John Houseman
ActingAbout John Houseman
John Houseman (September 22, 1902 – October 31, 1988) was a Romanian-born British-American actor and film producer who became known for his highly publicized collaboration with director Orson Welles from their days in the Federal Theatre Project through to the production of Citizen Kane. He is perhaps best known for his role as Professor Charles Kingsfield in the 1973 film The Paper Chase for which he won a best supporting actor Oscar. He reprised his role as Kingsfield in the subsequent TV series adaptation of The Paper Chase. Houseman was also known for his commercials for the brokerage firm Smith Barney. He had a distinctive Mid-Atlantic English accent, in common with many actors of his generation. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Houseman, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of John Houseman reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 34 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of John Houseman'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 29% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), John Houseman remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Skin of Our Teeth, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best John Houseman Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from John Houseman's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of John Houseman.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | American: An Odyssey to 1947 | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2014 | Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles | Self - Actor (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Driving Instructor (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Scrooged | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Another Woman | Marion's Father | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Bright Lights, Big City | Mr. Vogel | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | The Cradle Will Rock | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1983 | A Rose for Emily | Narrator (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | The Skin of Our Teeth | Network Newscaster | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Murder by Phone | Stanley Markowitz | Flop | Similar → |
| 1981 | Ghost Story | Sears James | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Writing: Plain & Fancy | Narrator | Flop | Similar → |
| 1981 | The New Deal for Artists | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1980 | A Christmas Without Snow | Ephraim Adams | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Babysitter | Dr. Lindquist | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | My Bodyguard | Dobbs | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Wholly Moses | The Archangel | Flop | Similar → |
| 1980 | Gideon's Trumpet | Chief Justice / Offscreen Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Fog | Mr. Machen | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Old Boyfriends | Dr. Hoffman | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | The Cheap Detective | Jasper Blubber | Average | Similar → |
| 1977 | The Displaced Person | Father Flynn | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | Six Characters in Search of An Author | The Director | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | Truman at Potsdam | Winston Churchill | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | St. Ives | Abner Procane | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | Fear on Trial | Mike Collins | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Three Days of the Condor | Mr. Wabash | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Beyond the Horizon | Dr. Fawcett | Flop | Similar → |
| 1975 | Rollerball | Bartholomew | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | I'm a Stranger Here Myself | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Paper Chase | Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Seven Days in May | Vice Adm. Farley C. Barnswell (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Van Gogh: Darkness into Light | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | Too Much Johnson | Duelist | Flop | Similar → |
John Houseman - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of John Houseman?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring John Houseman is "The Skin of Our Teeth" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has John Houseman acted in?
John Houseman has been featured in at least 34 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by John Houseman?
Other notable films include "Fear on Trial", "Three Days of the Condor", and "Seven Days in May".