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Robert Stack

Robert Stack

Actor · Died May 14, 2003, aged 84 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Robert Langford Modini Stack (January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was a multilingual American actor and television host. In addition to acting in more than 40 films, he also appeared on the television series The Untouchables and later served as the host of Unsolved Mysteries. Born in Los Angeles, California, Stack spent his early childhood growing up in Europe. Becoming fluent in French and Italian at an early age, and he did not learn English until returning to Los Angeles. Stack achieved minor fame in sporting, winning multiple championships including setting two world records and winning multiple honors in skeet shooting Stack studied drama at Bridgewater State College, earning his first Hollywood role at the age of 20 and continuing to star in numerous roles throughout the early 1940s. After serving in the military, Stack returned to Hollywood to star in numerous films including stand out roles in The High and the Mighty (opposite John Wayne) and Written on the Wind (1957), for which he was awarded an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Stack later moved on to televised dramatic series, depicting the crime-fighting Eliot Ness in The Untouchables (1959–1963), which earned him a best actor Emmy Award in 1960. Stack also starred in multiple drama series, before returning to film, this time in comedies to satirize his famed stoic and humorless demeanor. He began hosting Unsolved Mysteries in 1987, and served as the show's host throughout it's entire original run from 1987 to 2002.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 13, 1919
Died
May 14, 2003 (aged 84)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
53 on MovieCove · 104 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 15% in 30 days

What are Robert Stack's films like?

Across their 37 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd 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
Morality
26%
Bonds
25%
Survival
17%
Self
14%
Power
11%
Society
6%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 36 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 9 · Dark 12

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 16 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 18 · Intense 12

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 4

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 22 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 6

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

A split, not a type: Casual 17 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 0

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 18 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 34 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

28 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 12 of 28 analyzed roles.

Hero
12 of 28
Shadow
4 of 28
Ally
3 of 28
Threshold guardian
3 of 28
Herald
3 of 28
Trickster
2 of 28
Mentor
1 of 28
Show the 28 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Absurd
10
Melancholic
12
Thrilling
8
Warm
7
Other
35

How their films linger

Fun15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy20
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Robert Stack's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 53 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Stack'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

104 credits, 53 with a MovieCove page; 27 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Jacques Tati, tombé de la lune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood(2019)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • These Dead Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as (archive footage)

  • Unsolved Mysteries Volume 1: UFOs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Host

  • Butt-Ugly Martians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 26 episodes · as Stoat Muldoon (voice)

  • Killer Bud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as The Gooch

  • Recess: School's Out(2001)

    as Superintendent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Sealed with a Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Sumner Ethridge

  • Hercules: Zero to Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator (voice) (archive sound)

  • The Y2K Crisis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Host

  • Hercules(1998)

    Show 65 episodes · as Bob (voice)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • BASEketball(1998)

    as Robert Stack

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Angry Beavers(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Reynolds Penland (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Beavis and Butt-Head Do America(1996)

    as Agent Flemming (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Suddenly Susan(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Stack

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter McReynolds

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Return of Eliot Ness(1991)

    as Eliot Ness

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Unsolved Mysteries: UFOS (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • The Real Story of Baa Baa Black Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Lt. Littleboy (voice)

  • Unsolved Mysteries: Ghosts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 34 episodes · Actor

  • The Fanelli Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Kyle Hadley · as Robert Stack (uncredited)

  • Blossom(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Stack

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Joe Versus the Volcano(1990)

    as Dr. Ellison

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Unsolved Mysteries(1987)

    Show 561 episodes · as Host

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Dangerous Curves(1988)

    as Louis Faciano

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Caddyshack II(1988)

    as Chandler Young

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Plain Clothes(1988)

    as Mr. Gardner

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit(1987)

    as Jordan White

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Transformers: The Movie(1986)

    as Ultra Magnus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Big Trouble(1986)

    as Winslow

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Midas Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Drew Hammond

  • Hollywood Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as George Lancaster

  • My Kingdom For... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Chester Harrison

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • George Washington (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · as General Stark

  • Uncommon Valor(1983)

    as MacGregor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Vandoor · as Lewis Blackwood

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 5 episodes · as Roland Saunders

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Strike Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 20 episodes · as Captain Frank Murphy

  • Airplane!(1980)

    as Captain Rex Kramer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • 1941(1979)

    as Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Undercover with the KKK(1979)

    as Host - Narrator

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Second Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as François Davis

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Bret Garrett

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Most Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 23 episodes · as Captain Linc Evers

  • Murder on Flight 502(1975)

    as Captain Larkin

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Adventures of the Queen(1975)

    as Capt. James Morgan

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Strange and Deadly Occurrence(1974)

    as Michael Rhodes

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Story of a Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as David Frasier

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 26 episodes · as Dan Farrell

  • Laura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Mark McPherson

  • The Danny Thomas Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Angelo (Businessman)

  • Action Man(1967)

    as Jim Beckley

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Corrupt Ones(1967)

    as Cliff Wilder

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Is Paris Burning?(1966)

    as General Sibert

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Asylum for a Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as James Andrew Congers

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 2 episodes · as James Andrew Congers · as Major Morgan

  • The Caretakers(1963)

    as Dr. Donovan MacLeod

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Lucy Show(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Agent Briggs

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Alcatraz Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Eliot Ness

  • The Gun of Zangara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Eliot Ness

  • The Last Voyage(1960)

    as Cliff Henderson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Untouchables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 118 episodes · as Eliot Ness

  • John Paul Jones(1959)

    as John Paul Jones

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Scarface Mob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Eliot Ness

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Eliot Ness

  • The Gift of Love(1958)

    as William 'Bill' Beck

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Tarnished Angels(1957)

    as Roger Shumann

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Written on the Wind(1956)

    as Kyle Hadley

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Great Day in the Morning(1956)

    as Owen Pentecost

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Good Morning, Miss Dove(1955)

    as Dr. Tommy Baker

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

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

    as Mark Macpherson

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark MacPherson

  • House of Bamboo(1955)

    as Eddie Kenner

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The High and the Mighty(1954)

    as John Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Iron Glove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Captain Charles Wogan

  • Sabre Jet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Col. Gil Manton

  • Conquest of Cochise(1953)

    as Maj. Tom Burke

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • War Paint(1953)

    as Lt. Billings

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Barton · as Ralph Saunders

  • Bwana Devil(1952)

    as Bob Hayward

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Vic Flint

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Bo Bo McGoon

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • My Outlaw Brother(1951)

    as Patrick O´Moore

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Bullfighter and the Lady(1951)

    as John Regan

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Jeff Blake

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as First Man · as Self - Intermission Guest

  • Riviera Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Lights Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Fighter Squadron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Capt. Stuart L. Hamilton

  • Miss Tatlock's Millions(1948)

    as Nickey Van Alen

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • A Date with Judy(1948)

    as Stephen Andrews

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Keeping Fit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Bob - Factory worker

  • Men of Texas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Barry Conovan

  • Eagle Squadron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Chuck S. Brewer

  • To Be or Not to Be(1942)

    as Lieut. Stanislav Sobinski

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Badlands of Dakota (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Jim Holliday

  • Nice Girl? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Don Webb

  • A Little Bit of Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Bob Terry

  • The Mortal Storm(1940)

    as Otto Von Rohn

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • First Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ted Drake

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 104 titles from 1939 to 2021; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

1941 (1979)

$92M worldwide

Highest rated

To Be or Not to Be (1942)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Hercules (1998)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19392021

Peak 1987 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 6 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
Acting104 of 104: 104 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

By decade

1930s1 · acting1940s12 · acting1950s26 · acting1960s13 · acting1970s10 · acting1980s18 · acting1990s17 · acting2000s4 · acting2010s2 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 10% of 21 roles
406085

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 Robert Stack's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 41; across their 36 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 36

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 53 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned2
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood (2019)

81st percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

To Be or Not to Be (1942)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 36 reviewed titles; fans 73, 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 Robert Stack's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles21–42 · median 33 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles6–58 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles21–65 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles30–57 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles11–34 · median 19 · 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 Robert Stack work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Stack's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Dorothy Malone shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles