Actors

[housemouse]

I've been thinking about this for a while, and since the board has been rather slow during this Easter week, I figured now was as good a time as any to post.

I was thinking about the type of actor Ron Eldard is. He is a "working actor". He works steadily; he takes the parts that he wants to take, that he believes in. He doesn't seem to be out for the big paycheck or to become the next Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise. He just practices his craft, does it well, and keeps moving along. Might he even be called a "character actor"? I would say yes, but they are usually not cast as the leading man, and RE has been cast that way several times. His resume is also quite varied, he has done everything from TV, to straight to video movies, to Broadway.

So I was trying to think of some other actors who fall into this category. What is your take? Can you think of anyone?

[maggiethecat]

Great question, O Mighty Housemouse. Hmm . . . working actors who go for the part instead of the glory, and, because of their choices, create a truly memorable body of work. Off the top of my head:

1. Chris Cooper
2. David Strathairn
3. Brian Dennehy
4. Jeremy Irons
5. Dougray Scott -- until he took Heist and The Ten Commandments ABC miniseries, that is -- and thanks to doobrah for turning me onto him

Were it not for the fact that he always plays leads, I'd also put Al Pacino in this category. Has anyone ever gotten the sense that he took a role for the money? Me neither.

[hoosier]

Ones I would have to include would be--

Sam Elliott
Tom Berenger
Jeff Daniels
William Fitchner
Bill Paxton

[housemouse]

Maybe David Morse, Anthony LaPaglia

I don't think Pacino takes roles for the money, but I do think he wants to be a superstar. I feel the same about Robert DeNiro.

I was thinking maybe Gary Sinise, but honestly, I don't think he is that great an actor. Same goes for Matthew Modine.

[anna]

Ed Harris

[inuvik]

Gary Oldman, definitely.

I never even recognize him in films--he's so good he doesn't even stand out!

I'd like to say Eric Stoltz, but don't think I can in this case, unfortunately. But like I was PM'ing someone--he is like Ron Eldard in that they both do a variety of media (plays, TV, movies), and both should be more popular than they are.

Every year ES does at least one play with LA Theatreworks--boy, would I love to see one!

[housemouse]

inuvik said:

Gary Oldman, definitely.

I totally agree with Gary Oldman!

inuvik said:

I'd like to say Eric Stoltz, but don't think I can in this case, unfortunately. But like I was PM'ing someone--he is like Ron Eldard in that they both do a variety of media (plays, TV, movies), and both should be more popular than they are.

Every year ES does at least one play with LA Theatreworks--boy, would I love to see one!

I was thinking Eric Stoltz. Why do you think he doesn't belong in this category?

[housemouse]

maggiethecat said:

1. Chris Cooper
2. David Strathairn
3. Brian Dennehy
4. Jeremy Irons
5. Dougray Scott -- until he took Heist and The Ten Commandments ABC miniseries, that is -- and thanks to doobrah for turning me onto him

I'm right there with you with Cooper and Strathairn, but Jeremy Irons? I don't think he takes a role unless it is a leading role does he? MEOW!

Also, ever since I found out he lied about serving in Viet-Nam, I can't stomach Brian Dennehy.

[maggiethecat]

housemouse said:

I'm right there with you with Cooper and Strathairn, but Jeremy Irons? I don't think he takes a role unless it is a leading role does he? MEOW! Also, ever since I found out he lied about serving in Viet-Nam, I can't stomach Brian Dennehy.

I forgot about Brian Dennehy being a big fat liar, so scratch him. Jeremy Irons has been taking on more character work lately, but probably not enough to qualify, so "back to the old drawing board."

[dogma]

1>> tom selleck
2>> ron eldard
3>> tom selleck
4 >> ron eldard ;D
5>> tom eldard

i'll have to put on my thinking cap to come up with more,,

[inuvik]

housemouse said:

inuvik said:

I'd like to say Eric Stoltz, but don't think I can in this case, unfortunately. But like I was PM'ing someone--he is like Ron Eldard in that they both do a variety of media (plays, TV, movies), and both should be more popular than they are.
quote]I was thinking Eric Stoltz. Why do you think he doesn't belong in this category?

I'm glad you think so Mouse. As much as I like him, I am sometimes not sure if he is a really good actor though. I like his looks, his soft voice, his body language, his mannerisms, etc.--but I just don't know if he is a GREAT actor. Sometimes he doesn't seem to emote well, his voice often sounds the same. Plus, he did essentially get fired from Back to the Future. I'm just not sure if he can really stretch as an actor, much as I like him and much as it pains me to say it.

I'm glad that you think he does, maybe it's just me being hypercritical.

[housemouse]

inuvik said:

housemouse said:

inuvik said:

I'd like to say Eric Stoltz, but don't think I can in this case, unfortunately. But like I was PM'ing someone--he is like Ron Eldard in that they both do a variety of media (plays, TV, movies), and both should be more popular than they are.
quote]I was thinking Eric Stoltz. Why do you think he doesn't belong in this category?

I'm glad you think so Mouse. As much as I like him, I am sometimes not sure if he is a really good actor though. I like his looks, his soft voice, his body language, his mannerisms, etc.--but I just don't know if he is a GREAT actor. Sometimes he doesn't seem to emote well, his voice often sounds the same. Plus, he did essentially get fired from Back to the Future. I'm just not sure if he can really stretch as an actor, much as I like him and much as it pains me to say it.

I'm glad that you think he does, maybe it's just me being hypercritical.

Ya, you are probably right. His performance that sticks with me most is The Waterdance, nothing else really jumps out at me. Do you know why he was fired from Back to the Future?

[housemouse]

I just thought of a couple more:

William Forsythe
Paul Rudd
David Duchovny

[awlrite4now]

William H. Macy
Forrest Whittaker
Sam Elliot
John Malkovich
Tom Selleck

[inuvik]

housemouse said:

inuvik said:

housemouse said:

I'm glad you think so Mouse. As much as I like him, I am sometimes not sure if he is a really good actor though. I like his looks, his soft voice, his body language, his mannerisms, etc.--but I just don't know if he is a GREAT actor. Sometimes he doesn't seem to emote well, his voice often sounds the same. Plus, he did essentially get fired from Back to the Future. I'm just not sure if he can really stretch as an actor, much as I like him and much as it pains me to say it.

I'm glad that you think he does, maybe it's just me being hypercritical.

Ya, you are probably right. His performance that sticks with me most is The Waterdance, nothing else really jumps out at me. Do you know why he was fired from Back to the Future?

Apparently they said he wasn't lighthearted enough, that he didn't seem like a teenager (of course he wasn't, but neither was Michael J. Fox in real life).

This says to me that he isn't great at comedy, and offhand I can't think of any comedies he has starred in. To be a great actor, you have to be good at any role--in short, to act.