Joseph Cotten
ActingAbout Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cheshire Cotten (May 15, 1905 – February 6, 1994) was an American actor of stage and film. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original productions of The Philadelphia Story and Sabrina Fair. He is associated with Orson Welles, leading to appearances in Citizen Kane (1941), The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), Journey into Fear (1943), for which Cotten was also credited with the screenplay, and The Third Man (1949). He was a star in his own right with films such as Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Love Letters (1945), Portrait of Jennie (1948), and The Third Man (1949).
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Joseph Cotten reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Joseph Cotten'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 72% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Joseph Cotten remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Casino, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Joseph Cotten Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Joseph Cotten's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Joseph Cotten.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | They'll Love Me When I'm Dead | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Beyond Doubt: The Making of Hitchcock's Favorite Film | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Heaven's Gate | The Reverend Doctor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Casino | Ed Booker | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Concorde Affair | Milland | Average | Similar → |
| 1977 | Twilight's Last Gleaming | Arthur Renfrew - Secretary of State | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case | Dr. Joseph Francis Condon | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | Syndicate Sadists | Paternò | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | A Delicate Balance | Harry | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | F for Fake | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Soylent Green | William R. Simonson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Devil's Daughter | Judge Weatherby | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Scopone Game | George | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Baron Blood | Baron Otto von Kleist / Alfred Becker | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Screaming Woman | George Tresvant | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Abominable Dr. Phibes | Dr. Vesalius | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Cutter's Trail | General Spalding | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Tora! Tora! Tora! | Henry L. Stimson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Gangsters '70 | Destil | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Hellbenders | Colonel Jonas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte | Drew Bayliss | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Last Sunset | John Breckenridge | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | Touch of Evil | Coroner (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Halliday Brand | Daniel Halliday | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Killer Is Loose | Detective Sam Wagner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | A Blueprint for Murder | Whitney 'Cam' Cameron | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Egypt by Three | Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Niagara | George Loomis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Steel Trap | Jim Osborne | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Untamed Frontier | Kirk Denbow | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Othello | Senator (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Man with a Cloak | Dupin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Peking Express | Michael Bachlin | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Two Flags West | Col. Clay Tucker | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Beyond the Forest | Doctor Louis Moline | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Under Capricorn | Sam Flusky | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Third Man | Holly Martins | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Portrait of Jennie | Eben Adams | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Farmer's Daughter | Glenn Morley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Duel in the Sun | Jesse McCanles | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Love Letters | Allen Quinton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | I'll Be Seeing You | Zachary Morgan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Since You Went Away | Lieutenant Tony Willett | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Gaslight | Brian Cameron | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Hers to Hold | Bill Morley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Shadow of a Doubt | Uncle Charlie | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Journey into Fear | Howard Graham | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Magnificent Ambersons | Eugene Morgan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Lydia | Michael Fitzpatrick | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Citizen Kane | Jedediah Leland | Super Hit | Similar → |
Joseph Cotten - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Joseph Cotten?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Joseph Cotten is "Casino" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Joseph Cotten acted in?
Joseph Cotten has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Joseph Cotten?
Other notable films include "Citizen Kane", "Peking Express", and "The Third Man".