Skip to content
MovieCove
Sam Robards

Sam Robards

Actor · Born December 16, 1961 (64) · New York City, New York, USA

Sam Prideaux Robards (born December 16, 1961) is an American actor. He is best known for his film roles in American Beauty (1999) and A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001). For his performance in the Broadway production of The Man Who Had All the Luck, he received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sam Robards, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 16, 1961 (64)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 67 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 27% in 30 days

What are Sam Robards' films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: 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
Self
30%
Bonds
29%
Survival
22%
Morality
12%
Power
4%
Society
3%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 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 4 · Serious 3 · Dark 13

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

Grounded 15 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 8 · Intense 7

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 9 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 1

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 4 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 10

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 12 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Herald: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

Herald
2 of 7
Shadow
2 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Shapeshifter
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
14
Tense
10
Contemplative
8
Bittersweet
6
Dread
5
Other
18

How their films linger

Bittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic2
  • 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 Sam Robards' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Pluto TV (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sam Robards' 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

67 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

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

    as David/Raf's Dad

  • Isle Child(2025)

    as Thomas Miller

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Space Cadet(2024)

    as Rex's Dad (Calvin Simpson)

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Isle of Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as William

  • Carmen Curlers(2022)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mr. Andersson

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Y: The Last Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dean Brown

  • Where Is Kyra?(2017)

    as Carl

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Late Bloomer(2016)

    as Dr. Lawson

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Her Secret Sessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Jack

  • Grand Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Gary

  • Twisted(2013)

    Show 19 episodes · as Kyle Masterson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Art of Getting By(2011)

    as Jack Sargent

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Body of Proof(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Bradford Paige

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Roger Carson

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Treme(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim Feeny

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Jarvis Bowes

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Rebound(2009)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Perestroika (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Alexander aka "Sasha" Greenberg

  • Che: Part One(2008)

    as Tad Szulc

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Other Side of the Tracks(2008)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Awake(2007)

    as Clayton Beresford Sr.

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Gossip Girl(2007)

    Show 16 episodes · as Howard Archibald

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Manderlay(2005)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Clubhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Marmalade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Roger

  • Surviving Eden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Gary Gold

  • Catch That Kid(2004)

    as Tom Phillips

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Blackwater Lightship(2004)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitchell Collett

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Obsessed(2002)

    as David Stillman

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Life as a House(2001)

    as David Dokos

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Whitlock

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • A.I. Artificial Intelligence(2001)

    as Henry Swinton

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • On Golden Pond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Bill Ray

  • The Warden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Axel

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

    as Fortinbras

  • Bounce(2000)

    as Todd Exner

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Black and Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Mike Riordan

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 8 episodes · as Greg Brock

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • American Beauty(1999)

    as Jim Berkley

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Love from Ground Zero(1998)

    as Henry (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Maximum Bob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 7 episodes · as Sheriff Gary Hammond

  • Sex and the City(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Reymi

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Trial of Adolf Eichmann(1997)

    as Avraham Aviel (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Dinner and Driving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Frank

  • The Man Who Captured Eichmann(1996)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Spin City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 4 episodes · as Arthur

  • Beautiful Girls(1996)

    as Steve Rossmore

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Donor Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as David Bausch

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Kohler

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Ready to Wear(1994)

    as Regina's Assistant

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle(1994)

    as Harold Ross

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Ballad of Little Jo(1993)

    as Jasper Hill

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Get a Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 35 episodes · as Larry Potter

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Daniel Hendricks · as Davis Webb

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Casualties of War(1989)

    as Chaplain Kirk

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • TV 101 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 13 episodes · as Kevin Keegan

  • Pancho Barnes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Gene McKendry

  • Bird(1988)

    as Moscowitz

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Bright Lights, Big City(1988)

    as Rich Vanier

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Into Thin Air(1985)

    as Stephen Walker

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Spenser: For Hire(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Not Quite Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Mike

  • Fandango(1985)

    as Kenneth Waggener

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number(1983)

    as Daniel Timerman

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Tempest(1982)

    as Freddy

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Paul

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles from 1951 to 2025; peak year 2000.

Biggest box office

American Beauty (1999)

$356M worldwide

Highest rated

American Beauty (1999)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19512025

Peak 2000 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting66 of 67: 66 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thOther crew1 of 67: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1980s11 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s22 · 21 acting · 1 crew2010s9 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
829202

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 Sam Robards' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 31; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Isle Child (2025)

99th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

American Beauty (1999)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 82, 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 Sam Robards' work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles18–76 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles21–66 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles29–80 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles29–60 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles18–66 · median 60 · intenseheavier 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 Sam Robards work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sam Robards' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bart Freundlich shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers