Great actors who are not really famous? [Archive]

kalorama

11-26-2007, 12:18 PM

All great choices (and, really what would have been my list if you hadn't beaten me to it). I've always found Morse's film career kind off fascinating. I remember him from his days on St. Elsewhere when he played a put upon nice guy. I never would have imagined that when the show went off the air he'd remake himself into one of the movies' best evil slimeballs. The thing I like about him is that he doesn't play a stock bad guy. he brings something a little different to each amoral psycho killer he plays.

I'll add Oliver Platt, who livens up even the most awful movie with his presence.

Thorlief

11-26-2007, 12:27 PM

Bruce freaking Mc Gill. Man is a god, and every scene he's in..let's just say it automatically becomes legendary

I don't know if Colm Meaney qualifies as "not famous", but I just love him

jesse_custer

11-26-2007, 12:31 PM

Although he was probably more well-known a few decades ago, I doubt Sterling Hayden has ever really been famous. He would rock everyone's world if he was.

The Zapper

11-26-2007, 12:35 PM

Donald Pleasence.

kalorama

11-26-2007, 12:41 PM

Christine Lahti

Cyke

11-26-2007, 01:20 PM

All great choices (and, really what would have been my list if you hadn't beaten me to it). I've always found Morse's film career kind off fascinating. I remember him from his days on St. Elsewhere when he played a put upon nice guy. I never would have imagined that when the show went off the air he'd remake himself into one of the movies' best evil slimeballs. The thing I like about him is that he doesn't play a stock bad guy. he brings something a little different to each amoral psycho killer he plays.

To add onto your post, whenever he does play a good guy (or, at least, a non-antagonist), they're so tough and dependable but a bit insecure and unsure, to the point that some of them are just as non-stock as his evil characters. Gotta love his approach.

Infernorhythm

11-26-2007, 01:41 PM

Delroy Lindo
Ryan Robbins
Henry Ian Cusick
Sean Maher

SPAfreak

11-26-2007, 01:51 PM

John C. Reilly is finally headlining a movie for wide release. It's about time.

kalorama

11-26-2007, 01:59 PM

John C. Reilly is finally headlining a movie for wide release. It's about time.

Unfortunately (based on trailers for Dewey Cox) he seems to be taking the Vince Vaughan express to stardom: abandoning a career built on solid (and, in his case, award nominated) dramatic and nuanced comedy work for crowd-pleasing LCD crotch-shot comedy.

Armless Penguin

11-26-2007, 04:05 PM

Unfortunately (based on trailers for Dewey Cox) he seems to be taking the Vince Vaughan express to stardom: abandoning a career built on solid (and, in his case, award nominated) dramatic and nuanced comedy work for crowd-pleasing LCD crotch-shot comedy.

Not really. He has always switched between great dramatic roles and silly comedic ones--heck, that was the whole point of his appearance in A Comedian at the Oscars (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ue3AgM9WrpY).

EDIT: Just realized you said his career was built on "dramatic and nuanced comedy work," which is hardly the case. Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and Chicago--the film for which he was nominated--are hardly "comedies."

BoosterBronze

11-26-2007, 04:11 PM

EDIT: Just realized you said his career was built on "dramatic and nuanced comedy work," which is hardly the case. Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and Chicago--the film for which he was nominated--are hardly "comedies."

"Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny" was one of the most subtle and thought provoking serio-comedies in decades, and Reily's enigmatic work as 'Sasquatch" left me wondering whether I should laugh or cry.

And I think Liev Shrieber should be a huge star.

DWEarhart

11-26-2007, 04:11 PM

Bruce freaking Mc Gill. Man is a god, and every scene he's in..let's just say it automatically becomes legendary

I don't know if Colm Meaney qualifies as "not famous", but I just love him

Donald Pleasence.

Agreed on all these. Plus, watch Donald Pleasence in Raw Meat. Friggin' hilarious. Colm Meaney is just cool on screen, especially when he's a gangster.

I'll throw in:

Oliver Platt
Pruitt Taylor Vince
Lieve Schreiber

.....for starters.

Armless Penguin

11-26-2007, 04:15 PM

"Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny" was one of the most subtle and thought provoking serio-comedies in decades, and Reily's enigmatic work as 'Sasquatch" left me wondering whether I should laugh or cry.

Don't understand what you're trying to get at here, since I said quite clearly:

He has always switched between great dramatic roles and silly comedic ones

In any case, his choice to act in those comedies does not in any way detract from the great serious performances he has had, or indeed his ability to be mentioned in this thread.

BoosterBronze

11-26-2007, 04:49 PM

Don't understand what you're trying to get at here, since I said quite clearly:
.

I was just being silly.

kalorama

11-26-2007, 07:31 PM

Not really. He has always switched between great dramatic roles and silly comedic ones...

Not really. It's really only been since his Oscar nom that he's parlayed his higher profile into more frequent bigger roles in lower-IQ, bigger budget (and by extension bigger payday) comedies like Talladega Nights and Dewey Cox. Before that such frat house/gross out comedy roles were extremely rare on his resume.

EDIT: Just realized you said his career was built on "dramatic and nuanced comedy work," which is hardly the case. Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and Chicago--the film for which he was nominated--are hardly "comedies."

Which might be worth mentioning if I'd said, implied, or hinted that any of those specific movies were comedies. However, since I didn't say, imply, or hint that, I fail to see any point in making that observation, given that you're attempting to refute an argument I didn't make.

In addition to those movies you mentioned, none of which I ever said were comedies, he also appeared in Chicago (for which he was nominated for an Oscar), Never Been Kissed, The Good Girl (which could be called a dramedy if you want to split hairs), and A Prairie Home Companion, all of which were comedies (Chicago being of the musical variety) and none of which were the kind of frat house fare of Dewey Cox or Talladega Nights.

And I would be remiss if I didn't point out the fairly obvious contradiction in your saying in the first paragraph of your post that "He has always switched between great dramatic roles and silly comedic ones" in an attempt to disprove my initial point, then doing a complete 180 in the second paragraph by attempting to make the point that none of the movies during the formative part of his career were comedies.

Can't have it both ways.

cactusmaac

11-27-2007, 06:41 AM

JT Walsh.

Pity he died pretty young.

Lord of Denial

11-27-2007, 07:02 AM

JT Walsh.

Pity he died pretty young.

Great Pick

I had his face pictured but I could not think of his name.

jesse_custer

11-27-2007, 08:27 AM

And I think Liev Shrieber should be a huge star.

After seeing him in "The Manchurian Candidate," can't say that I agree.

GozertheGozarian

11-27-2007, 08:52 AM

Sam Neill. So much ensemble and character work he blends into the background.

rick

11-27-2007, 09:00 AM

Sterling Hayden was a great choice.

I am a huge fan of some character actors who time and again put in wonderful performances.

Two who come right to mind are the amazing William Sadler and Geoffrey Lewis. Constantly these guys show up in movies, sometimes as sidekicks, sometimes as villains, sometimes as heroes. But the one thing they always have is the ability to be completely absorbed into their part and to become strikingly convincing.

For example, Sadler as played roles as varied and different as …

Death in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7780/reapermy7.jpg

The demon fighting loner in Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knights

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3708/demonam9.jpg

Sadler was the villainous Col. Stuart in Die Hard 2, one of the prisoners in the Shawshank Redemption, the two dead girls father in The Green Mile, one of the rednecks trapped in the store in The Mist and about three or four dozen other roles ranging from cops to teachers, to monsters to Julus Ceaser.

The man is a true chameleon and one of our finest working character actors.

Geoffrey Lewis, father of actress Julliette Lewis is another one of those actors who you have seen a million times and never really paid attention to.

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/7900/geoffreyzl7.jpg

But with 40 years of great performances ranging from Clint Eastwoods bumpkin sidekick in Every Which Way but Loose to the villainous leader of the zombie scientists in Night of the Comet to more recent work in The Devil’s Rejects, Lewis again and again puts in quiet but solid performances, being completely absorbed into his character.

Way back when Lewis would show up here and there on the original Smothers Borthers show and just stand on stage telling stories, which is where I first noticed him.

I hope you folks notice these guys too.

Lord of Denial

11-27-2007, 09:05 AM

Sterling Hayden was a great choice.

I am a huge fan of some character actors who time and again put in wonderful performances.

Two who come right to mind are the amazing William Sadler and Geoffrey Lewis. Constantly these guys show up in movies, sometimes as sidekicks, sometimes as villains, sometimes as heroes. But the one thing they always have is the ability to be completely absorbed into their part and to become strikingly convincing.

For example, Sadler as played roles as varied and different as …

Death in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7780/reapermy7.jpg

The demon fighting loner in Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knights

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3708/demonam9.jpg

Sadler was the villainous Col. Stuart in Die Hard 2, one of the prisoners in the Shawshank Redemption, the two dead girls father in The Green Mile, one of the rednecks trapped in the store in The Mist and about three or four dozen other roles ranging from cops to teachers, to monsters to Julus Ceaser.

The man is a true chameleon and one of our finest working character actors.

Geoffrey Lewis, father of actress Julliette Lewis is another one of those actors who you have seen a million times and never really paid attention to.

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/7900/geoffreyzl7.jpg

But with 40 years of great performances ranging from Clint Eastwoods bumpkin sidekick in the Every Which Way but Loose to the villainous leader of the zombie scientists in Night of the Comet to more recent work in The Devil’s Rejects, Lewis again and again puts in quiet but solid performances, being completely absorbed into his character.

Way back when Lewis would show up here and there on the original Smothers Borthers show and just stand on stage telling stories, which is where I first noticed him.

I hope you folks notice these guys too.

Totally agree.

Toku King

11-27-2007, 09:06 AM

http://www.rangercentral.com/images/pris-al-bulk.jpg

Thorlief

11-27-2007, 09:08 AM

Sam Neill. So much ensemble and character work he blends into the background.

agreed 100%. Sam is great

rick

11-27-2007, 09:10 AM

http://www.rangercentral.com/images/pris-al-bulk.jpg

I have not the slightest idea at all of who these two guys are.

Thorlief

11-27-2007, 09:12 AM

plus, they are so ugly I wouldn't really want em to be more famous heh

The Mutt

11-27-2007, 09:14 AM

George Dzundza

http://www.nndb.com/people/451/000064259/george_dzundza.jpg

He made me cry in Deer Hunter.

jesse_custer

11-27-2007, 09:14 AM

Lord of Denial

11-27-2007, 09:18 AM

I have not the slightest idea at all of who these two guys are.

There from the original Power Rangers.

Lord of Denial

11-27-2007, 09:20 AM

What did you guys think of Sam Neil in "The Piano?" Very underrated performance.

Also, how Gabriel Byrne isn't famous after his outstanding work in both "Miller's Crossing" and "The Usual Suspects" is beyond my knowledge.

Another great choice.

I love him in anything he does. But he kind of borders the line of famous and not famous more so then most mentioned.

Atom_basher

11-27-2007, 09:25 AM

Elizabeth Banks

rick

11-27-2007, 09:25 AM

George Dzundza

http://www.nndb.com/people/451/000064259/george_dzundza.jpg

He made me cry in Deer Hunter.

That is a good call.

He was world weary and perfect as the older cop on the first season of Law & Order, and I really totally loved him as a crazed Russian tank commander in The Beast.

Thorlief

11-27-2007, 09:25 AM

What did you guys think of Sam Neil in "The Piano?" Very underrated performance.

Also, how Gabriel Byrne isn't famous after his outstanding work in both "Miller's Crossing" and "The Usual Suspects" is beyond my knowledge.

agreed

speaking of which, Pete Postlethwaithe (sp.?) is a terrific actor who deserves way more than he gets

rick

11-27-2007, 09:39 AM

agreed

speaking of which, Pete Postlethwaithe (sp.?) is a terrific actor who deserves way more than he gets

He has that great, expressive face too.

Another actor I always see, but who doesn't seem to get enough credit is Veronica Cartwright

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7553/veronica1av8.jpg

Cartwright started out as a kid playing of all people, Violet Rutherford on Leave it to Beaver and then the daughter on tv’s Daniel Boone, as well as a famous part as Tippi Hendrons sister in Hitchcocks, The Birds.

As an adult she made a splash in what was just short of a hardcore porn movie, along with Richard Dreyfus in the notorious, Inserts, followed that up as the terrified sole survivor of the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and then went on to her classic role as the doomed Lambert in Alien.

Throw in jucy parts like the Felicia Alden in the Witches of Eastwick and the hurt and angry Betty Grissom in The Right Stuff, and it is easy to see that this is a lady with some real acting chops.

Jared

11-27-2007, 10:21 AM

Anthony Anderson. I guess he's becoming pretty famous, but I'm still outraged that he didn't get an Emmy nomination for his work on The Shield.

Sadler is a great choice, and I'm glad I now finally know that guy's name.

Lord of Denial

11-27-2007, 10:27 AM

William Fichtner

Was the lead in Invasion on ABC and is in Prison Break. He also played in The Perfect Storm and as Col Willy Sharp in Armageddon.

rick

11-27-2007, 10:34 AM

Anthony Anderson. I guess he's becoming pretty famous, but I'm still outraged that he didnt' get an Emmy nomination for his work on The Shield.

Sadler is a great choice, and I'm glad I now finally know that guy's name.

Good call on Anderson, he is a truly interesting actor.

Another actor who I really like on The Shield but think is really underrated is Walton Goggins who plays Shane.

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/4134/shanezv9.jpg

Despite everything the character has done over the years, I can't help but sympathize with his situation and what can only be his eventual fate. And the reason I feel that way is because of Goggins, subtle and powerful performance in the role.

In my opinion, he is the shows hidden gem.

GozertheGozarian

11-27-2007, 10:50 AM

John Turturro.

Action, Comedy, and Drama, he's done it. And done it well.

Jared

11-27-2007, 10:56 AM

John Turturro.

Action, Comedy, and Drama, he's done it. And done it well.

Transformers not withstanding.

GozertheGozarian

11-27-2007, 11:01 AM

Haven't seen Transformers, and hope I never do.

The Mutt

11-27-2007, 11:04 AM

I should mention that the best actors in America are not on TV or in the movies. Go check out some live theater, folks. You'll be glad you did.

You will also get a chance to see actors step outside of their comfort zones and play roles they'd never be cast in on TV or film.

Also, some actors who are "fandom" famous aren't well known to the general public. Rene Auberjonois is brilliant, for example.

Toku King

11-27-2007, 11:41 AM

I have not the slightest idea at all of who these two guys are.

They are Paul Schrier and Jason Narvy, aka Bulk and Skull. Easily one of my all time favorite comedy duos, and did some great jokes and slapsticks during their PR run.
Here's an interview with them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5hW3AmBi5U&feature=related

Toku King

11-27-2007, 11:42 AM

plus, they are so ugly I wouldn't really want em to be more famous heh

Those are their 'wha?' faces. They don't normally look like that.

Thorlief

11-27-2007, 11:59 AM

Haven't seen Transformers, and hope I never do.

wish I could say the same

agreed on Turturro, Goggins and Veronica Cartwright. Turturro certainly has got the best career out of all three, but man Goggins is terrific. And he's also a very nice guy, I remember him in some interview asking the fans to not hate him because of Shane lol

Ray Winstone should definitely work more. I hope Beowulf gives him the popularity he deserves, great acting

Black Atom

11-27-2007, 12:08 PM

What did you guys think of Sam Neil in "The Piano?" Very underrated performance.

Also, how Gabriel Byrne isn't famous after his outstanding work in both "Miller's Crossing" and "The Usual Suspects" is beyond my knowledge.

Who says he's not famous? I mean, he's not tabloid famous, I guess, but he's pretty well known, isn't he? Same with John Turturro.

GozertheGozarian

11-27-2007, 12:14 PM

They have recognizable faces, but not names.

Popgun

11-27-2007, 04:45 PM

Ray Winstone should definitely work more. I hope Beowulf gives him the popularity he deserves, great acting

Ray Winstone never stops working. I don't think he's been out of a job since Scum. His daughter seems to pop up in everything these days, too.

Thorlief

11-27-2007, 05:37 PM

rick

11-27-2007, 05:43 PM

I know, I just want him to be popular and work in more high profile works. Too much bullshit actors around

anyway, what about some Asian actors? Chow Yun Fat deserved much much better, and I really hope the gigantic Anthony Wong becomes popular

Chow Yun Fat is one of the most popular, best know actors in the entire world.

How do you figure he isn't famous?

Thorlief

11-27-2007, 06:05 PM

I don't know, there's something shady about his popularity. He seems to be easily recognized by people who already knew him from his Chinese movies, but I don't see him THAT popular amongst masses. And he has quite a meh record in America. Maybe I'm wrong though, but thats the impression I get

Anthony Wong is titanic though. Seriously, the best Chinese actor out here

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/10/18/exiled_061018083957040_wideweb__300x215.jpg

DWEarhart

11-27-2007, 06:11 PM

Tom Noonan.

How famous is Brian Cox? I understand he's respected, but famous?? Whatever works.

Manhunter is thrilling with these two in it.

Tom Noonan played Frankenstein in The Monster Squad superbly and will be in Where the Wild Things Are.

Brian Cox, he does what he does, and it's good. I think.

DHX

11-27-2007, 06:49 PM

Three of my favorite movies stared veronica cartwright.

invasion of the body snatchers
alien
witches of eastwick

the woman can act, plus i always wonder what the aliens franchise would be like with cartwright as ripley.

Infernorhythm

11-27-2007, 07:06 PM

Neil Jackson, brilliant actor (and musician and screenwriter).

ultramandingo

11-27-2007, 09:15 PM

Anthony Wong is titanic though. Seriously, the best Chinese actor out here

...........just saw him in " the mission " he rules . when he won an award for " human meat buns " (!!!!) during hong kongs version of the oscars - for some reason he showed up dressed like freddy kruger !!!!

The Mutt

11-27-2007, 10:46 PM

I just saw The Departed for the first time tonight. Ray Winstone is wonderful. I hope Beowulf makes him a big star.

The big stars are all awesome, as usual, but every single other actor in the film is just top notch. I've never even heard of Vera Farmiga before, but I thought she was outstanding.

What's bugging me is that she kept reminding me of somebody else the whole time. Who???