Discuss: For Love of Unknown Actors
I often come across news that makes me jump with excitement, and just as I go to whip up a post about it, I reconsider. Will anyone else feel the same joy upon reading that Joe Morton has been cast in a small prison indie? To many, he's nothing more than Miles Dyson from Terminator 2. Will anyone care about that cool, but unknown new actor that popped up on a few shows here or there? Or, does anyone else believe that Danny Huston in Clash of the Titans is much more alluring than Fiennes, Worthington, Neeson, and the rest?Before I started writing about movies, my friends would dub me the expert because I would always pick out some face on the screen and do a little happy dance while the rest of the theater only oggled over the stars. But it wasn't so much knowing everyone and everything, but being drawn to the secondary actors, and remembering them from all of their other parts. While many seem to have bit-part blindness, these actors' faces would always stick in my mind.
I cheer the arrival of Nicky Katt in all of his blockbuster bit parts -- Sin City, Grindhouse, The Dark Knight, whilst wondering why he can't get better work (he's been on the scene since '77 for cripes sakes!). Lauren Ambrose was always recognizable, even before Six Feet Under, for her stints in Can't Hardly Wait and the insanity that is Psycho Beach Party.
Part of it is being ahead of the rush -- waiting patiently for that mainstream gig that will zip talents into superstardom. But for some it's the eternal wait -- seeing talent year after year, part after part, and knowing that the world-at-large will never swoon for them. Which actors and actresses, invisible to most of the world, do you love?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
7-31-2009 @ 12:43PM
Justin said...
off the top of my head, always smile when I see:
Ted Levine, John Ortiz, Mark Boone Junior, and many more.
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7-31-2009 @ 12:54PM
Stan Winsome said...
The preferred term is character actor- unknown is a little cruel and often inaccurate.
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7-31-2009 @ 2:42PM
Hoosh said...
Preferred term is character actor? No it most certainly is not. Character actors are actors that belong to a specific style of acting. Monika is talking about actors she really enjoys that just never seem to burst out onto the mainstream. Even though many are in mainstream movies, they just seem to go unnoticed. Calling them unknown is not cruel or inaccurate, since shes clearly stating it's a shame they aren't able to garner the attention they deserve.
7-31-2009 @ 2:56PM
ML said...
Character actor, right. Jeffrey Combs, Michael Emerson, James Marsters, etc. Some go on to bigger roles - thinking of Daniel Dae Kim, who I spotted in a small role on Angel & saw go on to a large one on Lost (sorry, not much in the way of films for him) - some not so much. I really thought Marsters would get more attention, but perhaps the Hollywood PTB couldn't see past the shirtless scenes (thanks a lot, Marti Noxon). Some surprise you (Emerson (Saw) having his part on Lost develop into a major role). A lot of supporting roles tend to be more interesting, so I tend to develop a fondness for character actors. I wonder if Jackie Earl Haley counts? He's pretty well-known, but it didn't take much to get me interested in seeing more of his work.
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8-28-2009 @ 1:30AM
Holly said...
Your totally right about James Marsters, its not like we loved that character only for the fake Brittish accent and the frequent shirtlessness, he's an amazing actor and I hope we do see him in more
7-31-2009 @ 3:21PM
Rebekah said...
Hands down--Mark Strong. Such an amazing actor and it flummoxes me that more people don't know who he is. But hopefully his role in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes will change that.
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8-03-2009 @ 6:31PM
RTM said...
I agree! Mark Strong was fabulous in Rocknrolla and Body of Lies. He ought to get leading-man roles by now! Danny Houston is another good one I've been keeping an eye on. The Brits are often the best but often underrated actors, IMO.
7-31-2009 @ 4:24PM
Eric said...
I’m totally into recognizing actors who play one-off or background characters.
These are just a few that pop into my mind:
Jessica Steen (Flashpoint, NCIS)
Liz Vassey (CSI, The Tick)
Victoria Pratt (Cold Case, CSI, Life, Moonlight)
Wendy Crewson (The Santa Clause movies, 24, Flashpoint)
Scottie Thompson (NCIS, Eli Stone, Brotherhood)
Constance Zimmer (Entourage, Boston Legal, Joan of Arcadia)
Susanna Thompson (Kings, NCIS, Once and Again)
Hedy Burress (Southland, ER, Saving Grace, Eli Stone, House, Cold Case)
Reply
7-31-2009 @ 5:31PM
Monika said...
I wish Vassey got more than one season as Captain Liberty!
But great call on Hedy Burress!
7-31-2009 @ 8:07PM
Gil Christner said...
I really love Gil Christner's work.
Reply
8-01-2009 @ 11:31AM
E-Rock said...
Besides Nicky Katt, I would have to say Kevin Corrigan. This dude pops up in serious films like in "American Gangster" and "The Departed" and can also play into comedy roles like in "Superbad" & "Pineapple Express". He was awesome as Uncle Eddie on "Grounded for Life" too.
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8-04-2009 @ 5:32PM
Adam said...
The best Kevin Corrigan scene by far is in "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist." He's in one scene and has no dialogue, and I laughed through the whole thing.
8-05-2009 @ 6:07PM
E-Rock said...
that's right, he played the dude at the Port Authority. That goes to show you how he can have a wordless cameo and still be brilliant.
8-02-2009 @ 8:07PM
Andrew said...
Celia Weston, hands down.
Oh and Margo Martindale.
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8-02-2009 @ 7:28AM
Rhys said...
Would Ed Harris be one? I quite enjoy him.
i could ask any of my mates who he is and they'd say no idea.
Im in Australia btw. I also like spotting random actors from Heroes that pop up on past or present films i watch.
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8-02-2009 @ 2:58PM
JackPrague said...
What can I say, I only clicked on this article because I saw Joe Morton's face...
Reply
8-03-2009 @ 11:35AM
Rocky Horror said...
Don't think I would call Joe Morton an unknown. He's been around for a couple of decades, and I think most would know his face at the very least. Unknown to whom, exactly?
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8-04-2009 @ 5:49AM
R.J. Laaksonen said...
Funny that somebody thinks Joe Morton is an unknown actor. Check IMDb for his many well-known films and read his message board comments: everybody seems to know and like him. For a truly unknown actor, try Clem Harvey, excellent as one of the original Ocean's Eleven. No information exists on him, just a list of six films. I'd like to know more about his career, and some biographical facts, like when he was born, and is he still living.
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8-04-2009 @ 6:36AM
SirJacobDeFox said...
Sally Hawkins was one for me, until Happy-Go-Lucky came out.
In fact, many Mike Leigh actors are in the same boat: Phil Davis, Shirley Henderson, Eddie Marsan, Adrian Scarborough, Lesley Sharp.
And I certainly wouldn't consider Ed Harris one.
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8-04-2009 @ 5:38PM
apathygrrl said...
Leland Orser is one of my favourites.
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