Michael Cavanaugh

Biography

Michael Cavanaugh is an American character actor who was born in New York, took up acting after a stint in the Navy, and began his career in children's theater as the title character in a production of Winnie the Pooh. His stage work included One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Merchant of Venice and Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?, and he sang tenor in musicals such as Oh Calcutta!, Carousel and 110 in the Shade. From the mid-1970s he accumulated a long list of film and television credits, often playing police officers, government agents, soldiers, lawyers, judges and businessmen. He appeared in three Clint Eastwood films, The Enforcer (1976), The Gauntlet (1977) and Any Which Way You Can (1980), and was memorable as the villain of the Chuck Norris action film Forced Vengeance (1982). On television he played George Fox in Starman (1986) and had a recurring role on the Dark Shadows revival (1991).

83years old

Turns 84 on November 21in 39 days

Born November 21, 1942New York City
Star sign: ScorpioLast day of the sign, on the Sagittarius cusp

Movie Career

Films: 17
Career span: 30 years1977 to 2007

Genres

Action65%, 11 films
Drama47%, 8 films
Thriller35%, 6 films
Crime18%, 3 films
Horror18%, 3 films

First and latest

Michael Cavanaugh movies on Netflix

Who's Your Caddy?2007IMDb rating 2.3as John Marshall
All the King's Men2006IMDb rating 6.1as Mr. Peyton
Ablaze2001IMDb rating 3.4as Chief Sam Davis
Epoch2001IMDb rating 4.9as Williams
Raptor2001IMDb rating 2.9as Colonel Vandamar
The Haunting1999IMDb rating 5.1as Dr. Malcolm Keogh
Black Thunder1998IMDb rating 3.7as Barnes
Strategic Command1997IMDb rating 4.3as Vice President Charles Baker
Night Hunter1996IMDb rating 3.9as Roy Ward
Illegal in Blue1995IMDb rating 4.5as Lt. Lyle
Donato and Daughter1993IMDb rating 5.7as Vinnie Stellino
Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story1993IMDb rating 5.6
Kid1990IMDb rating 6.2as Walters
Heart Like a Wheel1983IMDb rating 6.8as NHRA Boss
Forced Vengeance1982IMDb rating 5.6as Stan Raimondi
Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1as Patrick Scarfe
The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4as Feyderspiel

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Gauntlet1977 Action, Thrilleras Feyderspiel
IMDb rating 6.428K votes
The Haunting1999 Fantasy, Horror, Mysteryas Dr. Malcolm Keogh
IMDb rating 5.185K votes
Any Which Way You Can1980as Patrick Scarfe
IMDb rating 6.123K votes
Forced Vengeance1982as Stan Raimondi
IMDb rating 5.63.9K votes
Epoch2001as Williams
IMDb rating 4.92.8K votes
Black Thunder1998as Barnes
IMDb rating 3.7754 votes
Night Hunter1996as Roy Ward
IMDb rating 3.9922 votes
All the King's Men2006as Mr. Peyton
IMDb rating 6.127K votes

Most often with

Rick Jacobson directed three of these films, Jim Wynorski two. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Bill McKinney

Richard Norton

Michael Dudikoff

Clint Eastwood

Bryan Cranston

Roy JensonRick JacobsonDirector, 3 films

Jim WynorskiDirector, 2 films

Films together

Bill McKinney3 films together, 1977 to 1983
Bill McKinney's page
- Heart Like a Wheel1983IMDb rating 6.8Cavanaugh as NHRA BossMcKinney as "Big Daddy" Don Garlits
- Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1Cavanaugh as Patrick ScarfeMcKinney as Dallas
- The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4Cavanaugh as FeyderspielMcKinney as Constable
Richard Norton3 films together, 1982 to 1998
Richard Norton's page
- Black Thunder1998IMDb rating 3.7Cavanaugh as BarnesNorton as Rather
- Strategic Command1997IMDb rating 4.3Cavanaugh as Vice President Charles BakerNorton as Carlos Gruber
- Forced Vengeance1982IMDb rating 5.6Cavanaugh as Stan RaimondiNorton as Herb
Michael Dudikoff3 films together, 1997 to 2001
Michael Dudikoff's page
- Ablaze2001IMDb rating 3.4Cavanaugh as Chief Sam DavisDudikoff as Daniels
- Black Thunder1998IMDb rating 3.7Cavanaugh as BarnesDudikoff as Vince
- Strategic Command1997IMDb rating 4.3Cavanaugh as Vice President Charles BakerDudikoff as Rick Harding
Clint Eastwood2 films together, 1977 to 1980
Clint Eastwood's page
- Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1Cavanaugh as Patrick ScarfeEastwood as Philo Beddoe
- The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4Cavanaugh as FeyderspielEastwood as Ben Shockley
Bryan Cranston2 films together, 1993 to 1997
Bryan Cranston's page
- Strategic Command1997IMDb rating 4.3Cavanaugh as Vice President Charles BakerCranston as Phil Hertzberg
- Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story1993IMDb rating 5.6
Roy Jenson2 films together, 1977 to 1980
Roy Jenson's page
- Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1Cavanaugh as Patrick ScarfeJenson as Moody
- The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4Cavanaugh as FeyderspielJenson as Biker
Rick JacobsonDirector, 3 films, 1996 to 1998
All films by Rick Jacobson
- Black Thunder1998IMDb rating 3.7Cavanaugh as Barnes
- Strategic Command1997IMDb rating 4.3Cavanaugh as Vice President Charles Baker
- Night Hunter1996IMDb rating 3.9Cavanaugh as Roy Ward
Jim WynorskiDirector, 2 films, 2001
All films by Jim Wynorski
- Ablaze2001IMDb rating 3.4Cavanaugh as Chief Sam Davis
- Raptor2001IMDb rating 2.9Cavanaugh as Colonel Vandamar
Also two films together12 more actors
- Frederic ForrestAll the King's Men (2006) and Black Thunder (1998)
- Jackie Earle HaleyAll the King's Men (2006) and Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story (1993)
- Tim AbellRaptor (2001) and Strategic Command (1997)
- James AveryWho's Your Caddy? (2007) and Epoch (2001)
- William ZabkaAblaze (2001) and Epoch (2001)
- Louis GiambalvoIllegal in Blue (1995) and Donato and Daughter (1993)
- Larry PoindexterAblaze (2001) and Strategic Command (1997)
- Sondra LockeAny Which Way You Can (1980) and The Gauntlet (1977)
- Dan VadisAny Which Way You Can (1980) and The Gauntlet (1977)
- Marcus AureliusStrategic Command (1997) and Night Hunter (1996)
- Melissa BrasselleAblaze (2001) and Raptor (2001)
- William LangloisRaptor (2001) and Strategic Command (1997)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.