Post by mysterydriver on Oct 8, 2010 13:52:52 GMT -5
They aren't A-List. They aren't main players. But they keep showing up because, darn it, it's what they do (and they're darn good at it).
They're character actors. Bouncing from show to show, role to role, part to part.
If they are recognized, it's usually as "That guy." But let's take it a step further and discuss them...using actual names.
Here's a few of my favorite:
Don Perry -- usually plays the "old man" role for various TV shows and movies.
You may know him as:
Mr. Bober on Scrubs (AKA "Pickles!" Patient)
Mr. Mertes on Weeds
Judge Miller on My Name is Earl
Dr. Sam Breedlove on ER
M. Emmet Walsh -- usually played cops, doctors, and judges. Now plays older actor roles. Mostly a movie guy.
You may know him as:
George Henderson Sr. from Harry and the Hendersons
Bryant from Blade Runner
Walt Sheel from Christmas with the Kranks
Madman Who "Hates Cans" from The Jerk
Note: The Stanton-Walsh Rule (invented by Roger Ebert) states that, "no movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad." Ebert later conceded that this rule was broken by 1999's Wild Wild West.
Vincent Schiavelli -- usually played "man with sad eyes." Passed away in 2005.
You may know him as:
Subway Ghost from Ghost
Mr. Vargas from Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Dr. Kaufman from Tomorrow Never Dies
Buggy Ding Dong from Death to Smoochy
And the last one I'll mention in this post:
Fred Ward -- usually comedies, cop roles, or business man roles.
You may know him as:
Earl Bassett from Tremors
Remo Williams from Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
Rocco Dillion from Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult
Joe Dirt's Father from...Joe Dirt
I could go on and on...but I won't. Ward is one of my personal favorites. A guy who could easily bounce into a starring or supporting role.
Oh, and if they do a remake of the Munsters, I say that M. Emmit Walsh be Grandpa.
Edit: Okay, I lied. Let me bring up a few character actors who have broke free from "That Guy" role:
Danny Trejo
Clint Howard
Sam Elliott
...And now I'm done with this post.
They're character actors. Bouncing from show to show, role to role, part to part.
If they are recognized, it's usually as "That guy." But let's take it a step further and discuss them...using actual names.
Here's a few of my favorite:
Don Perry -- usually plays the "old man" role for various TV shows and movies.
You may know him as:
Mr. Bober on Scrubs (AKA "Pickles!" Patient)
Mr. Mertes on Weeds
Judge Miller on My Name is Earl
Dr. Sam Breedlove on ER
M. Emmet Walsh -- usually played cops, doctors, and judges. Now plays older actor roles. Mostly a movie guy.
You may know him as:
George Henderson Sr. from Harry and the Hendersons
Bryant from Blade Runner
Walt Sheel from Christmas with the Kranks
Madman Who "Hates Cans" from The Jerk
Note: The Stanton-Walsh Rule (invented by Roger Ebert) states that, "no movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad." Ebert later conceded that this rule was broken by 1999's Wild Wild West.
Vincent Schiavelli -- usually played "man with sad eyes." Passed away in 2005.
You may know him as:
Subway Ghost from Ghost
Mr. Vargas from Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Dr. Kaufman from Tomorrow Never Dies
Buggy Ding Dong from Death to Smoochy
And the last one I'll mention in this post:
Fred Ward -- usually comedies, cop roles, or business man roles.
You may know him as:
Earl Bassett from Tremors
Remo Williams from Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
Rocco Dillion from Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult
Joe Dirt's Father from...Joe Dirt
I could go on and on...but I won't. Ward is one of my personal favorites. A guy who could easily bounce into a starring or supporting role.
Oh, and if they do a remake of the Munsters, I say that M. Emmit Walsh be Grandpa.
Edit: Okay, I lied. Let me bring up a few character actors who have broke free from "That Guy" role:
Danny Trejo
Clint Howard
Sam Elliott
...And now I'm done with this post.