John Houseman - Actor Profile

John Houseman

Acting
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
35Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Sep 22, 1902
Birth Place: Bucharest, Romania

About 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.

John Houseman Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of John Houseman reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 35 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of John Houseman's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 29% of John Houseman's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Skin of Our Teeth, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best John Houseman Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from John Houseman's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie John Houseman has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
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 →
1984 The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War - 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 35 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".

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