Dick Miller
Biography
Dick Miller was an American character actor whose filmography ran to more than 180 movies, many of them made for Roger Corman. Born in The Bronx, New York, he became known for harried everyman parts, often in one scene. He later worked with directors who had begun under Corman, among them Joe Dante, James Cameron and Martin Scorsese, and he acted in every Dante feature. His work in Dante's Explorers (1985) brought a Saturn Award nomination for best supporting actor. Among his roles were Gremlins (1984), The Terminator (1984), The Howling (1981), Piranha (1978), A Bucket of Blood (1959), The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), Not of This Earth (1957), Chopping Mall (1986), Night of the Creeps (1986), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) and Small Soldiers (1998). On television he appeared in Police Squad!, Fame and Star Trek: The Next Generation, voiced Chuckie Sol in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), and directed an episode of Miami Vice.
90years old at death
- Born The Bronx
- Died Toluca Lake
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- Also credited as Richard Miller
Movie Career
- Films
- 63
- Career span
- 65 years1956 to 2021
Genres
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A first
Miller played several characters who shared the name Walter Paisley, and by 2011 that name had shown up in his acting credits six times. It debuted in the Roger Corman film A Bucket of Blood, whose story follows Paisley, a busboy turned artist by killing his subjects.
First role
In Apache Woman (1955), one of Miller's earliest roles, he played both a townsperson and an Indian. During an action scene, the townsperson character he played shoots the Indian character he also played.
A role that slipped away
Miller appeared as Monster Joe in Pulp Fiction, but the film's length caused his scene and a few others to be cut.
Behind the camera
Miller also directed for television, and among his directing work was "The Fix", an episode of the series Miami Vice that aired in 1986.
A first
Miller appeared in every film Joe Dante directed, and his part in Dante's 1985 sci-fi drama Explorers brought him a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Dick Miller movies on Netflix
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monsteras Self - Interviewee
Hanukkahas Rabbi Walter Paisley
Burying the Exas Grumpy Cop
That Guy Dick Milleras Himself
The Holeas Pizza Delivery Guy
Trapped Ashesas Max (story segments "Wraparound")
Looney Tunes: Back in Actionas Security Guard
Route 666as Bartender
Small Soldiersas Joe
The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxyas Peddler
The Second Civil Waras Eddie O'Neill
Batman: Mask of the Phantasmas Chuckie Sol (voice)
Matineeas Herb Denning
Amityville 1992: It's About Timeas Mr. Andersen
Unlawful Entryas Impound Clerk
Gremlins 2: The New Batchas Murray Futterman
Far from Homeas Sheriff Bill Childers
The 'Burbsas Vic, Garbageman #1
Angel III: The Final Chapteras Nick Pellegrini
Under the Boardwalkas Official
Innerspaceas Cab Driver
Chopping Mallas Walter Paisley
Night of the Creepsas Walt
After Hoursas Diner Waiter (Pete)
Explorersas Charlie Drake
Gremlinsas Murray Futterman
The Terminatoras Pawnshop Clerk
Heart Like a Wheelas Mickey White
Space Raidersas Crazy Mel
The Aftermathas Broadcaster (voice)
White Dogas Animal Trainer
Heartbeepsas Factory Watchman
Smokey Bites the Dustas Glen Wilson
The Howlingas Walter Paisley - Bookstore Owner
The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywoodas New York Cop
Rock 'n' Roll High Schoolas Police Chief
Corvette Summeras Mr. Lucky
I Wanna Hold Your Handas Sergeant Brenner
Piranhaas Buck Gardner
Mr. Billionas Bernie
New York, New Yorkas Palm Club Owner
Cannonball!as Bennie Buckman
Hollywood Boulevardas Walter Paisley
Caponeas Joe Pryor
Crazy Mamaas Wilbur Janeway
Summer School Teachersas Sam
White Line Feveras Birdie
Truck Turneras Fogarty
Executive Actionas Rifleman - Team B
The Legend of Lylah Clareas Reporter at Press Party
A Time for Killingas Zollicoffer
The Tripas Cash
The Wild Angelsas Oil Rigger
The Terroras Stefan
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyesas John Trask
The Premature Burialas Mole
The Little Shop of Horrorsas Burson Fouch
A Bucket of Bloodas Walter Paisley
War of the Satellitesas Dave Boyer
Not of This Earthas Joe Piper
The Undeadas The Leper
Gunslingeras Jimmy Tonto
It Conquered the Worldas Sgt. Neil
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Joe Dante directed seventeen of these films, Roger Corman thirteen and Jonathan Kaplan five. Three actors appear in seven of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.










Films together
Robert Picardo7 films together, 1981 to 1998
Robert Picardo's page Small Soldiers1998IMDb rating 6.3Miller as JoePicardo as Ralph, Clean Room Technician
Matinee1993IMDb rating 6.9Miller as Herb DenningPicardo as Howard the Theater Manager
Gremlins 2: The New Batch1990IMDb rating 6.5Miller as Murray FuttermanPicardo as Forster
The 'Burbs1989IMDb rating 6.8Miller as Vic, Garbageman #1Picardo as Joe, Garbageman #2
Innerspace1987IMDb rating 6.9Miller as Cab DriverPicardo as The Cowboy
Explorers1985IMDb rating 6.4Miller as Charlie DrakePicardo as Starkiller / Wak / Wak and Neek's Father
The Howling1981IMDb rating 6.5Miller as Walter Paisley - Bookstore OwnerPicardo as Eddie Quist
Paul Bartel7 films together, 1976 to 1986
Paul Bartel's page Chopping Mall1986IMDb rating 5.6Miller as Walter PaisleyBartel as Paul Bland
Heart Like a Wheel1983IMDb rating 6.8Miller as Mickey WhiteBartel as Chef Paul
White Dog1982IMDb rating 7.0Miller as Animal TrainerBartel as Cameraman
Heartbeeps1981IMDb rating 4.3Miller as Factory WatchmanBartel as Party Guest
Rock 'n' Roll High School1979IMDb rating 6.6Miller as Police ChiefBartel as Mr. McGree
Piranha1978IMDb rating 5.9Miller as Buck GardnerBartel as Mr. Dumont
Hollywood Boulevard1976IMDb rating 5.8Miller as Walter PaisleyBartel as Eric Von Leppe
Jonathan Haze7 films together, 1956 to 2014
Jonathan Haze's page That Guy Dick Miller2014IMDb rating 7.4Miller as HimselfHaze as Himself
The Terror1963IMDb rating 5.1Miller as StefanHaze as Gustaf
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes1963IMDb rating 6.6Miller as John TraskHaze as Heckler
The Little Shop of Horrors1960IMDb rating 6.2Miller as Burson FouchHaze as Seymour Krelboyne
Not of This Earth1957IMDb rating 6.1Miller as Joe PiperHaze as Jeremy Perrin
Gunslinger1956IMDb rating 3.9Miller as Jimmy TontoHaze as Jake Hayes
It Conquered the World1956IMDb rating 5.0Miller as Sgt. NeilHaze as Pvt. Manuel Ortiz
Mary Woronov6 films together, 1976 to 2003
Mary Woronov's page Looney Tunes: Back in Action2003IMDb rating 5.8Miller as Security GuardWoronov as Acme VP, Bad Ideas
Chopping Mall1986IMDb rating 5.6Miller as Walter PaisleyWoronov as Mary Bland
Heartbeeps1981IMDb rating 4.3Miller as Factory WatchmanWoronov as Party House Owner
Rock 'n' Roll High School1979IMDb rating 6.6Miller as Police ChiefWoronov as Miss Evelyn Togar
Cannonball!1976IMDb rating 5.5Miller as Bennie BuckmanWoronov as Sandy Harris, Girl in the Van #1
Hollywood Boulevard1976IMDb rating 5.8Miller as Walter PaisleyWoronov as Mary McQueen
Belinda Balaski6 films together, 1976 to 2014
Belinda Balaski's page That Guy Dick Miller2014IMDb rating 7.4Miller as HimselfBalaski as Himself
The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy1998IMDb rating 5.2Miller as PeddlerBalaski as Barterer's Wife
Gremlins1984IMDb rating 7.3Miller as Murray FuttermanBalaski as Mrs. Joe Harris
The Howling1981IMDb rating 6.5Miller as Walter Paisley - Bookstore OwnerBalaski as Terry Fisher
Piranha1978IMDb rating 5.9Miller as Buck GardnerBalaski as Betsy
Cannonball!1976IMDb rating 5.5Miller as Bennie BuckmanBalaski as Maryann
Bruce Dern5 films together, 1966 to 2009
Bruce Dern's page The Hole2009IMDb rating 5.7Miller as Pizza Delivery GuyDern as Creepy Carl
Small Soldiers1998IMDb rating 6.3Miller as JoeDern as Link Staticvoice
The 'Burbs1989IMDb rating 6.8Miller as Vic, Garbageman #1Dern as Lt. Mark Rumsfield
The Trip1967IMDb rating 6.1Miller as CashDern as John
The Wild Angels1966IMDb rating 5.6Miller as Oil RiggerDern as Joe 'Loser' Kearns
Joe DanteDirector, 17 films, 1976 to 2014
All films by Joe Dante Burying the Ex2014IMDb rating 5.4Miller as Grumpy Cop
The Hole2009IMDb rating 5.7Miller as Pizza Delivery Guy
Trapped Ashes2006IMDb rating 4.7Miller as Max (story segments "Wraparound")
Looney Tunes: Back in Action2003IMDb rating 5.8Miller as Security Guard
Small Soldiers1998IMDb rating 6.3Miller as Joe
The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy1998IMDb rating 5.2Miller as Peddler
The Second Civil War1997IMDb rating 6.6Miller as Eddie O'Neill
Matinee1993IMDb rating 6.9Miller as Herb Denning
Gremlins 2: The New Batch1990IMDb rating 6.5Miller as Murray Futterman
The 'Burbs1989IMDb rating 6.8Miller as Vic, Garbageman #1
Innerspace1987IMDb rating 6.9Miller as Cab Driver
Explorers1985IMDb rating 6.4Miller as Charlie Drake
Gremlins1984IMDb rating 7.3Miller as Murray Futterman
The Howling1981IMDb rating 6.5Miller as Walter Paisley - Bookstore Owner
Rock 'n' Roll High School1979IMDb rating 6.6Miller as Police Chief
Piranha1978IMDb rating 5.9Miller as Buck Gardner
Hollywood Boulevard1976IMDb rating 5.8Miller as Walter Paisley
Roger CormanDirector, 13 films, 1956 to 1967
All films by Roger Corman A Time for Killing1967IMDb rating 5.4Miller as Zollicoffer
The Trip1967IMDb rating 6.1Miller as Cash
The Wild Angels1966IMDb rating 5.6Miller as Oil Rigger
The Terror1963IMDb rating 5.1Miller as Stefan
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes1963IMDb rating 6.6Miller as John Trask
The Premature Burial1962IMDb rating 6.5Miller as Mole
The Little Shop of Horrors1960IMDb rating 6.2Miller as Burson Fouch
A Bucket of Blood1959IMDb rating 6.7Miller as Walter Paisley
War of the Satellites1958IMDb rating 5.1Miller as Dave Boyer
Not of This Earth1957IMDb rating 6.1Miller as Joe Piper
The Undead1957IMDb rating 4.8Miller as The Leper
Gunslinger1956IMDb rating 3.9Miller as Jimmy Tonto
It Conquered the World1956IMDb rating 5.0Miller as Sgt. Neil
Jonathan KaplanDirector, 5 films, 1974 to 1992
All films by Jonathan Kaplan Unlawful Entry1992IMDb rating 6.4Miller as Impound Clerk
Heart Like a Wheel1983IMDb rating 6.8Miller as Mickey White
Mr. Billion1977IMDb rating 5.4Miller as Bernie
White Line Fever1975IMDb rating 6.1Miller as Birdie
Truck Turner1974IMDb rating 6.9Miller as Fogarty
Also five films together3 more actors
- Kevin McCarthyLooney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), The Second Civil War (1997), Innerspace (1987), The Howling (1981) and Piranha (1978)
- Roger CormanBoris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster (2021), That Guy Dick Miller (2014), Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), The Second Civil War (1997) and War of the Satellites (1958)
- Archie HahnBurying the Ex (2014), That Guy Dick Miller (2014), Small Soldiers (1998), Innerspace (1987) and Cannonball! (1976)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Dick Miller's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$685 million
30 of the 63 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 63 films: 30 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 3 never in cinemas; 27 figure not found.
- 30Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 3Never in cinemas
- 27Figure not found
Top grosser

Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 78% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$153M22.4% of the total
- 2$78M11.4% of the total
- 3$69M10.0% of the total
- 4$57M8.3% of the total
- 5$55M8.0% of the total
- 6$49M7.2% of the total
- 7$41M6.1% of the total
- 8$35M5.1% of the total
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2014 | Time Machine Award | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.










