Extra! Extra! [NOT 15/9/23]

It's not the size of the role, it's the character of the actor

15/9/23 blue dogcollar 22
movie actors
Selection from "Motion picture set: actors and actresses; Lillian Gish? 2nd from right / Harris & Ewing, photographer / Between 1915 and 1923 / Source: https://www.loc.gov/item/2016885442

Hey, It’s Her/Him!

Everyone knows the feeling. You’re watching a movie or show, when someone shows up on screen in a non-lead role and you immediately go “Wait, I know them!”

We’re not talking big stars making a cameo — we’re talking about role players, the kind who keep a production together without running the show, and show up over and over again, but despite the different makeup and costumes, you recognize them right away.

Bojack Horseman regularly played with the phenomenom with a running bit with Margo Martindale playing herself, always referred to as “Character Actress Margo Martindale.”

So who are some of your “Hey, isn’t that…” actors and actresses?

James Hong, most recently in Everything Everywhere All At Once has been in a million roles, from Blade Runner to Seinfeld to Wayne’s World 2. Isiah Whitlock Jr. played roles in The Wire, Law and Order, and Veep, to name just a few.

Who else? Joe Pantoliano in Memento! Jennifer Coolidge in Best in Show! Luis Guzman in almost anything!

Share with us, Deadsplinterextras, some of your favorites and the secondary roles that you remember.

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22 Comments

  1. avasarala turns up in a lot of netflix productions

    i still cant remember her name…….

    but she shouldnt complain too much…..i keep spotting ratface in movies too

    and on that note….go watch postal….its the best terrible movie ever

    • Her name is Shohreh Aghdashloo. She was in the movie House of Sand and Fog. That’s where I first saw her. And she was amazing.

      • She was the doc who got porcupined to death in the X-Men 2.5 (We killed the x men) sequel.

        Ratface is a Canadian actor who also played Christopher Titus’ brother in Titus

      • Michael Ironside who usually plays bad guys or authoritarian heavies like Jester from Top Gun or the henchman from Total Recall or Revok from Scanners

  2. Hugo Speer

    A lot of one offs.

    Midsomer Murders, Vera, Silent Witness, Death in Paradise.

  3. For the OT part…I had someone come to my place from Oakville during rush hour (it’s…a trip…to say the least) to buy my old phone for 350$.

    The phone fell out of its box in the driveway and the corner smashed.

    As for, “hey I know who that is” there is a 24/7 on my iptv that plays every tv show one could possibly think of running 24/7 nonstop and I accidentally clicked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I saw someone I thought I recognised…I am pretty sure it was the IT guy/bf of Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds?

  4. Dale Dickey- She’d had a lot of small roles but I think the first time I paid much attention to her was when she was on My Name is Earl. Then I saw her on Breaking Bad and jeebus, what a part! Since then she’s been in so many things and is always good.

      • No, she was in 2 episodes. One where she and her boyfriend robbed Skinny Pete. The other was with the ATM. 🫣

    • She has hair that really reminds me of Melissa Leo, who seems to still be more of a supporting player than a lead despite winning an Oscar once.

      • Yeah, she’s very talented.

  5. Or most of the cast of The Hidden

    Lin Shaye who was Magda from There’s Something About Mary

    Danny Trejo

    Ed O’Ross who looked a bit like former Canadian PM Jean Cretien. Full Metal Jacket, Red Heat

     

  6. Good topic! There is one actor who must have been in thousands of productions but never as the lead. He recently (in the past 5 years) wrote about his craft and bid adieux to his viewers because he was dying. Skinny, dark hair, tan-ish complexion (think Italian), maybe always wears a black turtleneck. I never knew his name but I’m sure you would all recognize him. From the article he wrote, he seemed like a class act. This is gonna bother me for days! Help me find him please.

    • Not Richard Belzer? He often work dark shirts with dark suits, but not turtlenecks.

            • Mystery Solved! It was Taylor Negron! He wrote about being “That guy” for XO Jane and unfortunately that site is defunct and his words are hard (for me) to find.

              “Instead, I am the Alternative Everyman. I have been your postman. I am the man who delivered your pizza. I was the gang member who kidnapped your daughter at gunpoint. I’m a nanny for children. I am a stylist for Stuart Little. I am your shrink. I direct porn films. I am the groom and the maid of honor …

              “I look at my alternative everyman predicament this way. By letting go of what you thought was going to happen in your life, you can enjoy what is actually happening…That is what I do. I’m That Guy.”

              The Internet is not forever. Someone should be responsible for keeping archives.

  7. Richard Romanus in Mean Streets.  I knew so many guys like him growing up.

    • I could swear Scorcese has had a bunch of people who always show up in his movies, like the Coens. But the only one I can think of off of the top of my head is his Mom.

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