Bob Rafelson - Actor Profile

Bob Rafelson

Directing
Freshness: Jan 20, 2026
22Total Films
8.8 Highest Rated
Born: Feb 21, 1933
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA

About Bob Rafelson

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Robert "Bob" Rafelson (February 21, 1933-July 23, 2022) was an American film director, writer and producer. He was most famous for directing and co-writing the film Five Easy Pieces, starring Jack Nicholson, as well as being one of the creators of the pop group and TV series, The Monkees (with Raybert/BBS Productions partner Bert Schneider). Rafelson was born in New York City, the son of a hat manufacturer. His uncle was screenwriter and playwright Samson Raphaelson. Rafelson and Nicholson have been collaborators for over thirty years. Nicholson and Rafelson wrote and produced and Rafelson directed Head, starring the Monkees, in 1968, followed by Five Easy Pieces. In subsequent years, Rafelson directed Nicholson in four more films, including The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), Man Trouble (1992), and Blood and Wine (1996). Rafelson has adapted the works of legendary noir authors James M. Cain, Raymond Chandler, and Dashiell Hammett. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bob Rafelson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Bob Rafelson reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 22 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Documentary

The majority of Bob Rafelson's filmography leans towards the Documentary genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 18% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Bob Rafelson remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Bob Rafelson Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Bob Rafelson's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Bob Rafelson.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2017 We Blew It Self Flop Similar →
2010 Soul Searching in 'Five Easy Pieces' Self Average Similar →
2010 BBStory: An American Film Renaissance Self Flop Similar →
2010 Reflections of a Philosopher King Self Flop Similar →
2010 America Lost and Found: The BBS Story Self Flop Similar →
2010 Sodankylä Forever Self Flop Similar →
2009 No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos Self Average Similar →
2002 Porn.com Matty Bonkers Flop Similar →
2002 Afterthoughts Self Average Similar →
1997 Who Is Henry Jaglom? Self Hit Similar →
1997 Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1996 Tales of Erotica Rejected Customer (segment 'Wet') (uncredited) Flop Similar →
1995 Leaving Las Vegas Man At Mall Hit Similar →
1994 Wet Rejected Customer (uncredited) Flop Similar →
1988 On the tracks of a filmmaker Bob Rafelson Flop Similar →
1985 Always … But Not Forever Sam Flop Similar →
1983 Notre Dame de la Croisette Self Average Similar →
1982 Mora Gangster Flop Similar →
1981 Modesty Self Flop Similar →
1976 Stay Hungry Man on a Sidewalk with Painting (uncredited) Average Similar →
1970 Five Easy Pieces Man in Elevator (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1968 Head Self (uncredited) Average Similar →

Bob Rafelson - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Bob Rafelson?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Bob Rafelson is "Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees" with a rating of 8.8/10.

How many movies has Bob Rafelson acted in?

Bob Rafelson has been featured in at least 22 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Bob Rafelson?

Other notable films include "Leaving Las Vegas", "Five Easy Pieces", and "Who Is Henry Jaglom?".