How many times have you watched a film and recognized an actor in it, but you had no clue who they were? This thread is dedicated to those actors that were in lots of shows and films, but nobody knew who they were.
Dennis Burkley
Dennis Burkley had roles in innumerable television shows and films. Usually he was playing the role of a big, dumb troublemaker or teddy bear. The role I remember him most for is from the 1985 flim, Mask. But he had a career spanning many decades.
I just had this moment with the film The Night Before. I couldn't tell who the drug dealer Mr. Green was in the film, but I knew I recognized him for somewhere. His name is Michael Shannon, and he played Eminem's mothers boyfriend in the film 8 Mile.
Thank you Vaporman87 for starting a topic I've been interested in but wasn't sure how to bring it up.
I've used the term "character actor" for years referring to familiar faces that are not in "lead" roles. Because secondary characters can enhance a film or show, these are the men and women that have played a major part in holding my interest in any given project.
Some of the most famous "who's that guy?" actors are timeless!
Do You Know Me?
You do if you've seen Star Trek, Mission Impossible, The Wild, Wild West, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Land of the Giants, Route 66, The Outer Limits - and on, and on!
This is Alfred Ryder.
I'm almost 60 years old and I can show this man's picture to a 20something, and get a reaction. You only have to see Alfred Ryder once - and you'll know why this man never lacked for projects.
This photo of Alfred is from his role as Dr. Crater from the episode of Star Trek, "The Man Trap". This is the interrogation scene where Kirk knows that an alien creature in onboard his ship, and he asks Dr. Crater the most important question of the entire episode:
"Dr. Crater, can you recognize this creature . . . no matter what form it takes?"
As a 10 year I didn't realize that the answer to that question would cost Dr. Crater his life!
In real life Alfred Ryder's appearance in Star Trek will give him a kind of immortality.
MJP has been in my life for all of my life. I actually remember him from, "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", circa 1959, but Michael has starred in shows like Gunsmoke, Route 66, Lost in Space, and of course Star Trek.
My personal opinion is that Michael was always good at whatever he was asked to do, but what he was asked to do never quite captured the real guy behind that face.
For as long as I can remember I've always thought that Michael J. Pollard was born too soon. Today I think he was born 50 years too soon. This dude has a face and a personna tailor made for the 21st century. Only now are TV shows and movies that can use a man like Michael being produced.
While MJP was on television all the time when I was growing up most folks only know him from his appearance on the Star Trek episode, "Miri".
And speaking of, "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", Shout Factory remastered the opening sequence. This is the TV show that made Bob Denver of "Gilligan's Island" America's favorite beatnik. A whole generation of kids were traumatized by this artsy animated opening sequence. Personally, it's good to see ol' Dobie (Peeping Tom) Gillis again after all of these years, still lookin' in on the ladies!
His most memorable role for me is Mr. Mxyzptlk, in the Superboy series from the late 80's. I don't know why... that's just a character that really stands out in my memory.
Michael J. Pollard has quite a resume and a list of the projects he took part in would make good reading.
In his prime, MJP always seemed to be smarter than the characters he played, almost like he was holding back. That's why I said Michael never found a role that was "his", the perfect match between the actor and the writer.
While not classically handsome, Michael photographs well with a dirty face.