This week, I have come up with my Top 10: Secondary Actors. This is a list of talented actors, who possibly, but probably not, could carry a film in a starring role. They are best known as the sidekick, the villain, the best friend.
So here is my list of the week (in reverse order as always):
10) Stephen Tobolowsky
Notable Films: Thelma & Louise, Basic Instinct, Sneakers, Single White Female, Groundhog Day, Memento, Adaptation, Freaky Friday, Robots, Wild Hogs.
9) Brent Spiner
Notable Films: Star Trek, Phenomenon, Dude Where's My Car?, I Am Sam, Independence Day, The Aviator, Material Girls, Superhero Movie.
8) Bruce McGill
Notable Films: Animal House, Wildcats, Three Fugitives, Little Vegas, My Cousin Vinny, Cliffhanger, Black Sheep, Courage Under Fire, Ali, Shallow Hal, Runaway Jury, Vantage Point, Recount.
7) Jason Bateman
Notable Films: Necessary Roughness, Breaking the Rules, Love Stinks, The Sweetest Thing, Starsky & Hutch, Dodgeball, The Break Up, Smokin' Aces, The Kingdom, Hancock, Juno.
6) Stephen Root
Notable Films: Ghost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dave, Office Space, Bicentennial Man, O Brother Where Art Though?, Ice Age, Finding Nemo, Jersey Girl, Idiocracy, No Country For Old Men.
5) Eugene Levy
Notable Films: Vacation, Splash, American Pie films, Armed & Dangerous, Father of the Bride, Multiplicity, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, Cheaper By The Dozen 2, Bringing Down the House.
4) James Cromwell
Notable Films: The Man with Two Brains, Revenge of the Nerds, Pink Cadillac, Babe, Eraser, L.A. Confidential, Deep Impact, The Green Mile, Space Cowboys, The Sum of All Fears, I Robot, Spiderman 3.
3) Gary Cole
Notable Films: Lucas, In the Line of Fire, A Simple Plan, Office Space, The Gift, Dodgeball, The Ring Two, Talladega Nights, Breach, Conspiracy, Pineapple Express.
2) Joe Pantoliano
Notable Films: Risky Business, The Goonies, Running Scared, La Bamba, The Fugitive, Bad Boys, Congo, Bound, U.S. Marshals, The Matrix, Memento, Daredevil, Majestic.
1) Steve Buscemi
Notable Films: Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Rising Sun, Pulp Fiction, Airheads, Big Daddy, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Con Air, Armageddon, Ghost World, Big Fish, The Island.
Notable Films: Thelma & Louise, Basic Instinct, Sneakers, Single White Female, Groundhog Day, Memento, Adaptation, Freaky Friday, Robots, Wild Hogs.9) Brent Spiner
Notable Films: Star Trek, Phenomenon, Dude Where's My Car?, I Am Sam, Independence Day, The Aviator, Material Girls, Superhero Movie.8) Bruce McGill
Notable Films: Animal House, Wildcats, Three Fugitives, Little Vegas, My Cousin Vinny, Cliffhanger, Black Sheep, Courage Under Fire, Ali, Shallow Hal, Runaway Jury, Vantage Point, Recount.7) Jason Bateman
Notable Films: Necessary Roughness, Breaking the Rules, Love Stinks, The Sweetest Thing, Starsky & Hutch, Dodgeball, The Break Up, Smokin' Aces, The Kingdom, Hancock, Juno.6) Stephen Root
Notable Films: Ghost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dave, Office Space, Bicentennial Man, O Brother Where Art Though?, Ice Age, Finding Nemo, Jersey Girl, Idiocracy, No Country For Old Men.5) Eugene Levy
Notable Films: Vacation, Splash, American Pie films, Armed & Dangerous, Father of the Bride, Multiplicity, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, Cheaper By The Dozen 2, Bringing Down the House.4) James Cromwell
Notable Films: The Man with Two Brains, Revenge of the Nerds, Pink Cadillac, Babe, Eraser, L.A. Confidential, Deep Impact, The Green Mile, Space Cowboys, The Sum of All Fears, I Robot, Spiderman 3.3) Gary Cole
Notable Films: Lucas, In the Line of Fire, A Simple Plan, Office Space, The Gift, Dodgeball, The Ring Two, Talladega Nights, Breach, Conspiracy, Pineapple Express.2) Joe Pantoliano
Notable Films: Risky Business, The Goonies, Running Scared, La Bamba, The Fugitive, Bad Boys, Congo, Bound, U.S. Marshals, The Matrix, Memento, Daredevil, Majestic.1) Steve Buscemi
Notable Films: Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Rising Sun, Pulp Fiction, Airheads, Big Daddy, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Con Air, Armageddon, Ghost World, Big Fish, The Island.That's my list. I may try to do Secondary Actresses next week, but will need some ideas - so please post some. Thanks.
I have to disagree with some of this list, especially Steve Buscemi and Jason Bateman. Those guys (especially Buscemi) are more A-list actors (Bateman is getting there) and could totally hold a movie on their own.
ReplyDeleteWell, I said that they could hold a movie on their own. Remember Teen Wolf Too, though?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, most of their work is on the secondary side. That is why, as of now, I put them on this list.
I guess I just focused on the 'but probably not' portion of how they could hold a movie on their own.
ReplyDeleteInteresting list Keith. I'll be interested in seeing the attractiveness level of the secondary actresses when you put them up. Especially in comparison to this crew. :) It seems Hollywood is much more stringent about female beauty, so it will be interesting to see if your list is able to show a mix based on what's available in the realm of Hollywood secondary actresses.
ReplyDelete