Character Actors, Take Four
November 15, 2006 - Television - Movies - Actors
As I've done three times before, I'm once again going to present a short list of character actors I admire - those actors who certainly aren't A-list material, but who you're likely to know as "that guy".
The first is Bob Hoskins. the first thing I remember him from was Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, but he played the role of Smee in the Robin Williams Peter Pan remake Hook, played the wondrous Professor Challenger in a television version of The Lost World, and has had roles in Hollywoodland and Enemy at the Gates. He even had regrettable roles in Spiceworld, Maid in Manhattan, and Son of the Mask. He also had a role in Pink Floyd's The Wall.
Next up is Michael Rooker. Recently, I saw Slither, and while I didn't particularly like the movie, I immediately recognised Michael Rooker from Mallrats. He was also in The Replacement Killers, Tombstone, Cliffhanger, Days of Thunder, and the craptacular Arnold Schwarzenegger movie The 6th Day. I recognise him when his head is shaved, but I'd probably never know him on the street if he had hair.
Another actor I first remember from Mallrats is Ethan Suplee. In that movie, he was the guy who spent all day at the mall staring at the magic eye picture, trying to see the freaking sailboat. It seems that his association with Jason Lee (also in Mallrats) ended up landing him a recurring role in My Name is Earl. Ethan also had roles as one of the crazy hillbillies in Without a Paddle (pictured), Ashton Kutcher's roommate in The Butterfly Effect, and in Cold Mountain. Actually, now that I think of it, I first remember seeing Ethan in Boy Meets World, which FOX 61 in Hartford used to air when I worked there in Master Control.
As always, saving the best for last. Jeffrey Combs. Most recently, I'm loving him as the genius but eccentric character Kevin Burkhoff in The 4400, who actually used to be clinically insane. Not long ago, I saw Fortress, which I hadn't seen in a long time, and I recognised the actor. Another great character of questionable sanity. When I looked him up on IMDB, I found that he also played the wacko FBI agent in the 1996 Michael J. Fox movie The Frighteners. He's had a number of other roles, but none more notable than these.
Mandy Patinkin as Samuel "George" Francisco in Alien Nation changed the way I viewed movies forever. The idea that Inigo Montoya and this somewhat chubby alien were the same guy simply blew my mind.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0302739/usercomments-19
The acting really had nothing to do with my mind being blown; it was all about the vast differences in the characters' appearances.
Also on DS9 was a great character actor by the name of Andrew Robinson. He played Garek on DS9, and has had quite the prolific career.