
Sam Jaffe
ActingAbout 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.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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".




