Morris Chestnut has cornered the market on Hollywood rom-coms. Entertainment Actor. Who is cooler thanSHAFT? He is an actor and writer, known for Mad Max (1979), Quigley Down Under (1990) and Bad Behaviour (2010). Bottom Line: Judy Greer Judy Greer has spent her career starring alongside huge Hollywood names, like Jennifer Garner and Katherine Heigl. Bring back Bah-Bah! Note: This article contains major spoilers for the current season of Succession. Both of his parents had immigrated to Israel from India. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Hes played the artist, the politician, the minster, and the devil, and all with masterful skill.Career highlights:The Hunger Games: Mockingly - Parts 1 & 2, Boardwalk Empire, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Only Lovers Left Alive, Robot Chicken, House M.D., Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,Quantum of Solace, W., Casino Royale, Syriana, Broken Flowers, Angels in America,Basquiat. Offbeat character actor Tom Noonan, born in Connecticut on April 12, 1951, started off his career in various theater troupes that utilized his skills as a guitarist and composer. This list contains icons like Harry Belafonte, Ossie Davis, and Sidney Poitier, who heroically raised their voices in the battle for Civil Rights. During that time he began training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). John Fleck is an actor, known for Waterworld (1995), Falling Down (1993) and The Naked Gun 2: The Smell of Fear (1991). Actor | Known in the Industry as the An oddly fascinating bloke with prominent bony cheeks and rawboned figure, Peter William (Pete) Postlethwaite was born on February 16, 1946 and was a distinguished character actor on stage, TV and film. Most recently, he has lent his voice to "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder" and "Rick and Morty.". Find the US States. Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, and George Clooney are just a few examples. Christine is a professional editor and writer with 18 years of experience in trade and consumer journalism. Her most visible role to date was the politically incorrect and crass Beverly in the "Mindy Project," which ended in 2017. Wheres Paula Abdul when you need her? Edward Matthew Lauter II was born on October 30, 1938 in Long Beach, New York. Its all right there on the face. She also played the mother vampire, Esme Cullen, in the "Twilight" franchise, opposite Kristen Stewart. Hahn has acted in some of the most popular comedies of the last two decades, including 2003's "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days," 2004's "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," 2008's "Step Brothers," 2013's "We're the Millers," and 2016's "Bad Moms.". Very talented actor, possibly best known from Rush Hour, Dante's Peak and 24.He plays Francine's adoptive father in American Dad! He was previously married to Denise Farr, Bek Nelson, Nita Talbot and Helen Westcott. ", Grant's career also expands to television, as she has appeared in "Jericho," "Pushing Daisies," and "Mockingbird Lane.". Richard attended the University of Notre Dame, where he became heavily involved with the University Theatre. A military guy? Max Payne's voice. Higgins most recently acted in the Netflix original film "The Curse of Bridge Hollow," and he continues to voice various characters on "Bob's Burgers. He is an actor, known for Die Hard (1988), Licence to Kill (1989) and Street Fighter: The Movie (1995). He is best known for his work on Smallville (2001) as Sheriff Ethan Miller. PEOPLE magazines 2020 Sexiest Man Alive, Michael B. Jordan joins Denzel Washington, Idris Elba, Dwayne The Rock Johnson, and John Legend as one of only five Black men to appear on the magazines coveted list. Tell us what you think about this feature. He has been married to Hilary Blackmore since December 20, 1990. He began his career as an illustrator in the entertainment world, and studied acting at Mike Hagerty was born on May 10, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Played antithesis of those roles as Drew in Deliverance.Recently did a fantastic episode of Dexter, possibly the only great episode of season 6. They deserve to have a spotlight shone on them, and their names placed in lights, so enjoy. He has been married to Nancy Harewood since February 14, 1979. re: Actors/Actresses you recognize, but don't know their names. ), if she's not working or hanging out with her friends and family, including her 8-year-old son, she's probably relaxing with a crisp glass of wine while binging her latest TV series obsession. Mark Andreas Sheppard was born on May 30, 1964 in London, England. He is an actor, known for Minority Report (2002), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) and Secret Santa (2003). This uber-familiar character actor has appeared in highly quotable television and film projects (often alongside Will Ferrell), including both Anchorman and Anchorman 2, Talledega Nights,. A voice recognized by all even though his name isn't. He is an actor, known for Repo Man (1984), Batman (1989) and Conan the Destroyer (1984). My personal favorite is Turkey Shoot.I would not be lying if I said that his most well known role is that of Duane Barry in two The X-Files episodes. And lets not forget that career as Childish Gambino, so add Grammy-winning rapper and singer of the number one single,This is America. He has been married to Kim since May 2, 2002. And while his mug is instantly recognizable to any comedy fan, his name likely isnt. Probably best known for the Irish hitman in Austin Powers.To me he will always be the Frenchman in Millennium. Steve Rankin was born in Eureka, Illinois, USA. let infinite_scroll_layout_settings = JSON.parse('{"layoutSettings":{"autoConsent":0,"introParagraphType":"Social_image","imagePosition":"","notClickableHeader":0,"additionalPost":1,"vidazooPixelStartPage":0},"topAd":{"position":"Before","element":" figure","startsFrom":1},"video":{"provider":"Vidazoo","startsFrom":3},"rightRail":{"type":"Per_item","startsFrom":0,"onceOnHowManyItems":2}}'); 38 votes, 24 comments. After graduation, he spent a year in England at the London Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts on a Fulbright Scholarship Michael Rooker was born on April 6, 1955 in Jasper, Alabama. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. There are plenty of actors who, after Googling to find their names and feasting your eyes on their photos, make you scream, Oh, thatguy. Weve rounded up some of the most irksomely familiar actors, many of whom have appeared on both film and TV (though often in supporting roles) to give you some clarity. The bad news is, there are tons of great character actors vying for those roles. According to Ranker, here are the 20 greatest black actors of all time: 1. Most recently, she's appeared in DC's "Shazam!" He has since appeared in over 30 films as well as ABC's short-lived Gideon's Crossing (2000). Frankie Faison was born on June 10, 1949 in Newport News, Virginia, USA. let infinite_scroll_server_settings = JSON.parse('{"max_screen_index":98,"site_initial":"nj","total_media_id":"","is_active_mode":"GeneralMode","campaign_hash":"7caa701b2bd5a182b80c72b9bdf88e2d","article_url":"\/entertainment\/unknown-actors-yh\/","country_code":"US","cloudfront_country_code":"US","first_article_max_page_num":46,"additional_post_url":"https:\/\/ninjajournalist.com\/world\/weather-girls-yh\/"}'); ", After "Friends," Ribisi appeared in blockbusters like 2009's "Avatar," 2012's "Ted," and 2014's "Selma.". Brilliant in Platoon and The Thing. Meagan Good was a child star in the late '90s, appearing in shows like "Touched by an Angel" in 1997, "The Parent 'Hood" in 1998, "Moesha" in 2000, and "The Steve Harvey Show" in 2000. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Grant received critical acclaim for his role as Jack Hock in Marielle Heller's drama film Can You Ever Forgive Me? He is married to Gabrielle Rose. William Fichtner is most recognizable for his roles as Sheriff Tom Underlay on ABC's "Invasion" in 2005 and as Alexander Mahone on Fox's "Prison Break" from 2006 to 2009. var device = 'desktop'; Though he earned a Best Actor Academy Award nomination forHustle and Flow,Howard hasnt gained full movie star status. He was an actor, known for Dumb and Dumber (1994), Dances with Wolves (1990) and Titan A.E. Forrest had long wanted to be an actor, but he was so nervous that he ran out of auditions for school plays. His deadpan is so deadpan, youll get the joke long after the show has ended. Fifi in Mad Max He brings an understated quality to his characters with often hilarious results. she now writes about everything from tech to entertainment, business and lifestyle, and more. One of the few performers to successfully transition from the stage to screen, Hines beautifully merged dance and acting in the filmsThe Cotton ClubandWhite Nights. It also praises the new superstars like Idris Elba, Donald Glover, and Michael B. Jordan, who are redefining the image of the Hollywood leading man. 3. He was previously married to Mary Kathryn. He stayed at Brown and took up acting classes, and realized it was his true calling. Keith David. However, most recognize O'Hare from his work on FX's "American Horror Story," in which he has played multiple parts. Six years later, he became the first to win the Oscar forLillies of the Field. Michael Hitchcock was born in Defiance, Ohio and later raised in Western Springs, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Since then, Roundtree has become on constant presence in films and on television. After you've searched (no matter how vague) and you're on a studio, film, or actor's page, it's all about narrowing it down. Need we say more? You need a tough guy? Dorian Harewood was born on August 6, 1950 in Dayton, Ohio, USA. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. Ray Baker was born in Omaha, grew up in Colorado, and graduated from the University of Denver. He has appeared in "Dear White People" for 23 episodes, "Once Upon a Time" for 14 episodes, and "The Get Down" for 10 episodes. He caught the acting bug while attending college, and began appearing in local stage productions. He attributes many of his offbeat characters on his midwestern upbringing. A Masters degree holder from Smith College and a former acting teacher at the University of Massachusetts, the hefty actor earned his big break in an understudy role in the world premiere of Arthur Miller Keith Szarabajka was born on December 2, 1952 in Oak Park, Illinois, USA. He was noticed by casting agents and started to appear in Australian TV commercials, print ads, local Stuart Wilson was born in Guildford, Surrey in England, on December 25th, 1946. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. Her latest roles include Ranger Liz in "Cocaine Bear," Elizabeth in the Showtime series "Your Honor," and Mo in Netflix's "The Watcher.". May 7, 2015 - "It's got what's his name he always plays the bad guy, you know?" How many times when describing a movie you just saw have you realized that you have no recollection of an actor's name? By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our He starred in Bryan Cranston's "Sneaky Pete" as Marius from 2015 to 2019 and reprised his role as Parker Selfridge in "Avatar: The Way of Water" in 2022. He has also appeared in commercials for DirecTV and Old Navy. {PPInfiniteScroll.addLazyLoadingAds()}; NinjaJournalist is the place for up-to-date pop-culture news. He was an actor and writer, known for The Towering Inferno (1974), Papillon (1973) and The Exorcist III (1990). Lets be clearPaul Robeson is the blueprint. He attended public school in Scottsville. J.T. After graduating, Actor | 30 Actors You Recognize But Probably Can't Name By JJ Foster - September 19, 2019 Jenna Elfman Without a doubt, Jenna Elfman will be best remembered for her role as Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery in the hit sitcom Dharma & Gregg. The stage and screens talented superstar was also a recording artist and one of the first Black stars to turn fame into social activism. Face it. He is an actor and director, known for Gosford Park (2001), A Mighty Wind (2003) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). James McCaffrey was born in 1959 in Albany, New York, USA. skit just before the Emmy Awards where he was handed the illustrious award for The Guy From That Show. (Note: all three runner-ups are also on this list!). I have only seen three Roger Ward films, thus I list three characters. Hollywood studios all promote the Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. When Brian was a year old, the family immigrated Don Gordon was born on November 13, 1926 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Cole also has a lengthy list of television credits, which include "Arrested Development," "Desperate Housewives," "Entourage," "Archer," "The Good Wife," "The Good Fight," "Bob's Burgers," "Suits," and "Family Guy. 9 Actors We All Recognize But Can't Name | Actors, Movie stars, Black actors Article from 9 Actors We All Recognize But Can't Name "It's got what's his name he always plays the bad guy, you know?" How many times when describing a movie you just saw have you realized that you have no recollection of an actor's name? Since his debut in the 1976 filmLeadbelly, Ernie Hudson has appeared in over one hundred television shows and almost one hundred films. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Army in 1954. They're those guys who you totally recognize from that thing and maybe that other thing? Ealy has also taken roles in several TV shows, including "Being Mary Jane," "The Following," "Californication," and "The Good Wife. ", Most will remember Giovanni Ribisi from "Friends," when he played Phoebe's simple-minded brother. Mostly, these days, I don't recognize anyone. ", Most recently, he played Leo Nicoletti in "The Company You Keep.". Clea DuVall has been in major projects since the '90s, but you might not recognize her name. He studied acting at NYU's Theatre Program. Age: 73. Privacy Policy. She took bit roles in 2004's cult classic "Saved!" He was previously married to Jennifer Jay Stewart. ", Jones also appeared in several TV shows, which include "Agent Carter" and "Doctor Who." He graduated from Dennis Boutsikaris is an American character actor who has won the Obie Award twice. Hes played them all.Career highlights:Bosch, Transformers: Age of Extinction, The Good Wife, Argo, The Mentalist, The Town, Gone Baby Gone, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Promised Land, Sons of Anarchy, Lost,Deadwood. Wonderful actor and star of several 80s movies. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. In a film career that extended for over four decades, Lauter starred in a plethora of film and television productions since making his big screen debut in the western Dirty Little Billy (1972). Balaban gets called upon so often, he has rarely stopped working since his start in the 1960s. While there, he was frequently performing on stage with the Carolina Playmakers. Confidential (1997). Their faces you recognize, but they are not quite household names yet. Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With, The Most Popular TikTok Boys And Male Influencers Of 2023, Character Actors You See All Over But Probably Can't Name, The Hunger Games: Mockingly - Parts 1 & 2, Wrights talent is unmatched and largely unsung. 2007's "Hostel: Part II," 2011's "Mangus!" Robert Ito was born on July 2, 1931 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer and served as an OCS Tactical Officer at Fort Benning, before undergoing Vietnamese language training and jump school Connecticut-born actor Bill Smitrovich (on May 16, 1947) started his acting career rather late. Posted: 10/21/09 at 9:25pm. He was an actor, known for Breakdown (1997), Sling Blade (1996) and A Few Good Men (1992). He is an actor and writer, known for The Green Mile (1999), Wind River (2017) and Dances with Wolves (1990). Historically, the Black actor has dared to challenge the stereotypes of what it means to be a Black man in a White world. The good news is that with the advent of streaming channels and a sprawl of cable slots, there are lots of roles for male characters out there. After the RAF, his father worked as an engineer in the copper mines in Rhodesia. Taye Diggs has made quite a name for himself on Broadway and in Hollywood. He started his acting career in 1987. He first became interested in acting after serving three years in the US Air Force and Roger Ward was born in 1936. He is an actor and writer, known for Nightmare Alley (2021), BASEketball (1998) and Galaxy Quest (1999). Some may also recognize his voice from roles in American Dad! He won Best Audiobook of the Year from Amazon for his reading of American Gods.Boutsikaris was born in Newark, A tall, wavy-haired US actor with a deep, resonant voice, Clancy Brown has proven himself a versatile performer with first-class contributions to theatre, feature films, television series and even animation.Clarence J. Character actors (you may recognize The face but cant remember the name) Female Actresses Celebrities Female Celebs Merle Oberon Sean Penn Catherine Deneuve Susan Oliver Old Hollywood Actresses Old Hollywood Movies Old Hollywood Stars Golden Age Of Hollywood Hollywood Glamour Miriam Hopkins Blonde Moments Miriam Hopkins Westworld 1973 Canoga Park And he still has time to make those annoying Capital One commercials. Digital Trends has a handy guide to the best MCU shows on Disney+. Ritter in Turkey Shoot He is an actor, known for Reindeer Games (2000), The Core (2003) and Human Cargo (2004). Black Actors Whose Face You Know But Whose Name you May Not-Bebe Drake#BebeDrake #MartinTvShow #BlackActors Stephen E. Miller is a Canadian and American screenwriter, novelist, and actor based in Vancouver, B.C. Nah, probably Rescue Me, right? Who are the best character actors?Actors dont get into the business thinking they'll be a character actor, they simply want to act. In 1970 he moved to the East Coast, and began his acting career doing improvisational theater in Boston and New York. TWENTY ICONIC ACTORS is a group of men whose work redefines the world of entertainment. I couldnt be more thrilledto contribute these lists of my favorite things to a magazine as historic as ESSENCE. Who else could have so elegantly portrayed Jackie Robinson in42, James Brown inGet on Up, and TChalla inBlack Panther. This uber-familiar character actor has appeared in highly quotable television and film projects (often alongside Will Ferrell), including bothAnchorman and Anchorman 2, Talledega Nights, Semi-Pro, and The Office. Kind is a hilarious comedic actor worthy of recognition for his work and hes still as funny today as he was in his heyday in the 90. A fixer? What is a character actor? Gregory Hines, one of the greatest tap dancers ever, is an Emmy and Tony-winning Broadway legend. After that, Jones appeared as a supporting actor in several movies, including 2008's "Frost/Nixon," 2011's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," 2012's "The Hunger Games," and 2018's "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Born in New York, Larry Hankin took an industrial design degree from the University of Syracuse; multifaceted artist, in addition to being an actor, he is also a screenwriter, producer, director and singer. Actors dont get into the business thinking they'll be a character actor, they simply want to act. Catch Mitch in the upcoming flick White Noise (2005) starring Michael Keaton. Often seen as the humorous sidekick, most people likely know Koechner best as Champ from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (whammy!). Her biggest role came in 2004 when she played Parker Lee in "Veronica Mars," a role she reprised in the show's 2019 reboot. ", Denis O'Hare's acting career spans nearly three decades, and he's racked up dozens of film and TV credits in this time. While there, he earned his degree in Philosophy and as a senior, was cast in the stage production of "Picnic," where he played a football player. Select the newsletters you'd like to receive: By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our. Countries of the World. The versatile actor has turned in Oscar-nominated performances inAliandThe Pursuit of Happyness and helmed blockbusters likeIndependence DayandSuicide Squad. My guess is quite often. Superstars: Twenty Iconic Black Actors That Everyone Should Know TWENTY, THE REMIXa collection of digital exhibits celebrating excellence in the worlds of acting, art, and fashionturns to our. 5 TV shows like Sweet Tooth you should watch, Succession season 4, episode 6 release date, time, channel, and plot. He was born in NYC; his parents later moved to Mahopac, NY, where he graduated from Mahopac High School. They have two children. While she started her career writing exclusively about tech (before the iPod even existed!) Toby Jones. Returning Mitch was born and raised in British Columbia. This prolific actors time on both Lost and Fringe even overlapped. His major breakthrough (providing him legendary status) was the starring role as astronaut Dave Bowman in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: Roy Dupuis was born on April 21, 1963, in New Liskeard, Ontario. But you can't quite place and certainly can't remember their names. He was previously married to Jane Mandel. His best known roles were that of math teacher and assistant football coach Herman Stiles in the sitcom "Evening Shade" (1990-1994) and "Mr. Noodle's brother, Mister Noodle" in "Sesame Street", a role he played from 2000 to 2003. They have three children. ", Clea DuVall's big break came in 1998 when she was cast in "The Faculty" opposite Elijah Wood and Josh Hartnett. In 2006, he acted in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and in "Pineapple Express" in 2008. He is married to Lisa Houle. Canadian-born actor Kevin McNulty, can be described as being a prolific performer of film and television. They show up in all your favorite movies but still you just can never place them. His deadpan is so deadpan, youll get the joke long after the show has ended. Even without name recognition, Welliver has had an impressive career, coming a long way from his first film role in 1990sNavy SEALs, when he was credited only as Redneck in Bar.. In 1958, Sidney Poitier became the first African-American actor to receive the Best Actor Academy Award nomination forThe Defiant Ones. Hes played them all. He is best known for playing the role of Frank Tripp in the television series CSI: Miami. And last but not least, the Cat Pie Cook in Young Einstein. And although many of her characters (especially Lucy in. Continuing with a theme I love, exalting Black greatness while telling our stories, these galleries showcase those who pave the way for the next generations. Robeson was an All-American football player in college recruited to the NFL, who still graduated from law school. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Like some of the other women on this list, Mary Woronov is not as known because she is not only an actress. For more information, please see our Wrights IMDB bio even refers to him as one of the most underrated and underexposed actors of his caliber and generation. Even if he wrote that line himself, anyone who has seen his work including his chilling turn as Bernard inWestworld would have to agree. His roles included that of Sgt. Good also appeared in a number of movies like "Stomp the Yard" in 2007, "One Missed Call" in 2008, "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" in 2013, and "Think Like a Man Too" in 2014. He brings an understated quality to his characters with often hilarious results. He also had some starring roles, most notably the horror cult classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). In the late 1960s, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, he starred in three iconic films, which each dealt with race relations:Guess Whos Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, andTo Sir, with Love. For those who do know Giancarlo Esposito, you probably recognize him from "Breaking Bad" and its spin-off show, "Better Call Saul," in which Esposito plays Gus Fring, a restaurant owner who secretly sells drugs. He shares two Screen Actors Guild Awards with the Ensemble of Mad Men for his role as 'Grandpa Gene', Betty Draper's father. And while this list features only male actors, keep an eye out for our all-ladies list in the near future. An Old West no count varmint? An admitted TV junkie (feel free to reach out for recommendations on what to watch! Beth Grant's list of credits is lengthy. in English from the New School for Social Research in NYC. Belafonte is the first solo artist in history to have a million-selling album. Stephen Tobolowsky | The Goldbergs (2013), Titus Welliver | 'Agents of Shield' (2014), doctors lab coat or school principal sweater vest. For the next three years, he lived in Kapuskasing, Ontario, where he learned to Chris Ellis was born on April 14, 1956 in Dallas, Texas, USA.
