Walter Brooke
ActingAbout Walter Brooke
Walter Brooke (October 23, 1914 – August 20, 1986) was an American actor. Brooke is best known for playing Mr. McGuire in The Graduate, where he said his famous line, "Plastics". He is also remembered for playing district attorney Frank Scanlon in the television series The Green Hornet. Brooke appeared on stage in the 1957 production of Hide and Seek at the Shubert Theatre in Washington, D.C. Brooke died from emphysema on August 20, 1986, aged 71. Description above from the Wikipedia article Walter Brooke, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Walter Brooke reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Walter Brooke'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 34% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Walter Brooke remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Graduate, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Walter Brooke Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Walter Brooke's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Walter Brooke.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Jagged Edge | Duane Bendix | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Advice to the Lovelorn | Walter Sheehan | Flop | Similar → |
| 1981 | Separate Ways | Lawrence Stevens | Flop | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Nude Bomb | American Ambassador | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | Beggarman, Thief | American Intelligence Agent | Average | Similar → |
| 1979 | North Dallas Forty | Doctor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | In Search of Historic Jesus | Joseph of Arimathea | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | The New Adventures of Heidi | Cousin Tobias | Flop | Similar → |
| 1977 | Black Sunday | Fowler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Fun with Dick and Jane | Mr. Weeks | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Fury of the Dragon | Frank P. Scanlon | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Big Bus | Mr. Ames | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | Time Travelers | Dr. Stafford | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | St. Ives | Mickey | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Other Side of the Mountain | Dean | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | Framed | Sen. Tatum | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Stowaway to the Moon | Whitehead | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Chadwick Family | Dr. Simon | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | Winter Kill | Ben | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Green Hornet | Dist. Atty Scanlon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Stranger Who Looks Like Me | Mr. Denver | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | Executive Action | Smythe | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Astronaut | Tom Everett | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | A Tattered Web | Lt. Preston | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Return of Count Yorga | Bill Nelson | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Mephisto Waltz | Party Guest (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Andromeda Strain | Assistant to Cabinet Secretary (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Lawman | Luther Harris | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | San Francisco International | Clifford Foster Evans | Flop | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Landlord | William Enders | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | Zig Zag | Adam Mercer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Tora! Tora! Tora! | Captain Theodore Wilkinson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | Marooned | Network Commentator | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | Daddy's Gone A-Hunting | Jerry Wolfe | Flop | Similar → |
| 1968 | How Sweet It Is! | Haskell Wax | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Yours, Mine and Ours | Howard Beardsley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Sergeant Ryker | Col. Arthur Merriam | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Graduate | Mr. McGuire | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm | The Mayor (segment "The Cobbler and the Elves") | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | Bloodlust! | Dean Gerrard | Flop | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Party Crashers | Mr. Webster | Flop | Similar → |
| 1955 | Conquest of Space | Gen. Samuel T. Merritt | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | C-Man | Joe | Flop | Similar → |
| 1942 | Desperate Journey | Sgt. Warwick | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | In This Our Life | Cab Driver (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Murder in the Big House | Reporter (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Male Animal | Reporter (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1942 | Bullet Scars | Trooper Walter Leary | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | All Through the Night | Reporter (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | They Died with Their Boots On | Cadet Rosser (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Walter Brooke - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Walter Brooke?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Walter Brooke is "The Graduate" with a rating of 7.6/10.
How many movies has Walter Brooke acted in?
Walter Brooke has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Walter Brooke?
Other notable films include "Zig Zag", "How Sweet It Is!", and "Winter Kill".