John Larroquette Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Karl Reese

  • Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation(1992)

    as Stan Gable

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Space Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Biff

  • Blue Tornado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Philip

  • Baby Talk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Chad Spencer

  • Troop Beverly Hills(1989)

    as Ted McGinley · as Self

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • B.L. Stryker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitch Slade

  • Physical Evidence(1989)

    as Kyle

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 165 episodes · as Jefferson D'Arcy · as Norman Jablonsky

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Revenge of the Nerds(1984)

    as Stan Gable

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Making of a Male Model(1983)

    as Gary Angelo

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Herndon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

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

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Young Doctors in Love(1982)

    as Dr. Bucky DeVol

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 50 episodes · as Clay Fallmont

  • Valentine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Jogger

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 56 episodes · as Ashley Covington Evans

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Happy Days(1974)

    Show 47 episodes · as Roger Phillips

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 87 titles from 1974 to 2024; peak year 2019.

Biggest box office

Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

$41M worldwide

Highest rated

Shrinking (2023)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Married... with Children (1987)

Film career

19742024

Peak 2019 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 3 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
Acting87 of 87: 87 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score49th

By decade

1970s3 · acting1980s10 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s21 · acting2010s25 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
8297

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.

Awards

Nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2025, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Ted McGinley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 30th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 29th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 65 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th20

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 65 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed28

Most divisive · actor

God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness (2018)

97th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The West Wing (1999)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 55/100 in their films, across 33 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 37. 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 Ted McGinley's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 29 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles17–55 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 49 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles11–40 · median 18 · mildlighter 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 Ted McGinley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ted McGinley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brian Shanley shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles