Character Actors

Hey, it’s that guy? Where have I seen him before? Oh yes, he was what’s-his-name’s father on that show!

It seems character actors are always working. Sometimes they have specialties. John Randolph and Ronny Cox were always the CEO or the scary father-in-law. Clint Howard turns up in every movie directed by his brother, Ron. Clancy Brown scared me to death in The Shawshank Redemption as the evil Byron Hadley and shows up in several character roles. Bob Gunton was the warden in Shawshank, then showed up on Desperate Housewives and Royal Pains. Murray Hamilton was Anne Bancroft’s husband in The Graduate. You’ll know him when you see him.

Age doesn’t matter; being funny-looking doesn’t matter. They just keep on working and take “anonymity” right to the bank.

Jack Gilford, Roscoe Lee Browne and Richard Libertini were hilarious on Soap. Dick O’Neill and Paul Gleason always played detectives. So did Kevin Tighe. He did most of one season as a detective on Murder One. Saul Rubinek was Daphne’s fiance on Frasier. Sam Elliott (much more famous than the rest) has done a million westerns. Ray Wise was the father in Twin Peaks. Michael J. Pollard was in Bonnie and Clyde. Joe Viterelli was in Analyze This — and That. Edward Herrmann played F.D.R. Luis Guzman was in The Count of Monte Cristo. Christopher McDonald was in Harry’s Law. Isn’t this fun?

See them all, and more, at an aptly named page called “That Guy.”