Sam Jaffe - Actor Profile

Sam Jaffe

Acting
Freshness: Jan 20, 2026
37Total Films
8.5 Highest Rated
Born: Mar 10, 1891
Birth Place: New York City, New York, U.S.

About Sam Jaffe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Sam Jaffe (March 10, 1891 – March 24, 1984) was an American actor, teacher, musician and engineer. In 1951, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and appeared in other classic films such as Ben-Hur (1959) and The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). He may be best remembered for playing the title role in Gunga Din (1939), and the High Lama in Lost Horizon (1937). Description above from the Wikipedia article Sam Jaffe  licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Sam Jaffe reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 37 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Sam Jaffe's filmography leans towards the Drama 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 41% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Sam Jaffe remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Tell-Tale Heart, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Sam Jaffe Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Sam Jaffe's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Sam Jaffe.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2004 On Location with Gunga Din Gunga Din (archive footage) Flop Similar →
1984 On the Line El Gabacho Flop Similar →
1984 Nothing Lasts Forever Father Knickerbocker Average Similar →
1980 Battle Beyond the Stars Dr. Hephaestus Flop Similar →
1980 Gideon's Trumpet 1st Supreme Court Justice Average Similar →
1973 Saga of Sonora Old Sam Flop Similar →
1971 Mooch Goes to Hollywood Sam Jaffe - Party guest (uncredited) Flop Similar →
1971 Enemies Gittelman Flop Similar →
1971 Bedknobs and Broomsticks Bookman Hit Similar →
1971 Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster? Toby Super Hit Similar →
1971 The Tell-Tale Heart - Super Hit Similar →
1970 The Old Man Who Cried Wolf Abe Stillman Average Similar →
1970 Quarantined Mr. Berryman Flop Similar →
1970 The Dunwich Horror Old Whateley Flop Similar →
1969 Night Gallery Bleum Hit Similar →
1969 The Great Bank Robbery Brother Lilac Bailey (art forger) Average Similar →
1967 Tarzan's Jungle Rebellion Dr. Singleton Flop Similar →
1967 A Guide for the Married Man Technical Adviser (Shrink) Average Similar →
1967 Guns for San Sebastian Père Joseph Hit Similar →
1960 In the Presence of Mine Enemies Emmanuel Flop Similar →
1959 Ben-Hur Simonides Super Hit Similar →
1958 The Barbarian and the Geisha Henry Heusken Average Similar →
1957 The Spies Sam Cooper Hit Similar →
1953 Main Street to Broadway Self (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1951 The Day the Earth Stood Still Prof. Jacob Barnhardt Super Hit Similar →
1951 I Can Get It for You Wholesale Sam Cooper Average Similar →
1951 Under the Gun Samuel Gower Average Similar →
1950 The Asphalt Jungle Doc Erwin Riedenschneider Super Hit Similar →
1949 Rope of Sand Dr. Francis Kittridge Hunter Average Similar →
1949 The Accused Dr. Romley Average Similar →
1947 Gentleman's Agreement Professor Fred Lieberman Hit Similar →
1947 13 Rue Madeleine Mayor Galimard Average Similar →
1943 Stage Door Canteen Sam Jaffe Average Similar →
1939 Gunga Din Gunga Din Hit Similar →
1937 Lost Horizon High Lama Hit Similar →
1934 We Live Again Gregory Simonson Hit Similar →
1934 The Scarlet Empress Grand Duke Peter Hit Similar →

Sam Jaffe - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Sam Jaffe?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Sam Jaffe is "The Tell-Tale Heart" with a rating of 8.5/10.

How many movies has Sam Jaffe acted in?

Sam Jaffe has been featured in at least 37 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Sam Jaffe?

Other notable films include "Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?", "Ben-Hur", and "The Day the Earth Stood Still".