Buck Henry
ActingAbout Buck Henry
Buck Henry (born Henry Zuckerman; December 9, 1930 – January 8, 2020) was an American actor, screenwriter, and director. Henry's contributions to film included, his work as a co-director on Heaven Can Wait (1978) alongside Warren Beatty, and his work as a co-writer for Mike Nichols's The Graduate (1967) and Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up, Doc? (1972). His long career began on television with work on shows with Steve Allen in The New Steve Allen Show (1961). He went on to co-create Get Smart (1965-1970) with Mel Brooks, and hosted Saturday Night Live 10 times from 1976 to 1980. He later guest starred in such popular shows as Murphy Brown, Hot in Cleveland, Will & Grace, and 30 Rock. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award, for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Graduate (1967) and for Best Director for Heaven Can Wait (1978) alongside Warren Beatty. Description above from the Wikipedia article Buck Henry, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Buck Henry reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Buck Henry's filmography leans towards the Comedy 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 42% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Buck Henry remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Mel Brooks: Make a Noise, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Buck Henry Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Buck Henry's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Buck Henry.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Kiss Kiss Fingerbang | Cat Owner | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles | Self - Actor | Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | A Fuller Life | Self - Reader (segment "The Pursuit of Happiness") | Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | Mel Brooks: Make a Noise | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Casting By | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | A Bird of the Air | Duncan Weber | Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | American Swing | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 2009 | It Came from Kuchar | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | The Last Shot | Lonnie Bosco | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Serendipity | Customer at Bloomingdales (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Town & Country | Suttler | Flop | Similar → |
| 2000 | Lisa Picard Is Famous | Buck Henry | Flop | Similar → |
| 1999 | Breakfast of Champions | Fred T. Barry | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Curtain Call | Charles Van Allsburg | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | I'm Losing You | Phillip Dagrom | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Real Blonde | Dr. Leuter | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Playboy: The Story of X | Self - Host | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | 1999 | Mr. Goldman | Flop | Similar → |
| 1995 | To Die For | Mr. H. Finlaysson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Harrison Bergeron | TV Producer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Even Cowgirls Get the Blues | Dr. Dreyfus | Flop | Similar → |
| 1993 | Grumpy Old Men | Snyder | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Short Cuts | Gordon Johnson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Keep the Change | Smitty | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | The Player | Buck Henry | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | 'The Graduate' at 25 | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | The Linguini Incident | Cecil | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Defending Your Life | Dick Stanley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Tune in Tomorrow... | Father Serafim | Flop | Similar → |
| 1989 | Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Rude Awakening | Lloyd Stool | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | Aria | Preston | Flop | Similar → |
| 1985 | The Best of John Belushi | Various Characters | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Steve Martin: Homage to Steve | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1982 | Eating Raoul | Mr. Leech | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Strong Medicine | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Gloria | Jack Dawn | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Old Boyfriends | Art Kopple | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | Heaven Can Wait | The Escort | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | The Absent-Minded Waiter | Bernie Cates | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Man Who Fell to Earth | Oliver Farnsworth | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Day of the Dolphin | Man Standing Outside Women's Club (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Taking Off | Larry Tyne | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | I Miss Sonia Henie | Doctor | Flop | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Owl and the Pussycat | Man Looking Through Doubleday's Bookstore (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | Catch-22 | Lt. Col. Korn | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Candy | Mental Patient (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Secret War of Harry Frigg | Stockade Commandant | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Graduate | Room Clerk | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Troublemaker | T. R. Kingston | Flop | Similar → |
Buck Henry - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Buck Henry?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Buck Henry is "Mel Brooks: Make a Noise" with a rating of 8.2/10.
How many movies has Buck Henry acted in?
Buck Henry has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Buck Henry?
Other notable films include "The Graduate", "Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary", and "Short Cuts".