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Barbara Tarbuck

Barbara Tarbuck

Actor · Died December 27, 2016, aged 74 · Detroit, Michigan, USA

Trained on a Fulbright Grant to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Barbara's New York theatre work includes "Landscape & Silence" by Harold Pinter, "Water Engine" by David Mamet, Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Broadway Bound", Joseph Chaikin's production of "America Hurrah!", and "Enter The Night" by Maria Irene Fornes. Recent regional standouts include "Long Days Journey Into Night" at Dallas Theatre Center, "Death of a Salesman" at San Diego Repertory, "The Cripple Of Inishman" at the Geffen, "Wonderful World" at Laguna Playhouse, "Six Characters in Search of an Author" at Williamstown, and "Blue Window" and "Sidney Bechet Killed a Man" at South Coast Repertory. Favorite screen roles: the woman with 12 dogs on ER (1994), the aged mother on Cold Case (2003) who comes to terms with her murdered son's homosexuality, Dwayne Johnson's mother in Walking Tall (2004), and Kevin McKidd's mother on Journeyman (2007).

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
January 15, 1942
Died
December 27, 2016 (aged 74)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
56 on MovieCove · 86 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 46% in 30 days

What are Barbara Tarbuck's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
32%
Survival
26%
Morality
25%
Power
7%
Ideas
7%
Society
4%
Family bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 2 · Intense 4

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

Steady 1 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 1

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

A split, not a type: Casual 4 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Melancholic
3
Dread
3
Bittersweet
1
Absurd
1
Other
7

How their films linger

Bittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1

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 Barbara Tarbuck's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 41 of their 56 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barbara Tarbuck'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

86 credits, 56 with a MovieCove page.

  • Come Simi(2015)

    as Lisa

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Wild Horses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Becks

  • American Horror Story(2011)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mother Superior Claudia

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Event(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Speaker of the House

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Nancy Bletheim

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • S. Darko(2009)

    as Agatha

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Journeyman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mad Men(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hazel Tinsley

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Sussman's Mother

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Close to Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Emily Forsberg

  • Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Carol Waller Smith

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • CSI: NY(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Vivian Claven

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Medical Investigation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Eunice

  • Walking Tall(2004)

    as Connie Vaughn

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Helen Holtz (2003)

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Donaldson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Nip/Tuck(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Declan

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Mister Sterling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Georgia

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Enterprise(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Chancellor Kalev

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Jennine Burke nee Gallow

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Just Ask My Children(2001)

    as Marilyn Kniffen

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Six Feet Under(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as STD Clinic Doctor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Paige Harmon

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Huntress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Cody

  • Before He Wakes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Diane Michaels

  • L.A. Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Weiss

  • Mr. Murder(1998)

    as Grace Wetherall

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Emily Strong

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Pacific Blue(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Ena

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • Eye of the Stalker(1995)

    as Judge Paula Castanon

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Tie That Binds(1995)

    as Jean Bennett

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Scanner Cop II(1995)

    as Rachel Staziak

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice Presley

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • A Kiss Goodnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Kurt's Secretary

  • Jack Reed: Badge of Honor(1993)

    as Dora Ferro

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • NYPD Blue(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Barbara Colohan

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Midnight Witness(1993)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • A Child Lost Forever: The Jerry Sherwood Story(1992)

    as Dr. Sackarow

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • A House of Secrets and Lies(1992)

    as Judy

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Civil Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Kaplan

  • Curly Sue(1991)

    as Mrs. Arnold

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Testing Dirty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Bodyguard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • The Outsiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim's Mother

  • The Death of the Incredible Hulk(1990)

    as Amy Pratt

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • I Know My First Name Is Steven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as School Counselor

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Esther

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • David(1988)

    as Sue Martinez

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Out of Time(1988)

    as Dr. Kerry Langdon

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Governor Leka Trion

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • 21 Jump Street(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Irene Pagota

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Nagel

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Big Trouble(1986)

    as Helen

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Short Circuit(1986)

    as Senator Mills

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as (segment "One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty")

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha McDowell

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Maddie's Classmate

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story(1984)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Marie Briggs

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruth Loomis

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Agnes Najinsky

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ms. Fletcher

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs. Grady / Thelma Samuels

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Police Squad! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Twice

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 7 episodes · as Dr. Randall

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Christmas Without Snow(1980)

    as Carol Thorpe

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Schumacher · as Sales clerk

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • California Fever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mrs. R's Daughter(1979)

    as Michelle

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Cracker Factory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Alice

  • Night-Flowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Arlene

  • David Cassidy: Man Under Cover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as May

  • Dallas(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Agnes

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as 3rd Nurse

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mother

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Morgan · as Louise Asten · as Mrs. Westlake

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Elsa Himbeere

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Little House on the Prairie(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Beth Tomkins (Co-Starring)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Maj. Parker

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Saleslady

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 86 titles from 1972 to 2015; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

Walking Tall (2004)

$57M worldwide

Highest rated

Just Ask My Children (2001)

Midcredits 80th

Most popular right now

Walking Tall (2004)

Film career

19722015

Peak 1986 · 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
Acting86 of 86: 86 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

By decade

1970s14 · acting1980s22 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s24 · acting2010s4 · acting

Billing

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

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.

How do Barbara Tarbuck's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 32nd percentile, the median of all 21; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 56 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 56 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Out of Time (1988)

75th percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

American Horror Story (2011)

Midcredits 87th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 36. 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.

Who does Barbara Tarbuck work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barbara Tarbuck's MovieCove titles; Graeme Revell shares the most, 2.