15 ACTORS YOU KNOW FROM SOMEWHERE...

POSTED BY Col. Hans Longshanks | SUNDAY MAY 3 AT 4:25 PDT

General - Movies

They don’t quite possess the good looks and panache necessary to thrive as A-list leading men, and they haven’t yet been granted a role meaty enough to raise them up to supporting actor status. They are the supporting actor’s supporting actor. The character actors that populate a film with moving, emotional performances yet too often go unnoticed or remain the undistinguished “guy who was good in that movie.”

We here at ScreenJunkies wish to honor a few of these unsung heroes of the silver screen. It’s time to eliminate the question mark and give these outstanding thespians the recognition they deserve.

COLM FEORE

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
Changeling
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Chronicles of Riddick

You may recognize him as The First Gentleman from this season of ’24,’ but Mr. Feore’s chiseled jaw line has been elevating the prestige of feature films for over two decades. In the clip above, Colm shows Laura Linney the true definition of “give and take.”

BRUCE MCGILL

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
Collateral
The Insider
Timecop

When Bruce yells, “Wipe that smile off your face!” at Big Tobacco’s litigation team in The Insider my heart skips a bit. It’s like daddy came home after a hard day’s work and caught you rifling through his liquor cabinet. Lord knows that punishment was always steep…

MATT CRAVEN

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
Disturbia
Déjà Vu
A Few Good Men

Regardless of what you think of Disturbia as a movie, you have to admit that the opening sequence is staged surprisingly well. Take the time to watch the clip above and I promise you won’t be disappointed. To avoid spoiling it, Matt Craven takes a (blank) to the (blank) like a real champ.

GEORGE DZUNDZA

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
Instinct
Crimson Tide
Basic Instinct

Maybe George could acquire a higher status as an actor if he changed his last name. It has too many Z’s and D’s in to be a leading man. Until then, he’ll just have to continue being Michael Douglas’ and Denzel Washington’s right-hand man.

DYLAN BAKER

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
Spider-Man 3
Road to Perdition
Requiem For a Dream

Can we please just forget that Dylan played a pedophile in Todd Solondz’s Happiness already?! Geez! He didn’t molest Peter Parker in Spider-Man 2 or 3. Even though he kinda looked like he wanted to… Enjoy the comedic clip above!

BOB GUNTON

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
The Shawshank Redemption
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Demolition Man

I could go on about all the movies that Mr. Gunton has appeared in, but since he played Warden Norton in The Shawshank Redemption it doesn’t really seem necessary. Or am I being too obtuse?

JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
The Break-Up
Best In Show
Fun with Dick and Jane

He’s a Christopher Guest regular, and a damn funny man. No one can quite do ambiguous flamboyance like Mr. Higgins can, especially when it involves singing a classic Yes song in Vince Vaughn’s face in The Break-Up.

LELAND ORSER

You probably remember him best as the victim of the “lust” sin in Se7en. He killed some prostitute with a dildo/knife/belt…

Leland’s spastic and terrifying performance made us all believe his character killed a prostitute with a dildo/knife/belt. Now let’s watch the opening credits of Se7en because they rule.

GARRET DILLAHUNT

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
The Last House on the Left
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
No Country for Old Men

Based on his most recent appearances, it’s apparent that Mr. Dillahunt enjoys wearing a cowboy hat, Last House excluded, of course. His chilling performance as Krug got people to take notice of him, but his role as Tommy Lee Jones’ deputy in No Country is also a real winner.

JEFFREY WRIGHT

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
Casino Royal
W.
Shaft

A classically trained theatre actor, Mr. Wright honed his skills on Broadway before bringing them to the big screen. He puts everything into his performances, and while I’m not certain if he’s Method, he looks so much like Colin Powell it’s a little frightening:

DENIS O’HARE

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
Milk
Charlie Wilson’s War
Michael Clayton

It seems like the world just recently discovered Mr. O’Hare, and it’s putting him in everything. He’s right up there with Bruce McGill on the People-I-Would-Never-Want-To-Get-Scolded-By list. In his tiny part in the beginning of Michael Clayton he shows George Clooney who’s the boss, damnit, and it’s not Tony Danza. It’s Denis O’Hare!

MICHAEL WESTON

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
State of Play
Garden State
Pathology

Okay, maybe you haven’t seen Pathology, but you should because it’s good in a bad way. And Mr. Weston plays a great psychopath in it. He also embodies psychopath-like tendencies rather well in ‘Six Feet Under’ when he kidnaps David and makes him smoke crack. I don’t mean to pigeonhole him, but the man can do crazy.

CHARLES DANCE

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
Last Action Hero
Alien 3
The Golden Child

Charles Dance’s forte is a soul-piercing, icy stare. Also, as we know from Last Action Hero, he has a nifty interchangeable glass eye. That might have just been his character in the movie, but I’d like to pretend he always walks around with a yellow bull’s-eye eyeball.

JAMES REBHORN

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
The Game
My Cousin Vinny
Independence Day

Note: Watch for Dylan Baker all up in this clip

If a scene is in need of some comedic punch, Rebhorn brings the goods. He always stands out with his Ichabod Crane-like stature and strong delivery. He also always seems to be covering something up, whether it’s Area 51, or an elaborate game specifically tailored for each individual who plays it.

TED LEVINE

Movies You’ve Seen Him In:
Silence of the Lambs
The Hills Have Eyes
Joy Ride (voice)

Need I say more than Buffalo Bill? Sure, Mr. Levine has stared in other movies, but no other role compares to the one where he demands that lotion be put on the skin and then be placed directly in the basket. As the voice of deranged trucker Rusty Nail in Joy Ride, he should have told Paul Walker and Steve Zahn the same thing, just to make things interesting.

Any unsung actors YOU think deserve to be on the list?

-- IAN SOBEL

Ian Sobel is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles and hopes to one day write fifteen films, each of which stars one of the above actors. He has been reading The Secret a lot recently in hopes of making that all happen.

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May 4th, 2009 at 11:58 am Dennis O'Hare is the best EVER! I saw him on Broadway in the play "Take Me Out" and he was amazing. I've seen his every film ever sense. Other than that, this list is a little odd--not that most of these guys aren't great actors,; I just feel like some of them are pretty well known already: Dylan Baker, John Michael Higgins, Jeffrey Wright. Some definite obscure ones in there, though! Well done!

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May 4th, 2009 at 01:55 pm Bruce McGill will forever reside in my heart as D-Day from Animal House, my all time favorite movie. His entrance driving up the Delta House steps on his motorcycle is movie magic!

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May 4th, 2009 at 02:27 pm Denis O'Hare rocks! And good call on Animal House!

rosco8 Says:
May 4th, 2009 at 02:55 pm

Great List, Ian.

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May 4th, 2009 at 09:07 pm You might have seen Dzundza in Law and Order as Chris Noth's partner, and seen Orser as the surgeon Dubenko (sp?) in ER.

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May 5th, 2009 at 10:53 am Almost all of these people have been on either 24 or Law and Order

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May 5th, 2009 at 12:46 pm I'm a few days late on this but here's a list of some GREAT Second Bananas! A few of these guys might have you slapping your forehead for forgetting, lol. Gary Cole William Fichtner Danny Huston Luis Guzman William H Macy David Morse Joe Morton Alan Rickman John Spencer That's all I got for now... except to mention that you left a number of great actresses off this list too. Maybe that's in the works for part 2! Great article!

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May 5th, 2009 at 06:19 pm GARRET DILLAHUNT rocked in both of his deadwood roles. he was also Jesus on the book of daniel.

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May 5th, 2009 at 10:39 pm Michael Wincott Giancarlo Esposito Bill Cobbs Ray Wise Glenn Plumber Clifton Powell

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May 6th, 2009 at 01:23 am Don't forget Garret Dillahunt's chilling roles as both the terminator Cromartie and the voice and body of the super AI computer John Henry in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. He's a great actor.

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May 6th, 2009 at 04:06 am Ed Lauter aka Captain Knauer in the original "The Longest Yard" - awesome character actor!

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May 6th, 2009 at 04:17 am James Cromwell...always the judge, senator or Bishop... Green Mile, L.A Confidential, Sum of All Fears and The Queen

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May 6th, 2009 at 05:26 am Here are the names that popped up in my mind: Michael Rooker (really good in Mississippi Burning) Jason Issacs (Black Hawk Down, The Patriot) Cliff Curtis (The Insider, Sunshine,Die Hard 4) Sydney Pollack! (Changing Lanes, Michael Clayton.....How many can recognize him on screen?)

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May 6th, 2009 at 06:33 am Keith David

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May 6th, 2009 at 06:34 am I would have to agree with William Fichtner, David Morse & Joe Morton!

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May 6th, 2009 at 06:43 am Good shout on Ed Lauter, what about.... Tracy Walter JT Walsh Armand Assante Martin Landau Luis Guzman Vondie Curtis Hall Danny Trejo

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May 6th, 2009 at 06:46 am Good list! You should also include Nick Chinlund and Stephen Gevedon.

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May 6th, 2009 at 06:49 am ANYONE and I say ANYONE saying Pathology was a good (in any way 'so bad it's good' or 'great!' way) loses my attention and must have IQ of a rodent. This was the worst movie I've seen this year and maybe in a past few years, and believe me - I've seen almost all Asylum movies, these is so bad it's good material. Pathology is a true violence-porn parody for tweens that don't get laid. Sorry for the rant, nice list btw, but mentioning Pathology made me mad. The guy was great in Garden State btw. Cheers.

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May 6th, 2009 at 07:01 am When it comes to Bruce McGill, I remember him as Jack Dalton on MacGyver. I would also add Patrick Kilpatrick. He has 95 roles between movies and television and definitely fits the bill of ACTORS YOU KNOW FROM SOMEWHERE.

PEARLat32 Says:
May 6th, 2009 at 07:16 am Great list with great comments on other actors. Favorite part: "Now let’s watch the opening credits of Se7en because they rule." Distressed type, awesome editing, and Nine Inch Nails. How about when the end credits go BACKWARDS?

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May 6th, 2009 at 07:54 am Why didn't you add the television roles these people have played? I recognize all but a few from LARGE roles on TV they had. Huh.

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May 6th, 2009 at 08:13 am Great initial list, and great additions, especially Luis Guzman, Giancarlo Esposito (saw him in Taps the other day!) and JT Walsh (RIP). I would add: -- JOSEF SOMMER (Witness, Silkwood, lots of good TV work) -- PHILIP BAKER HALL (great in Midnight Run, and a fave of P.T. Anderson) -- DONALD MOFFAT (always a lawyer, business exec, or politician; hilarious turn as LBJ in The RIght Stuff) -- HARRIS YULIN (Scarface, Clear and Present Danger) -- MIGUEL SANDOVAL (I first saw him on Murder One) -- FRANKIE FAISON (Silence of the Lambs, Thomas Crown Affair)

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May 6th, 2009 at 08:19 am How the hell was BRUCE CAMPBELL missed off this list? He's been in pretty much everything!

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May 6th, 2009 at 08:42 am Kim Coates

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May 6th, 2009 at 08:49 am Greg Jbara

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May 6th, 2009 at 08:55 am Steven Culp, that guys in everything show imaginable, and always at the same time.

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May 6th, 2009 at 09:03 am >Richard Jenkins for god! >The best role from Feore is in Chicago. >Thomas Krestchman >Zeljko Ivanek

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May 6th, 2009 at 09:11 am Jeffrey Wright as Basquiat is unbelievable. I feel like nothing he's done since has allowed him the same opportunity to perform.

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May 6th, 2009 at 09:14 am I also was going to say Richard Jenkins ... but he's a little more recognizable now b/c of the Oscar nom.

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May 6th, 2009 at 09:35 am Bruce McGill was also the local sheriff in My Cousin Vinny.

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May 6th, 2009 at 10:19 am John Carrol Lynch. Zodiac, Drew Carey Show, Waking the Dead...

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May 6th, 2009 at 11:01 am Why is Charles Dance on this list? He's a world famous actor. Everyone knows his name. Its nothing but a bloody kick in the teeth! Why isn't Keith David here in his place?!

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May 6th, 2009 at 11:02 am I agree with Luis Guzman and Cliff Curtis. Zeljko Ivanek also.

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May 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am Who puts Leland Orser on a list like this and doesn't mention "Very Bad Things"?

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May 6th, 2009 at 11:58 am Bruce Greenwood, who just continues to amaze in everything he's in.

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May 6th, 2009 at 12:35 pm Nicky Katt was the BOMB in The Limey!

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May 6th, 2009 at 12:37 pm I didn't see him mentioned yet, but I'd have to add Stephen Tobolowsky as the epitome of "I know that guy."

Col. Hans Longshanks Says:
May 6th, 2009 at 12:55 pm

Stephen Tobolowsky is a great one!

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May 6th, 2009 at 01:24 pm Crispin Glover

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May 6th, 2009 at 01:53 pm How can you mention Ted Levine without mentioning that he's also Stottlemeyer on Monk?

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May 6th, 2009 at 02:14 pm Bruce Greenwood for SURE and I'm happy to see Colm Feore on the list.

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May 6th, 2009 at 02:23 pm Neal McDonough Bruce Greenwood Both popped into my head when I read this.

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May 6th, 2009 at 02:27 pm chiwetel ejiofor

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May 6th, 2009 at 02:29 pm Not sure about James Cromwell, he was in Star Trek: First Contact and Babe...

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May 6th, 2009 at 02:31 pm This list is yet more proof of the ridiculousness of celebrity worship. Fine, fine actors like these are relegated to near the bottom of the pile, while bland piss poor actors like Jennifer "beige wallpaper" Aniston and Tom Cruise, who basically plays the same character in every single movie he's in, are riding on top and probably will be for years. Further proof that we regard style over substance. And since this sis supposed to be a list of actors where you watch them and then go, "I know him from...somewhere...but where?' I don't think Ted Levine should be on this list. Given his role on "Monk" one of the mostw atched tv shows ever, I think he's pretty well known.

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May 6th, 2009 at 02:57 pm Colm Feore has starred in movies - Good Cop, Bon Cop for instance, and he was one of the main actors in The Red Violin. There are tons of others not on the list. Oh and Leland Orser was on ER for a while.

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May 6th, 2009 at 03:11 pm Elias Koteas.

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May 6th, 2009 at 03:49 pm Iam glad somebody said Keith David David Morse and Michael Rooker all great actors in their own right and any one else who was mentioned.

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May 6th, 2009 at 03:56 pm I refer to the character who goes nuts and flails around smashing things as The Leland Orser role. He does it in Alien Resurrection as well as those mentioned already.

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May 6th, 2009 at 05:37 pm Why would anyone want to forget Dylan Baker's role as the pedophile psychiatrist in Happiness? It's one of the funniest movies I have ever seen and he did it brilliantly.