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Jack Webb

Jack Webb

Actor, producer and director, also writer · Died December 23, 1982, aged 62 · Santa Monica, California, USA

John Randolph 'Jack' Webb (also known by the pen name John Randolph; April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982) was an American actor, television producer, director, and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet. He was also the founder of his own production company, Mark VII Limited. Born in Santa Monica, California, Webb grew up in the Bunker Hill section of Los Angeles as the child of a single mother after his father left home before he was born. During World War II, Webb enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces, but he "washed out" of flight training and was granted a hardship discharge to care for his family. Following his discharge, he moved to San Francisco, where a wartime shortage of announcers led to a temporary appointment to his own half-hour comedy radio show on ABC's KGO Radio in 1946. By 1949 he had abandoned comedy for drama, and starred in numerous radio shows until finding success in film and television in the late 1950s. Webb had a featured role as a crime lab technician in the 1948 film He Walked by Night, a thinly-fictionalized recounting of the 1946 Walker crime spree. This experience gave Webb the idea for Dragnet: a recurring series based on real cases from LAPD police files, featuring authentic depictions of the modern police detective, including methods, mannerisms, and technical language. Following the success of Dragnet, Webb appeared in numerous television shows and specials, including the well-known 1972 series Emergency! During his work on a revival of Dragnet in 1982, Webb suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 62. His funeral was given full police honors, and then LAPD Chief Daryl Gates retired the badge number 714 used by Webb's Joe Friday of Dragnet fame.  

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 2, 1920
Died
December 23, 1982 (aged 62)
From
Santa Monica, California, USA
Works as
Actor, producer and director, also writer
Titles
24 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 48% in 30 days

What are Jack Webb's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
42%
Bonds
19%
Survival
13%
Self
9%
Society
8%
Power
7%
Ideas
1%
Justice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

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

Grounded 12 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 8 · Intense 4

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

Steady 12 · 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 13 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 11 · 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 5 · Engaged 11 · 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 7 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 6 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6
Ally
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Melancholic
7
Contemplative
7
Joyful
3
Warm
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Cathartic6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Jack Webb's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jack Webb'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, 24 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • O.J.: Made in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Joe Friday (archive footage)

  • Greenboy: Prescription for Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Joe Friday (archive footage)

  • Dragnet(2003)

    Show Creator

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The New Adam-12 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show Creator

  • The New Dragnet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show Creator

  • Dragnet(1987)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Little Mo(1978)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Sam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 6 episodes · Producer

  • Project U.F.O. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 26 episodes · Creator · Producer · as Narrator (uncredited)

  • Mobile One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 13 episodes · Producer

  • Mobile Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Executive Producer

  • The Log of the Black Pearl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Executive Producer

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

    Show 12 episodes · Creator · Producer

  • Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 22 episodes · Producer

  • Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Producer

  • Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Producer

  • The Century Turns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Executive Producer

  • Hec Ramsey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 11 episodes · Producer

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 128 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Emergency! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • The Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 22 episodes · Creator · Producer

  • The D.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 15 episodes · Producer

  • O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director · as Narrator

  • D.A.: Conspiracy to Kill(1971)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Your Tour In Vietnam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Narrator

  • D.A.: Murder One(1969)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dragnet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Producer · as Joe Friday

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 174 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Star Spangled Salesman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Security Man

  • Greyhounds of the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Narrator

  • Dragnet 1967(1967)

    Show 98 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer · as Joe Friday

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • A Day in Vietnam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Narrator

  • The Man from Galveston(1963)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Temple Houston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show Creator

  • General Electric True (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 33 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · as Self - host

  • Red Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as On-Camera Narrator

  • The John Glenn Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Narrator

  • The Last Time I Saw Archie(1961)

    Director · Producer · as William 'Bill' Bowers

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • A Force in Readiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • -30-(1959)

    Director · Producer · as Sam Gatlin

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Pete Kelly's Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 13 episodes · Producer

  • The D.A.'s Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 26 episodes · Creator · Producer

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 206 episodes · Producer

  • The D.I.(1957)

    Director · Producer · as Gunnery Sgt. Jim Moore

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Pete Kelly's Blues(1955)

    Director · Producer · as Pete Kelly

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Dragnet(1954)

    Director · Writer · as Sergeant Joe Friday

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Story

  • Dragnet(1951)

    Show 276 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · as Joe Friday

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • You're in the Navy Now(1951)

    as Ens. Anthony 'Tony' Barbo

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Halls of Montezuma(1951)

    as Correspondent Dickerman

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Jack Benny Program (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Webb

  • Dark City(1950)

    as Augie

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Men(1950)

    as Norm

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Sunset Boulevard(1950)

    as Artie Green

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Appointment with Danger(1950)

    as Joe Regas

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • He Walked by Night(1948)

    as Lee Whitey

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Hollow Triumph(1948)

    as Bullseye (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Three on a Match(1932)

    as Boy in Schoolyard (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 58 titles from 1932 to 2016.

Biggest box office

Dragnet (1987)

$67M worldwide

Highest rated

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Dragnet (1951)

Film career

Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting30 of 58: 20 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thDirecting14 of 58: 0 only directing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thWriting2 of 58: 1 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing28 of 58: 14 only producing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thOther crew14 of 58: 4 only other crew, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score78th

58 titles, 19 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1930s1 · acting1940s2 · acting1950s16 · 12 acting · 9 crew1960s14 · 9 acting · 8 crew1970s20 · 4 acting · 18 crew1980s1 · crew1990s1 · crew2000s1 · crew2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 25% 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 Jack Webb's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th3

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · producer

D.A.: Murder One (1969)

61st percentile spread · 11% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Midcredits 99th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 48. 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 Jack Webb work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jack Webb's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert M. Leeds shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers