GregHowley.com

I've written a couple times before about lesser-known actors I appreciated. Basically, I like to cover people whose faces you'd recognise, but whom you couldn't necessarily place. I've only got three today, but I think they're pretty good ones.

First off, Robert Davi. You might know him as one of the Fratelli Brothers in The Goonies or as Agent Johnson from Die Hard. Those were the two roles that came to my mind first. But he's had roles that go back as far as the old Lou Ferrigno Incredible Hulk and the original Charlie's Angels, and as recent as Stargate Atlantis. He's had tons of television appearances, having had appearances on tons of popular shows through the years: Dynasty, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, T.J. Hooker, Hart to Hart, The Fall Guy, The A-Team, and L.A. Law. He's also done voice acting for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Halo 2.

Kevin McCarthy is an actor who's been around for quite a while. He was the lead in the 1956 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and has appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows since. Ironic that the first thing I remember seeing him in was UHF. He's a face that I always recognise, but scanning through his filmography, I can't say that I really know many of the films he's been in.

Lastly, James Hong. I first thought to include Mr. Hong when I saw his brief appearance in the opening of The Shadow last week on TV. When I think of him, I think of Big Trouble in Little China, but he's been in about three hundred different movies. That's pretty frelling amazing. He's 77 years old, and apparently has no desire to retire. He was in episodes of Rin Tin Tin, Bonanza, and the original Zorro. More recently, I Spy, Hawaii-Five-O, and All In The Family. This guy is definately a character actor - he never gets leads, but his face is everywhere. Lesser known roles that I personally appreciate include his appearances in Earth 2, Ninja III: The Domination, and Martial Law. All great shows. Viva La James Hong.