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).
Joseph Cotten Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Joseph Cotten reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Joseph Cotten's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 98% of Joseph Cotten'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 Casino, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Joseph Cotten Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Joseph Cotten's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Joseph Cotten has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| 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 | Churchill and the Generals | Gen. George C. Marshall | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Concorde Affair | Milland | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Twilight's Last Gleaming | Arthur Renfrew - Secretary of State | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case | Dr. Joseph Francis Condon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Timber Tramps | Greedy sawmill mogul | Super Hit | 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 | Doomsday Voyage | Captain Jason | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Screaming Woman | George Tresvant | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Abominable Dr. Phibes | Dr. Vesalius | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Journey to Murder | Jeff Wheeler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Cutter's Trail | General Spalding | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Tora! Tora! Tora! | Henry L. Stimson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Lonely Profession | Martin Bannister | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Split Second to an Epitaph | Dr. Ben Stern | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Gangsters '70 | Destil | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Hellbenders | Colonel Jonas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Brighty of the Grand Canyon | Jim | 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 → |
| 1956 | The Killer Is Loose | Detective Sam Wagner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Special Delivery | John Adams | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Egypt by Three | Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Niagara | George Loomis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Steel Trap | Jim Osborne | Hit | 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 → |
| 1949 | Beyond the Forest | Doctor Louis Moline | Hit | 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 → |
| 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 "Doomsday Voyage", "Special Delivery", and "Timber Tramps".