Top 10 Actors You Know By Face But Not by Name
Putting a name to a face has never been harder. For this list, we’ll be looking at famous character actors who have appeared in dozens of movies but whose names you might not know.
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00:00If you could go ahead and get it as far back against that wall as possible, that would be great.
00:05Welcome to Miss Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 actors you know by face but not by name.
00:11Guess who he is?
00:15Buffalo Bill.
00:16For this list, we'll be looking at famous character actors who have appeared in dozens of movies, but whose names you might not know.
00:21Did you know any of their names? Let us know in the comments below.
00:25Number 10, Luis Guzman.
00:27This Puerto Rican actor is one of those people who pop up in everything without ever making himself famous.
00:32Hello, it's me, Luis Guzman.
00:35According to IMDb, Guzman has appeared in over 150 movies and television shows since his career began in the late 70s.
00:42Some of his most notable TV work includes Narcos, in which he plays Colombian drug lord José Gacha, and the CBS medical drama Code Black.
00:49Krista, go get security.
00:52He's also a frequent collaborator of acclaimed movie director Paul Thomas Anderson, appearing in his movies Punch Drunk Love, Boogie Nights, and Magnolia.
01:00Guzman has also lent his voice to the Grand Theft Auto series, playing kingpin Ricardo Diaz.
01:05You do a good job. You work for me now.
01:09Number 9, Walton Goggins.
01:11Hailing from Alabama, Walton Goggins has given consistently excellent performances since his career began, and he's finally earning the acclaim and recognition that he deserves.
01:20That plan was solid. You had no idea. Just couldn't get the brother to close the deal with Ronnie.
01:25Goggins played Shane Vendrell on FX's The Shield throughout much of the 2000s before earning an Emmy nomination for playing primary antagonist Boyd Crowder on Justified.
01:34You know what, son? I once stood where you're standing now, mistaking my own hubris for God's touch. That ain't religion, son.
01:42He's also a recent collaborator of Quentin Tarantino's, appearing in his movies Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight.
01:48Anywho, I'm just trying to let y'all know how grateful I am. I was a goner.
01:53These have given rise to more substantial movie roles, and in recent years, Goggins has played villains in blockbusters like Ant-Man and the Wasp and Tomb Raider.
02:01You see, Richard? Send him my regards.
02:05Number 8, Vincent Schiavelli.
02:07Roger Ebert said it best when he stated that Vincent Schiavelli had a way of slipping into films without people knowing his name.
02:13This story will be on the news in an hour.
02:16Tomorrow's news today.
02:18Just so.
02:19Unfortunately, Schiavelli passed away from cancer in 2005, but he left behind an incredible legacy as a character actor.
02:25Schiavelli's unique face is instantly recognizable, and people may remember him from popular movies like Tomorrow Never Dies, Batman Returns, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
02:34Look, I'm a little slow today. I just switched to Sanka, so have a heart.
02:40He also appeared in some beloved dramas, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Ghost, in which he portrayed the scary Subway Ghost.
02:47Few character actors were as famous as Schiavelli.
02:50It wasn't my time! I wasn't supposed to go! I'm not supposed to be here!
02:56Number 7, Gary Cole.
02:57Yeah, if we could all go ahead and honor the work of Gary Cole, that'd be great.
03:02Yeah. If you could just go ahead and make sure you do that from now on, that would be great.
03:08Most people will recognize Cole's face, as his character Bill Lumberg is plastered all over the internet.
03:13But aside from providing a funny meme, Cole has also left behind a solid string of work.
03:17He has starred in some popular TV shows in recent years, including Mixed-ish and Veep, for which he received an Emmy nomination.
03:23This is not a crisis. Stop flapping your vestigial limbs around.
03:26The line on Maddox is one more old man has gone off to play chess in the park, and somebody find out who West Wing Man is.
03:34His work in film is a little less prevalent, but no less important, as he appeared in popular comedies like Office Space, Talladega Nights, and Dodgeball.
03:41And here comes the relatively unknown challengers, a regional qualifying team, Average Joe's Gymnasium.
03:49Number 6, Judy Greer.
03:51The great thing about Judy Greer is that she literally does everything.
03:54Some character actors find themselves within a niche, but Greer samples a little bit of every genre.
03:59Of course, this has also led to her increased fame.
04:02She's the sidekick in many romantic comedies, including 27 Dresses and 13 Going on 30.
04:07Honey, I know I'm your best friend, but the slip dress is a little 97, unless it's retro.
04:12She's done some blockbusters, including Jurassic World and the two Ant-Man films.
04:16She has also starred in various horror movies, including the recent Halloween.
04:20And finally, Greer has quite an exhaustive list of television credits, including a memorable run as Kitty on Arrested Development.
04:26I've kidnapped your father, Michael, and I have a cooler full of evidence that will bring down this corrupt company.
04:32Greer rarely lands a leading role, but she clearly doesn't need to.
04:36Number 5, Stephen Tobolowsky.
04:38Anyone who watches Groundhog Day every year will instantly recognize the face of character actor Stephen Tobolowsky.
04:44Hey, Phil!
04:47Phil!
04:48Hey, Phil Connors, man!
04:51Unlike Phil Connors, no one feels the need to punch him.
04:54Aside from that one iconic role, Tobolowsky also starred as Sammy Jenkis in Memento.
04:59But most of his credits belong on the small screen, and anyone who watches television on a regular basis is sure to recognize him.
05:05He starred in the likes of Deadwood, Heroes, and Glee, all of which represent his wide-ranging capabilities as an actor.
05:11I've been collecting since 1961.
05:16Now, isn't this just lovely and normal?
05:19Tobolowsky can do a little bit of everything, whether it's playing the eccentric leader of a glee club or an old-timey commissioner speaking in Shakespearean prose.
05:27Perhaps then, rather, at this moment, you are Socrates to my Alcibiades.
05:34Number 4, Margot Martindale.
05:36Despite appearing in over 120 movies and TV shows since 1987, it's only recently that the wonderful character actor Margot Martindale is getting some recognition.
05:44You shouldn't have done this.
05:45You need a decent place.
05:47You shouldn't have done it.
05:49You should have asked me first.
05:50She starred in a few big movies throughout the 2000s, including Million Dollar Baby.
05:54But Martindale has recently hit a stellar stride on television.
05:58In 2011, she received an Emmy Award for playing Mags Bennett on Justify.
06:02We need to talk.
06:04Can I get you some more?
06:06Nothing's gonna take the taste away from my boys going behind my back.
06:09She later received four nominations and two wins for playing KGB handler Claudia on The Americans.
06:14A further Emmy nomination came in 2020 for the FX historical drama Mrs. America,
06:20in which Martindale played congresswoman and renowned feminist Bella Abzug.
06:24If you understood power, you would understand power.
06:29I am trying to protect our interest.
06:31Number 3, Kurt Fuller.
06:33This actor has appeared in over 200 movies and television shows since 1984, so chances are that you've seen him in something.
06:39Fuller is quite prevalent in late 80s and early 90s cinema,
06:42playing the likes of Hardemeyer in Ghostbuster II and Russell in Wayne's World.
06:46Good, Terry.
06:48Wayne, Garth, don't count along.
06:49We see your mouths moving.
06:51He's also showed his comedic chops in the first scary movie by playing the sheriff.
06:55Fuller has also appeared in some notable television shows,
06:58playing Angel Zachariah in Supernatural and Karn or Woody Strode in Psych.
07:02Asphyxiation?
07:03That wouldn't make any sense.
07:05That's what I said.
07:06Unless this crash was post-mortem.
07:10He has also reprised his role in the subsequent Psych films
07:13and currently stars as psychiatrist Dr. Boggs in the supernatural drama Evil.
07:18Okay, you might try something.
07:20Number 2, John Michael Higgins.
07:22This is one of those comedians whom everyone in the industry clearly respects
07:26but who hasn't attained mainstream recognition.
07:28However, everyone certainly knows his face.
07:30Higgins has starred in a slew of comedy films, including the Pitch Perfect trilogy,
07:34Fun with Dick and Jane, and Bad Teacher.
07:36Elizabeth gave this to me.
07:38She's a thoughtful young woman and she is teaching for all the right reasons.
07:42But Higgins' most substantial work can be found on television.
07:45He played Principal Todman in the Saved by the Bell revival
07:48and has appeared in the likes of Ally McBeal, Arrested Development, and Community.
07:52I shall have a birthday cake.
07:58He is also a renowned television host
08:00and has earned an Emmy nomination for hosting the game show networks America Says.
08:05Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
08:08Chin-Han.
08:09Various superhero movies, including The Dark Knight and The Winter Soldier.
08:12I think, Mr. Fox, a simple phone call might have sufficed.
08:16Mr. Wayne didn't want you to think that he was deliberately wasting your time.
08:20Just accidentally wasting it.
08:22Barry Chewbacca Henley.
08:23Frequent collaborator of Michael Mann's.
08:25If I walk out of here tonight, I will go so far away it'll be just like I was dead.
08:31Beth Grant.
08:31You may recognize her from shows like The Mindy Project and Jericho.
08:35All right, I'll go, but you gotta zip me up first.
08:39John Hanna.
08:40Scottish actor from The Mummy trilogy and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
08:43My dear, sweet baby sister, I'll have you know that at this precise moment,
08:49my career is on a high note.
08:51Jimmy Simpson.
08:52From shows like It's Always Sunny, House of Cards, and Westworld.
08:55That's negative, Ronald McDonald.
08:57Now I'd ask you guys to leave, but I'm just too damn happy.
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09:19Number 1.
09:20Stephen Root.
09:21Few actors are as diverse as Stephen Root.
09:23The man can and has done everything.
09:26He has done a lot of comedy, starring in the likes of Dodgeball,
09:29NewsRadio, and Office Space, albeit with Coke bottle glasses that make him unrecognizable.
09:34They've moved my desk four times already this year, and I used to be over
09:38by the window and I could see the squirrels, and they were married.
09:42He's also an accomplished dramatic actor,
09:44having starred in movies and TV shows like Get Out and Boardwalk Empire.
09:47Raised my hands, I guess.
09:49Root stars as Monroe Fuchs in HBO's Barry, a role that garnered the actor his very first Emmy
09:54nomination.
09:55You start telling the truth about Korngold and those little acting buddies of yours,
09:59and they are never going to look at you the same way again.
10:02Root is the epitome of a perfect character actor, far-reaching,
10:05very talented, and yet not a household name.
10:08Do you agree with our picks?
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