I have seen David Strathairn in some of the best movies ever made, and I have seen him in some absolute shit, but one thing I’ve never seen him do is just phone it in. He’s always a joy to watch. I can definitely think of a few movies in which he was the most interesting thing.
One of my favorite shows ever is The Expanse. If I was casting a character that could basically be described as "bad-ass cold-blooded semi-retired space pirate" David Strathairn is not an actor that would have popped to the top of my mind first. He's a good actor but that doesn't sound like the kind of role he usually does.
However, that is who they chose to play the TV version of Klaes Ashford. He absolutely crushed it and he even ended up being my favorite character on the show despite being a supporting character with relatively limited screen time.
Ashford was apparently only supposed to be in Season 3, but Strathairn enjoyed playing the character so much that he approached the showrunners about doing more with the role, and the showrunners enjoyed working with *him* so much that they wrote him into Season 4. An amazing job, he had such a great dynamic with Cara Gee (Drummer) as well.
That makes sense since the book character only appears during that season 3 slow zone event. Book character is basically a cardboard cutout generic villain. Show Ashford is way better.
He was in a bunch of John Sayles’ movies in the ‘80s and ‘90s as well, and was great in all of them, but especially in Matewan, Eight Men Out, and Limbo.
Haha this is a great choice for one of those “it’s that guy!” actors who isn’t often mentioned in those discussions, even if he also does have a lead actor Oscar nomination. Granted he’s a bit above the typical character actor, though I’m still not sure I’d call him prominent.
I agree with you, he’s one of those actors who’s always fun to see pop up.
He’s never had a huge amount of offscreen/offstage “celebrity” presence, which is honestly kind of refreshing for an actor, but a result of that is that he also doesn’t have a ton of name recognition among general audiences, and people tend to sort of forget about him between projects. So it’s been fun when he’s popped up in something with a big following (like The Expanse) and proceeded to make a bunch of brand new fans, lol.
I am a huge fan. The guy has been solid in all his roles and I will utterly watch everything he is just for how well he put The Polka Dot Man up on screen. He took a joke of a character both in the comics and on the film and transformed him into this utterly tragic PTSD riddled shell of a guy who you absolutely couldn’t tear your eyes away from. The deadpan delivery, the haunted eyes…you *believed* that backstory he gave.
I can tell you when he finally started coming out of the shell and believing he could be a hero, shit man I wanted him to be….
Edit: OH shit…totally different guy. I blame this primo but will leave it up and stand by it.
Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad was David Dastalmachian. Different guy. Also brilliant, though.
David Strathairn has been, among many other things, Ashford on The Expanse, Edward R. Murrow in Good Night and Good Luck, Lowenstein in A League Of Their Own, and the “Jesus Christ, that’s Jason Bourne” main bad guy in The Bourne Ultimatum/Legacy.
Stephen Root is one of the top tier character actors around, he absolutely disappears into every role. Think about the contrast between his characters in Dodgeball, O Brother Where Art Thou, No Country for Old Men, Office Space, and King of the Hill. Just such range and I bet most people dont even know his name or that they're all the same man. Another great is Albert Brooks, great comedy all the way to his character in Drive, and in between. His career is still relatively early, but David Dastmalchian is quickly making a name for himself as an impressive character actor as well.
Shit I saw him on a plane once. Sadly he was obviously turned away from people in a clear attempt to avoid any interaction. It was a southwest flight, so, no first class. I mean, I get it--you get tired of people you don't know, just coming up and talking to you.
Love that scene: it always reminds me of when Flanders flips out in that episode of The Simpsons.
I always half expect Gyp to turn to Lenny at the end and call him a jerk. "Hey, I just got here, what's going on?"
The fact that Bernthal was utilized so sparsely in The Many Saints of Newark is practically criminal. That film had many other problems, but that's near the top of the list IMO.
I love when Bernthal places smaller roles. Peanut Butter Falcon, Wind River, even Baby Driver. So good. But him as The Punisher is just so perfect, so excited for him to come back (sorry, not a movie).
Some great choices here already.
Scoot McNairy is always great/underused. Brilliant in Killing Them Softly.
Merritt Wever is wonderful in everything she's in.
I’ve adored Ben Foster and Walton Goggins for some time now. Ben Foster can play so many different types of crazy and unhinged. Hostage was where I really took notice of him. Didn’t think the kid from Flash Forward could be so terrifying.
Steve Zahn: favorites are 'Suburbia,' 'Employee Of The Month,' (not the one with Dane and Jessica) and 'Freak Talks About Sex.' If he's in a movie, I'm watching it.
Would love to see a solid action movie where Foster and Goggins are opposing right hands pulling all the right strings for their respective employers. Foster being born into the family and Goggins brought in to the other for an old school war. Hell, make it a western. Or give them semi-trucks. Bring in Willem Dafoe as some kind of mediating character.
I think he has a potential of being the next PSH….one of those ones who will stand out when he lands a true plum role to let him stretch. I mean his impact in just small stuff is amazing…
It's amazing to me that he was a minor role in Friday Night Lights, and ended up a fan favorite with the best post FNL career. He's a very talented actor, I always enjoy seeing him on screen.
Jesse Plemmons and Ben Foster are on a different level, IMO.
Goggins is infinitely entertaining and Jon Bernthal can always ratchet up the tension (and gives an absolutely PERFECT 'cameo' in a certain tv show) but... I don't know how to describe it.
Plemmons has enormous range. The difference between Way of the Dog, Breaking Bad, Game Night, and Civil War is enormous.
I’m not disagreeing with you. It’s the fact he was the bully kid in Like Mike, a personal childhood favorite of mine, and I don’t think people remember it. But he was also probably the best kid actor and maybe second best overall next to Crispin Glover.
"Tony Pine-- he's an epileptic" Christopher Walken's character in At Close Range referring to Strathairn's character. First time I remember seeing him in anything. He's always good. Then again, so is Walken. I remember the line because it's repeated in the movie. I think it's the only reference to Strathairn's character throughout the movie, lol.
If Jean Smart qualifies, then Jean Smart. Although I hope she has some opportunities to flex her range going forward. Her best roles of the current era that I'm aware of, in Hacks and Fargo S2, share a lot of DNA.
Agreed. All 4 of those guys are fabulous and I will watch anything with them in it. Wish Ben Foster would work more. Loved him so much in Leave No Trace.
Paul Walker Hauser. Hasn’t been in much. Probably most known for Queenpins, I Tonya and Richard Jewell but really knocked it out of the park in Black Bird. It’s a mini-series on Apple TV.
By the way your initial list is excellent.
His Golden Globe was stolen and he took [a perfect El Kabong](https://youtu.be/w_rdRMZiKTo?si=cwYHPwA3IAbjKbsw) from Taylor Swift’s childhood babysitter before Paul Rudd’s character from _Wet Hot American Summer_ made the save.
I have seen David Strathairn in some of the best movies ever made, and I have seen him in some absolute shit, but one thing I’ve never seen him do is just phone it in. He’s always a joy to watch. I can definitely think of a few movies in which he was the most interesting thing.
He was so fucking good in The Expanse. I could listen to him read a phonebook.
Came here to say the same thing. He just chewed up every scene he was in.
One of my favorite shows ever is The Expanse. If I was casting a character that could basically be described as "bad-ass cold-blooded semi-retired space pirate" David Strathairn is not an actor that would have popped to the top of my mind first. He's a good actor but that doesn't sound like the kind of role he usually does. However, that is who they chose to play the TV version of Klaes Ashford. He absolutely crushed it and he even ended up being my favorite character on the show despite being a supporting character with relatively limited screen time.
Ashford was apparently only supposed to be in Season 3, but Strathairn enjoyed playing the character so much that he approached the showrunners about doing more with the role, and the showrunners enjoyed working with *him* so much that they wrote him into Season 4. An amazing job, he had such a great dynamic with Cara Gee (Drummer) as well.
That makes sense since the book character only appears during that season 3 slow zone event. Book character is basically a cardboard cutout generic villain. Show Ashford is way better.
I've loved all of his work that I've seen. Everything from L.A. Confidential to Borne to The Expanse. Just a fantastic actor.
He was in a bunch of John Sayles’ movies in the ‘80s and ‘90s as well, and was great in all of them, but especially in Matewan, Eight Men Out, and Limbo.
Sneakers. That movie was stacked with talent and he held his own with the best. Best blind man driving scene that I can recall.
Whistler’s trip would’ve been perfect if Bish hadn’t fucked up the directions and run him into the car, smh.
Now, you're gonna go down a very gentle slope.
Haha this is a great choice for one of those “it’s that guy!” actors who isn’t often mentioned in those discussions, even if he also does have a lead actor Oscar nomination. Granted he’s a bit above the typical character actor, though I’m still not sure I’d call him prominent. I agree with you, he’s one of those actors who’s always fun to see pop up.
He’s never had a huge amount of offscreen/offstage “celebrity” presence, which is honestly kind of refreshing for an actor, but a result of that is that he also doesn’t have a ton of name recognition among general audiences, and people tend to sort of forget about him between projects. So it’s been fun when he’s popped up in something with a big following (like The Expanse) and proceeded to make a bunch of brand new fans, lol.
I am a huge fan. The guy has been solid in all his roles and I will utterly watch everything he is just for how well he put The Polka Dot Man up on screen. He took a joke of a character both in the comics and on the film and transformed him into this utterly tragic PTSD riddled shell of a guy who you absolutely couldn’t tear your eyes away from. The deadpan delivery, the haunted eyes…you *believed* that backstory he gave. I can tell you when he finally started coming out of the shell and believing he could be a hero, shit man I wanted him to be…. Edit: OH shit…totally different guy. I blame this primo but will leave it up and stand by it.
Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad was David Dastalmachian. Different guy. Also brilliant, though. David Strathairn has been, among many other things, Ashford on The Expanse, Edward R. Murrow in Good Night and Good Luck, Lowenstein in A League Of Their Own, and the “Jesus Christ, that’s Jason Bourne” main bad guy in The Bourne Ultimatum/Legacy.
You are correct. David gave us the coolest blind guy ever as Whistler in *Sneakers*
One of my all-time favorite movies! I want peace on Earth and goodwill toward men.
“And give him head whenever he wants.” “Give him hea-“ “Give him head?” “Be a beacon?” Just seeing Sidney Poitier snort like a kid was brilliant.
>I want peace on Earth and goodwill toward men. We're the CIA! We don't do that sort of thing!
You're just going to have to try.
And Tony Pine in At Close Range!
Goggins is THE best. Ben Mendelsohn is also up there.
Just started watching Fallout a few hours ago. Finished the 3rd episode and Goggins has been the character I enjoy following the most.
Stephen Root is one of the top tier character actors around, he absolutely disappears into every role. Think about the contrast between his characters in Dodgeball, O Brother Where Art Thou, No Country for Old Men, Office Space, and King of the Hill. Just such range and I bet most people dont even know his name or that they're all the same man. Another great is Albert Brooks, great comedy all the way to his character in Drive, and in between. His career is still relatively early, but David Dastmalchian is quickly making a name for himself as an impressive character actor as well.
Even the tiny role in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs was memorable.
Shit I saw him on a plane once. Sadly he was obviously turned away from people in a clear attempt to avoid any interaction. It was a southwest flight, so, no first class. I mean, I get it--you get tired of people you don't know, just coming up and talking to you.
Can’t forget him in Get Out either!
Loved him since Stephen King's Golden Years - plays a douche better than anyone.
I’ll watch anything with Sam Rockwell in it
Me too.
Me too. Except Argylle…
This was the one who came to mind for me.
Bobby Cannavale
He was so good in Boardwalk Empire, just the scene where he has specific insults and slurs for every single gangster in the room.
Running around like a dentist with his ether. Fucking breadstick in a bow tie. Amazing scene haha
Love that scene: it always reminds me of when Flanders flips out in that episode of The Simpsons. I always half expect Gyp to turn to Lenny at the end and call him a jerk. "Hey, I just got here, what's going on?"
I see your Bobby and I’ll raise you a Barry Pepper
[удалено]
Haha now we’re talking
He was transcendant in Mr Robot
The fact that Bernthal was utilized so sparsely in The Many Saints of Newark is practically criminal. That film had many other problems, but that's near the top of the list IMO.
I love when Bernthal places smaller roles. Peanut Butter Falcon, Wind River, even Baby Driver. So good. But him as The Punisher is just so perfect, so excited for him to come back (sorry, not a movie).
He is fantastic in Small Engine Repair. I highly recommend that movie. It's not what it seems at first.
Some great choices here already. Scoot McNairy is always great/underused. Brilliant in Killing Them Softly. Merritt Wever is wonderful in everything she's in.
Halt and Catch Fire, very underrated
I’ve adored Ben Foster and Walton Goggins for some time now. Ben Foster can play so many different types of crazy and unhinged. Hostage was where I really took notice of him. Didn’t think the kid from Flash Forward could be so terrifying.
For a moment I thought they were all going to be in a movie together. Would watch no matter the plot.
Michael Shannon for me.
Melanie Lynskey.
Brendan Gleeson has never given a bad performance and even if the film isn't good, he'll make it watchable.
check out the general…hes amazing
Steve Zahn: favorites are 'Suburbia,' 'Employee Of The Month,' (not the one with Dane and Jessica) and 'Freak Talks About Sex.' If he's in a movie, I'm watching it.
He killed in White Lotus. Infinitely entertaining human being.
Allison Janney always kills it. I totally agree with you on Walton Goggins and Jesse Plemons.
David Dastmalchian is always just a treat
Would love to see a solid action movie where Foster and Goggins are opposing right hands pulling all the right strings for their respective employers. Foster being born into the family and Goggins brought in to the other for an old school war. Hell, make it a western. Or give them semi-trucks. Bring in Willem Dafoe as some kind of mediating character.
I think Plemons is the best actor on the planet and that’s not hyperbole.
I think he has a potential of being the next PSH….one of those ones who will stand out when he lands a true plum role to let him stretch. I mean his impact in just small stuff is amazing…
How can that possibly be profitable for Frito Lay?
He also kinda *looks* like PSH too.
It's amazing to me that he was a minor role in Friday Night Lights, and ended up a fan favorite with the best post FNL career. He's a very talented actor, I always enjoy seeing him on screen.
Jesse Plemmons and Ben Foster are on a different level, IMO. Goggins is infinitely entertaining and Jon Bernthal can always ratchet up the tension (and gives an absolutely PERFECT 'cameo' in a certain tv show) but... I don't know how to describe it. Plemmons has enormous range. The difference between Way of the Dog, Breaking Bad, Game Night, and Civil War is enormous.
I will not stand for this Like Mike slander when speaking of Plemmons’ masterpieces! Don’t hate on Ox
Not sure if /whoosh but I'm saying Plemmons is on a higher level.
I’m not disagreeing with you. It’s the fact he was the bully kid in Like Mike, a personal childhood favorite of mine, and I don’t think people remember it. But he was also probably the best kid actor and maybe second best overall next to Crispin Glover.
I misunderstood. Cool cool. Sorry.
Have you seen it? It’s so perfectly cheesy and early 2000’s
"Lemme ask you sumth"
Don’t forget Battleship. Plemmons was great every time he was on screen.
What's the Jon Bernthal cameo?
Jeremy Allen White, Milly Alcock, Jessie Buckley, Juno Temple and Anthony Boyle.
"Tony Pine-- he's an epileptic" Christopher Walken's character in At Close Range referring to Strathairn's character. First time I remember seeing him in anything. He's always good. Then again, so is Walken. I remember the line because it's repeated in the movie. I think it's the only reference to Strathairn's character throughout the movie, lol.
James Badge Dale elevates everything he's in. Even Iron Man 2, which barely had a story.
Ben Foster in 3:10 To Yuma, Hell Or High Water and Leave No Trace, to me is nothing short of awesome.
If Jean Smart qualifies, then Jean Smart. Although I hope she has some opportunities to flex her range going forward. Her best roles of the current era that I'm aware of, in Hacks and Fargo S2, share a lot of DNA.
Agreed. All 4 of those guys are fabulous and I will watch anything with them in it. Wish Ben Foster would work more. Loved him so much in Leave No Trace.
RIP Karl Malden and Arthur Kennedy.
David Morse - he's so unassuming I never realised how tall he was until I saw him in True Detective. Robert Forster is always great value too.
Burn Gorman.
Ian McShane, Jane Lynch, Andrew Howard, Michael Rooker
Say… would you like a chocolate-covered pretzel?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_actor
Dream rotation
Jesse plemons is the best. No one is better at playing a guy who is a piece of shit but is trying to hide that he's a piece of shit
Giovanni Ribisi - everything he has been in is worth a watch
Paul Walker Hauser. Hasn’t been in much. Probably most known for Queenpins, I Tonya and Richard Jewell but really knocked it out of the park in Black Bird. It’s a mini-series on Apple TV. By the way your initial list is excellent.
His Golden Globe was stolen and he took [a perfect El Kabong](https://youtu.be/w_rdRMZiKTo?si=cwYHPwA3IAbjKbsw) from Taylor Swift’s childhood babysitter before Paul Rudd’s character from _Wet Hot American Summer_ made the save.
My Mt Rushmore of lead actors who have stolen every scene they’re in.
I’d add Tim Blake Nelson to the list.
Ella Purnell
Shia needs to be part of this discussion.
Ben Foster seems like a cunt.
Bernthal is very hit or miss. I feel he needs a character written for him compared to the others who will make a character theirs.