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John Thaw

John Thaw

Actor · Died February 21, 2002, aged 60 · Gorton, Manchester, England

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. John Edward Thaw, CBE (3 January 1942 – 21 February 2002) was an English actor who appeared in a range of television, stage, and cinema roles. He starred in the television series Inspector Morse as title character Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, Redcap as Sergeant John Mann, The Sweeney as Detective Inspector Jack Regan, Home to Roost as Henry Willows, and Kavanagh QC as title character James Kavanagh. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Thaw, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.​

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 3, 1942
Died
February 21, 2002 (aged 60)
From
Gorton, Manchester, England
Works as
Actor
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 75 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 21% in 30 days

What are John Thaw's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
41%
Bonds
17%
Survival
17%
Society
11%
Self
7%
Power
7%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 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 1 · Serious 3 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 8 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 5 · Intense 4

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 5 · 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 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · 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 1 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 7 of 10 analyzed roles.

Hero
7 of 10
Ally
1 of 10
Shadow
1 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
7
Contemplative
3
Bittersweet
2
Hopeful
3
Other
6

How their films linger

Bittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 John Thaw's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Thaw'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

75 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Britain At War In Colour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 4 episodes · as Narrateur

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

    Show 6 episodes · as Jim Proctor

  • Buried Treasure(2001)

    as Harry Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Monsignor Renard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as Monsignor Augustine Renard

  • The Waiting Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Joshua Mantle

  • Plastic Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joe McConnell

  • Plastic Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Joe McConnell

  • Goodnight, Mister Tom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Tom Oakley

  • Into the Blue(1997)

    as Harry Barnett

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Masculine Mescaline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as The Man

  • The Absence of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as George Jones

  • Kavanagh QC(1995)

    Show 26 episodes · as James Kavanagh Q.C.

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • A Year in Provence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 12 episodes · as Peter Mayle

  • Chaplin(1992)

    as Fred Karno

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Stanley and the Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 4 episodes · as Stanley Duke

  • Bomber Harris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris

  • Cry Freedom(1987)

    as Kruger

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Sign of Four(1987)

    as Jonathan Small

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Inspector Morse(1987)

    Show 28 episodes · Executive Producer · as Chief Inspector Morse

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Business as Usual (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Kieran Flynn

  • We'll Support You Evermore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Geoff Hollins

  • Home to Roost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 28 episodes · as Henry Willows

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as George Jones

  • The Life and Death of King John(1984)

    as Hubert de Burgh

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

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

    Show 10 episodes · as Mitch

  • Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Jonathan Small

  • Killer Waiting(1984)

    as Peter Hastings

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Where Is Betty Buchus? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Jack Buchus

  • Saturday Night Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Buchus

  • The Grass Is Singing(1981)

    as Dick Turner

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Drake's Venture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Francis Drake

  • The BBC Television Shakespeare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Hubert de Burgh

  • Dinner at the Sporting Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Dinny Mathews

  • Sweeney 2(1978)

    as Det. Insp. Jack Regan

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Sweeney! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Det. Insp. Jack Regan

  • The Sweeney(1975)

    Show 53 episodes · as Det. Insp. Jack Regan

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Capone Investment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 6 episodes · as Tom

  • The Capone Investment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Tom

  • Regan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Det. Insp. Jack Regan

  • Thick as Thieves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 8 episodes · as Stan

  • Armchair Cinema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Det. Insp. Jack Regan

  • The Protectors(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Mario Carpiano

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Whatever Became of Me? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Peter

  • The Frighteners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Wood

  • Dr. Phibes Rises Again(1972)

    as Shavers

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Suspicion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Early

  • The Onedin Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr, Carby

  • Competition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Tony

  • The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Holst

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Catch Me a Spy(1971)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Budgie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Denzil Davies

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Menace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Don

  • Macbeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Banquo

  • Big Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Cordon

  • The Last Grenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Terry Mitchell

  • Praise Marx and Pass the Ammunition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Dom

  • Happy Ever After (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Wilshaw

  • Strange Report (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Jenner

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry Gains · as Rolf

  • The Bofors Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Gunner Featherstone

  • Inheritance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 10 episodes · as Will Oldroyd

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Williams

  • Bat Out of Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mark Paxton

  • Out of Town Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Wally

  • Dead Man's Chest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as David Jones

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Banquo · as George J. Bundavin

  • Redcap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 26 episodes · as Sergeant John Mann

  • Five to One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Alan Roper

  • The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner(1962)

    as Bosworth (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Serjeant Musgrave's Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Pte. Hurst

  • The Younger Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie · as Customer · as Denny · as Edward · as Martin · as Max · as Peter

  • Drama 61-67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Fox

  • Edgar Wallace Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Alan Roper · as David Jones

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter · as Tony

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 75 titles from 1956 to 2012; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

Chaplin (1992)

$9.5M worldwide

Highest rated

The Sign of Four (1987)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Inspector Morse (1987)

Film career

19562012

Peak 1998 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 2 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
Acting75 of 75: 74 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score75thProducing1 of 75: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s16 · acting1970s26 · acting1980s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew1990s11 · acting2000s3 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 29% of 7 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 John Thaw's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 72nd percentile, the median of all 12; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

22ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

None of their 17 titles divides audiences: 8 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Mixed4

Most loved · actor

The Sign of Four (1987)

Midcredits 94th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 85, detractors 55. 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 John Thaw work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Thaw's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Richard Attenborough shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Producers

Mixed roles