Skip to content
MovieCove
Stephen Spinella

Stephen Spinella

Actor · Born October 11, 1956 (70) · Naples, Italy

Critics Choice Award winner

Stephen Nicholas Spinella (born 11 October 1956) is an American actor. He received two consecutive Tony Awards for Best Featured Actor and Best Actor for his performance as Prior Walter in Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Angels in America: Perestroika respectively. He was also nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for James Joyce's The Dead. Description above from the Wikipedia article Stephen Spinella, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 11, 1956 (70)
From
Naples, Italy
Works as
Actor
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 59 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 46% in 30 days

What are Stephen Spinella's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Adventure 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
26%
Self
21%
Survival
16%
Morality
11%
Society
11%
Ideas
9%
Power
7%
Identity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 9 · Intense 4

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 8 · 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 8 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 11 · 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 3 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 4
Mentor
1 of 4
Herald
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Warm
5
Hopeful
4
Melancholic
5
Absurd
4
Other
20

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous4
  • Other1

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 Stephen Spinella's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Stephen Spinella'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

59 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Best Medicine(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · as Greg Garrison

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Gilded Age(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Julius Cuyper

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Almost Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Bad Education(2019)

    as Thomas 'Tom' Tuggiero

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Tales of the City(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Chris

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Windows on the World(2019)

    as Albert

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Can You Ever Forgive Me?(2018)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • New Amsterdam(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Howie Cournemeyer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Lennon Report(2016)

    as Dr. Richard Marks

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Bull(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Garrett Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Damnation: The Flashback (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Lester Marra

  • The Normal Heart(2014)

    as Sanford

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • House of Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Psychiatrist

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Jordan Loving

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Lincoln(2012)

    as Asa Vintner Litton

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Merrick Hausmann

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Rubber(2010)

    as Chad

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Royal Pains(2009)

    Show 12 episodes · as Russell Berger

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Milk(2008)

    as Rick Stokes

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as ADA Marc Odenthal

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Stone & Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Concierge

  • And Then Came Love(2007)

    as Stuart

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Heroes(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Oliver Dennison

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Big Love(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Eric

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Malar Pascowitz

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Hans Stollbach

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dr. Samuel Heller

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • House of D(2004)

    as Ticket Seller

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Connie and Carla(2004)

    as Robert / Peaches

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Nip/Tuck(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Capler

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Our Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Simon Stimson

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Joel Kemper

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Everwood(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Patrick

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • 24(2001)

    Show 10 episodes · as Miles Papazian

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Alias(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Boyd Harkin · as Mr. Kishell

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Education of Max Bickford (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 22 episodes · as Rex Pinsker

  • Bubble Boy(2001)

    as Chicken Man

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bob McCarthy

  • Behind the Seams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Ivan Todd

  • Cradle Will Rock(1999)

    as Federal Theatre - Donald O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Morgan Smith

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Ravenous(1999)

    as Knox

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Unknown Cyclist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Doug Stein

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Bret

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Out of the Past(1998)

    as Michael Wigglesworth (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Great Expectations(1998)

    as Carter Macleish

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • What the Deaf Man Heard(1997)

    as Percy

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Jackal(1997)

    as Douglas

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Love! Valour! Compassion!(1997)

    as Perry Sellars

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • David Searching (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Hummus Guy

  • Faithful(1996)

    as Young Man at Rolls

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Virtuosity(1995)

    as Lindenmeyer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Tarantella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Frank

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Lotery

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Randall Schoonover

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • And the Band Played On(1993)

    as Brandy Alexander

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • In the Wings: Angels in America On Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrew Polone

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Percy

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 59 titles from 1951 to 2026; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

The Jackal (1997)

$159M worldwide

Highest rated

The Normal Heart (2014)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Best Medicine (2026)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19512026

Peak 1998 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting59 of 59: 59 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score75th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1990s19 · acting2000s22 · acting2010s15 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
9500

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

Won a Critics Choice Award in 2009, Best Acting Ensemble.

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 Stephen Spinella's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 46 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

And Then Came Love (2007)

77th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Normal Heart (2014)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 45. 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 Stephen Spinella's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles25–85 · median 48 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles22–48 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles39–77 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles18–53 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles9–70 · median 53 · 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 Stephen Spinella work with?

People who share at least 2 of Stephen Spinella's MovieCove titles; Joe Mantello shares the most, 2.