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Familiar Faces, pt. 1
Ever see a reoccurring face in movies, but you just don’t know them by name? This blog is dedicated to those actors that are in 90% of the films you see, but if you ran into them on the street your greeting would probably consist of “Hey...aren’t you that movie guy?” Here’s a list of my favorites:
Udo Kier
I’ve lost count of all the films I’ve seen this guy. He plays a range of well known characters (Blade) to some that are simply death fodder or you’d miss them if you blink (Fear Dot Com). The farthest I can think back of spotting him was Johnny Mnemonic, and he’s done plenty before that. He’s also in nearly every Uwe Boll film out there. They’re practically brothers. I mean, they’re from Germany right? Everybody knows each other when they assimilate from the same place. That’s the assumption I get because people always ask me if I knew Pete when I told them I was from New York.
Peter Stormare
I thoroughly enjoy every character this guy plays. If he plays a good guy, he nails it (Dancer in the Dark). If he plays a bad guy, he knocks it out of the park. Remember him as Satan in Constantine? Instead of displaying himself as a red spandex, horn and plastic trident he comes into frame looking like some coked out lounge swinger, smelling of dirty pussy -- sweaty and rancid. He greets Constantine with this “well well well look who the fuck we have here...” attitude which is just awesome. And his character in Fargo goes without mentioning. Also, Stormare is hilarious. Remember him in those Volkswagon car commercials?
Danny Trejo
Now -- I know what you might be saying. “Danny Trejo? I know that guy. He’s great!” That he certainly is. But rewind back 5 to 10 years. Did you know him by name after Spy Kids? Once Upon A Time In Mexico? Con Air? Perhaps even From Dusk Till Dawn -- seeing as he was the only actor to appear in all 3 movies? Maybe yes, maybe no. There’s no doubt Danny Trejo has come a long way. But you’d think the 170+ movie credits to his career would make him a more household name than Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise. Not to downplay their success, but Trejo’s work has always been a treat.
These are the 3 off the top of my head. If you’d like to list yours please do. Perhaps in part 2 I’ll make a list for the ladies.
So long for now.
Udo Kier
I’ve lost count of all the films I’ve seen this guy. He plays a range of well known characters (Blade) to some that are simply death fodder or you’d miss them if you blink (Fear Dot Com). The farthest I can think back of spotting him was Johnny Mnemonic, and he’s done plenty before that. He’s also in nearly every Uwe Boll film out there. They’re practically brothers. I mean, they’re from Germany right? Everybody knows each other when they assimilate from the same place. That’s the assumption I get because people always ask me if I knew Pete when I told them I was from New York.
Peter Stormare
I thoroughly enjoy every character this guy plays. If he plays a good guy, he nails it (Dancer in the Dark). If he plays a bad guy, he knocks it out of the park. Remember him as Satan in Constantine? Instead of displaying himself as a red spandex, horn and plastic trident he comes into frame looking like some coked out lounge swinger, smelling of dirty pussy -- sweaty and rancid. He greets Constantine with this “well well well look who the fuck we have here...” attitude which is just awesome. And his character in Fargo goes without mentioning. Also, Stormare is hilarious. Remember him in those Volkswagon car commercials?
Danny Trejo
Now -- I know what you might be saying. “Danny Trejo? I know that guy. He’s great!” That he certainly is. But rewind back 5 to 10 years. Did you know him by name after Spy Kids? Once Upon A Time In Mexico? Con Air? Perhaps even From Dusk Till Dawn -- seeing as he was the only actor to appear in all 3 movies? Maybe yes, maybe no. There’s no doubt Danny Trejo has come a long way. But you’d think the 170+ movie credits to his career would make him a more household name than Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise. Not to downplay their success, but Trejo’s work has always been a treat.
These are the 3 off the top of my head. If you’d like to list yours please do. Perhaps in part 2 I’ll make a list for the ladies.
So long for now.
Comment
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Comment by Jeremy on October 14, 2009 at 10:13pm - Giovanni Ribisi
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Comment by Daniel Palardy on October 14, 2009 at 4:20pm - Very interesting post Martin F.! How many times where I just couldn't remember the guy or woman's name while watching a movie because he or she has been in so many films without being the star? I remember in my 80's childhood how many bad guys in movies that I saw many many times without ever knowing their names :P Please continue to send more posts on the matter, I think they deserve our attention, because often secondary characters are more interesting than main ones :P
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Comment by RickC on October 13, 2009 at 3:21pm -
Leland Orser is always playing that "freaked out shaken up" guy! I never knew (or more specifically cared to know) what his name was...but after he played a guy in Taken that was neither shaken up nor freaked out - I changed my mind and realized he is actually a great actor.
Also...Peter Stormare is the shit.
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Comment by CheezySpam on October 13, 2009 at 7:43am -
Totally agree about Leland I've always loved his work and I hate he has never made it really big.
Another good actor who you often see and wonder what he's been in is:
Pete Postlethwaite, he has been in Romeo + Juliet, Dragonhart, the Lost World, Alien 3, the Omen and is the upcoming Clash of the Titans flick.
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Comment by Cameron on October 13, 2009 at 5:14am - Aladdin, Leland's also had roles in Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise.A very versatile actor.
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Comment by David on October 13, 2009 at 5:12am -
"23 counts of rape."
haha. Nice idea, by the way.
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Comment by Jessica on October 12, 2009 at 10:00pm - Leland Orser's a good one for this list. I've definitely recognized him before, he can do creepy real well.
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Comment by Jean Genie on October 12, 2009 at 6:47pm -
Leland Orser
Maybe its just me, but I see this guy all the time but never know who the hell he is.
His film credits include some major films :
Seven, Independence Day, Alien resurrection, Saving Private Ryan, The Bone Collector, Pearl Harbor, Daredevil, Taken, and many TV show episodes. He's one of those guys you see a lot but can never place him. ( To me, anyway. ) :)
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Comment by Jean Genie on October 12, 2009 at 6:22pm
- Peter Stormare's probably best known now for TV's Prison Break :)
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Comment by Costanza on October 12, 2009 at 1:53pm - hes a nihlist. and he fuck you up man.
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