Most under-rated actor of all time?

[SammyBlue]

I believe it was Vincent Price. The man had the ability to turn B level crud into classics (The Fly, House of Wax, etc).

He was a gentle, god hearted man and played such scumbags in his movies, totally against who he was and his personality.

What do you think?

[Treclo]

1. Bruce Campbell

Ok- maybe not of all time, but he's underrated anyway.

[jobycom]

11. Might have agreed until Bubba Ho-tep.

I still love him... Just not as much. :-)

[Treclo]

21. oh contraire-

Bubba Ho-Tep was genius! I mean, come one, Zombies, Elvis, and a black JFK? What's not to like?

(ok, genius might be pushing it....)

[jobycom]

30. Everything else

Like plot, script, directing, setting, coherency...

Ossie Davis ruled! Damn, there was a man.

[alarcojon]

43. Second for Ossie Davis

side note: he spoke at both MLK and Malcolm X's funerals.

RIP Ossie

[BigMcLargehuge]

44. He NAILED Elvis too

that was the best goddamn commentary track on any film I've ever seen.

[jobycom]

67. No sex threads!

Uhem, yeah, you're right, it was a good performance. A truly great actor would have set down the script and walked away, though. Neat premise. Lousy story.

[Kire]

84. commentary track?

-------->off to the video store:
:popcorn:

[BigMcLargehuge]

90. Commentary with the King

funnier than the film itself.

[Kire]

25. I got a peanut butter and banana sandwhich that says you're wrong.

It's talking some other shit right now that would get banned by the moderators if I quoted it, too.

[antigone382]

101. Aww, man, Bubba Ho-tep is absolute greatness!

A horror flick in an old-folks home--what better way to deal with the fear of death (which is what all horror is really about) than to make the hero a guy for whom death is just around the corner, either way--a guy who has experienced what it is to be great, who knows that the best days are over for him--and who chooses, nonetheless, to fight for every last second, in spite of everything...

...OK, so I'm a little passionate...

[bridgit]

33. woohoo, Brisco County...

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

51. I finally saw 'Crimewave' last week

and Campbell plays a great heel. I really enjoyed the whole movie - Sam & Bruce shouldn't be so hard on it (though I would be interested in seeing it as Raimi intended and with Bruce in the lead). Anyway, it's a film that needs a reappraisal - a real gem (plus the Coen brothers wrote it!).

Welcome to DU, btw.

[bertha katzenengel]

2. Ed Harris. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Jesus, that man can act

circles around any other workin character actor today. "Just Cause" was quite a mediocre film, but HE SHONE in it. He scared the shit outta me. And that's just one example.

[GCP]

15. Did you ever see the movie "Knightriders"?

I only saw it the once, back in the 80s but it really made an impression on me - and so did Ed Harris.

[bertha katzenengel]

19. no, not that one... how about "The Abyss?"

He was terrific. Utterly believable.

[slybacon9]

108. talk about an underrated movie....

loved it. and yes, he sold the whole thing.

[DanCa]

80. Yeagh another knightrider fan

Knights jousting on motorcycles great movie.

[chat_noir]

54. Ed Harris in Just Cause (1995)

Harris' portrayal of Blair Sullivan, the religious (fundy?) psycho, is a tour de force.

[serryjw]

56. I agree but

he is a great 'working actor' that doesn't need the fame and always does a great job in everything.

I also love Campbell Scott( son of George C Scott)

[Kool Kitty]

115. He was terrific in "Pollack", too.

[undeterred]

3. William Hurt

Richard Gere

[Left Is Write]

12. I'd agree with William Hurt.

I've always liked his work, but he never seems to get much appreciation.

[undeterred]

47. Body Heat

The Big Chill
The Accidental Tourist
The Doctor
Kiss of the Spider Woman

and many many more excellent performances.

[Floogeldy]

4. Ben Gazzara

Seriously.

[GCP]

49. (Gilbert Gottfried voice) Ben Gazzara? Now there's an actor

Great sketch he used to do about tiny aliens who loved Ben Gazzara :D

[Spacemom]

5. Kevin Spacey

I have never seen a movie of his I didn't like.

[undeterred]

7. But he got an Oscar, so I don't think of him as underrated

:shrug:

[Kire]

24. two oscars

double shrug
:shrug: :shrug:

[Left Is Write]

13. Did you like Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil?

My husband and I really enjoyed it, but we thought we were the only ones.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

50. I enjoyed it

I love Savannah. Too bad we no longer live close enough to easily drive up for a visit. I have a relative who lives there and said he knew some of the people in The Book.

[AngryAmish]

6. Michael Ironsides

Revok!

[SammyBlue]

9. Oh yes. . .Michael Ironsides. Best villian in the world

And such a great guy off camera from what I've read.

[hyphenate]

41. In real life

He's very sweet and a gentleman.

[DanCa]

8. When he puts his heart into it Kevin Costner -

He can act but you gotta prod him look at open range.

[Jade Fox]

36. His performance in...

the movie "A Perfect World" is some of the best acting I've seen.

When I saw that movie (1994?) I had just started a job working with actors.
Many, if not most of them, didn't seem like they were very good. I remember
sitting in the theater watching Costner in "A Perfect World" and thinking: Now
THAT is good acting!

[philosophie_en_rose]

10. Christopher Lee

He's in more movies now... actually, he's always been in a lot of movies. However, he's not recognized as much as less talented people. Same with Ian McKellen. (no Oscar for Gandalf?)

[LeftyMom]

29. He was hot when he was younger, too.

At least in The Wicker Man.

[philosophie_en_rose]

31. You're right. Plus, his voice.

:bounce:

[jobycom]

14. Jeff Bridges is on the list.

Compare The Big Lebowski to Seabiscuit.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

52. Jeff Bridges is insanely good

The most recent film I saw with him was The Door in the Floor and he captures the essense of his character perfectly.

[jobycom]

69. I saw Seabiscuit three times before

I connected him to Lebowski. I mean, if you'd have asked who played the Dude, or who played whassisname in Seabiscuit, I'd have gotten it without hesitation. But to realize it was the same guy. Those characters were as opposite as they could be, in terms of appearance, posture, facial expressions, tone of voice, style of speech... And yet both of them seemed to be exactly the way you'd expect Jeff Bridges to be. Perfectly seemless acting.

[henslee]

16. Joseph Cotton was pretty damn good.... And yes, VP was the man.

[El Supremo]

17. Let's see, William Windom, Robert Lansing, Ken Howard, Pat Hingle...

But what about the over-rated actors?

My first votes would be for Richard Gere and Tom Cruse.

[Floogeldy]

20. Interesting.

:)

[dogfacedboy]

42. Pat Hingle, for certain n/t

[dogfacedboy]

46. Jackie Gleason.

We all know him as Ralph Cramden, but after watching films like The Hustler, or Nothing In Common, it makes me wish he made more films. Larger than life, but vey human presence.

[bleedingheart]

18. did you ever see him in "Leave her to Heaven"?

he was very good in that one...

[Az]

22. Toshiro Mifune

Never heard of him? See.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

26. Absolutely.

Also, Takashi Shimura, who was also a Kurosawa favorite, was great as well.

[Az]

27. Most certainly

Good grief that guy could carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

28. He sure did in Ikiru.

I'll have to pick up the Criterion DVD as soon as I'm not poor.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

58. Ikiru is No. 1 on my list of all-time greatest films

It's the most powerful, well-acted, and well written film I've ever seen.

[Az]

91. And do you realise how few people have seen it in the west?

Blows my mind how self isolated we are sometimes.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

99. He's pretty fantastic

High and Low is one of my all time faves.

[Robeson]

23. SammyBlue, you are the Man. I was going to say the same when...

...I saw this thread title. I click on, and who's there, Vincent Price. I concur. Of course, I'm a little prejudiced since he's my all-time favorite actor!..:thumbsup:

[Cannikin]

32. Morgan Freeman.

I like him in everything I've seen him in.

[kwassa]

34. Billy Crudup

always a great performance in many independent films.

[jackelope72]

97. I agree with you about Billy.

He should have at least gotten a Best Supporting Actor nomination for "Almost Famous".

[smirkymonkey]

35. Steve Buscemi....

[Pharlo]

37. Toss up: Alan Rickman and Brian Cox

[smirkymonkey]

61. Yes, Alan Rickman and I would also add Ciaran Hinds.

[MarsThe Cat]

38. peter o'toole

never won an oscar.

shameful.

[CanuckAmok]

39. David Thewlis

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000667/

A very powerful yet understated performer.

[jobycom]

71. In that case, you have to throw in Paul Bettany

They were great together in Gangster No. 1, and Bettany has been great in a lot of films. Always a co-star, though.

[graywarrior]

40. Marjoe Gortner

[hyphenate]

45. It's hard for me to say it

but Bruce Willis. His range is excellent. Most people think of him as a goof-off type, but some of his best roles have been his serious ones. During the early days of the revival of Twilight Zone, one of the episodes was based on a Harlan Ellison story, and Bruce played the role in such a completely understated manner that was incredible. Of course, right around the same time, Moonlighting was getting popular, too, so that's the image that the world received. You can't watch Sixth Sense without seeing some of that ability to capture a serious character filled with melancholy.

I would also add Lee Marvin and Paul Newman to the mix. Marvin had that same ability to play a serious character that wasn't an SOB, and Paul Newman has always had the capacity to make acting look more incredibly easy than it really is.

[undeterred]

48. Bruce Willis was great in The Sixth Sense.

[Az]

55. I disagree slightly.

He is a passable actor. Neither great nor terrible. But he does excell at picking the most amazing scripts to work in.

[Parrcrow]

53. Tim Holt/ David Morse n/t

[BlueIris]

57. Jack Lemmon.

Just an opinion.

[serryjw]

59. George Bush

He sold half the country that he was a 'Good Christian'...nothing could be further from the truth

[Tallison]

64. But the ignorance and heartlessness is real. n/t

[terrya]

60. William Holden

Check out some of his films..."Picnic" "Sunset Boulevard" "Stalag 17" and "Network". I always thought Holden was a very underrated actor.

[greatauntoftriplets]

65. The Bridge Over the River Kwai.....

Everyone in that was so damn good, but Holden was great.

[RevCheesehead]

62. Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Kevin Kline

[RFKHumphreyObama]

76. I agree with you about Joan Allen

A beautiful, talented actress who gets much less credit and recognition than she deserves

[me b zola]

93. Gary Oldman always pulls me in to a story

I find him fascinating and I am inexplicably drawn to him :blush:

[RevCheesehead]

94. I agree.

He has an enormous talent, and his range is amazing. Who else could play his roles in The Fifth Element, Air Force One, The Contender, JFK, Immortal Beloved, and Harry Potter 3?

[me b zola]

116. Much like Spacey, he often portrays an evil mind in an ingenious way

He makes his characters so off that you almost like them, but to be sure you are mesmerized by them. Sid & Nancy is another of my favorites...."to think, I killed the cat, but no, much more than that..."

He is mesmerizing to watch.

[Tallison]

63. Willem Defoe

Between Last Temptation, Platoon, and Auto Focus, the guy's a genius.

[undeterred]

96. Yeah, and he has a cool face

and he's from Wisconsin. :thumbsup:

[Neil Lisst]

66. Fritz Weaver.

Or maybe Jack Elam.

[Darth_Kitten]

68. Buster Crabbe.

;)

Seriously though, Donald Sutherland. ;)

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

75. Hey, I worshipped Buster Crabbe when I was a little bitty kid

as Tarzan, Flash Gordon, and my all-time TV favorite, Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion. And not to forget his stumbling, bumbling sidekick Fuzzy Knight. I wanted to be Cuffy, the little boy Captain Gallant adopted and raised in his Legionnaire fort. Something I never realized was that the TV series episodes were actually filmed on location, in North Africa.

[charlie and algernon]

70. Michael Clark Duncan

Just see him in "the Green Mile"

enough said

[jobycom]

72. Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Stewart, Laurence Olivier

Hey if people can list Jack Lemmon, Alan Rickman, and Morgan Freeman, why not? :-)

[hickman1937]

73. Paul Winfield, Bruce Dern.

Paul Winfield should have worked much, much more. I hope Bruce Dern gets his due. Type cast in psycho and scumbag roles. He's got much more to offer.
edit for spell check

[Jamastiene]

74. Gary Oldman. The man has been in so many

popular films as a barely credited character, yet he plays a diverse range of characters and becomes the character. He is so realistic in his portrayal as that character, yet hardly anyone knows his name.

[Olney Blue]

77. I agree about Gary Oldman.

He performance in Bram Stoker's Dracula is my favorite.

[slybacon9]

109. is there a movie that Oldman doesn't steal and make his own?

[kittykatkoffeekup]

78. Gary Sinise

[hickman1937]

89. Damn, forgot about him.

Spencer Tracy's long lost son.

[PittPoliSci]

79. Christopher Lee.

Amazing early career followed by a very strong career later in life with great roles in the Lord of the Rings movies as well as the Star Wars movies. With the shit-can script he had, his acting was great, so I don't wanna hear complaints about the Star Wars reference!

[UTUSN]

81. Richard WIDMARK, Peter O'TOOLE n/t

[0007]

83. Both these guy were well noted in their day. n/t

[BlackVelvet04]

82. Sam Elliot

yummy

[shugah]

88. yum-yum-

yummy ;-)

[alittlelark]

85. Keifer Sutherland

He is an excellent actor (The Lost Boys....). He seems to not be interested in the big screen....sigh.

[shugah]

86. vincent price was also a great cook

he and his 2nd wife created a highly sought after cookbook!

[KitchenWitch]

87. William H Macy

The man has RANGE!

[MnFats]

92. Harry Dean Stanton. Woody Strode

n/t

[underpants]

95. Kevin Costner

(runs away) ppppttptptptptptptpt (door slamming) WWWwwwwaaammMPPP!

[flvegan]

98. Tim Curry.

[slybacon9]

100. Phillip Seymour Hoffman

but not for long.

[Lilith Velkor]

110. I hope not.

I just love that man.

[DelawareValleyDem]

102. Don Cheadle

edit: Kevin Pollak and Joe Mantegna runners-up

[LostinVA]

103. Colin Firth

[PassingFair]

104. Timely...seeing as how I predict...

that David Straithairn will walk away with OSCAR in his hands this year.
His portrayal of Murrow was PERFECT.
I still remember him in Passion Fish, too.

[mac56]

105. Fred Gwynne.

Much of what you said about Vincent Price applies equally to him. A gentle, good hearted man who played against type.

I take points off from Vincent Price for guest starring on "Scooby Doo".

[slybacon9]

106. John Turturro and John Malkovich

I know Malkovich is actually pretty famous, but he is still mdoesn't get the credit he deserves.

[slybacon9]

107. oh, and Bill Murray

[Nevernose]

111. Rutger Hauer

I don't know why, but I love this guy. I don't care if it's in a direct-to-video horror show, as a guest star on Smallville, in Blade Runner, or in the Oscar-winning Best Foreign Film "Soldier of Orange," I think the guy's got charisma.

[Blue_Tires]

112. Darrin McGavin (sp)

nt

[GetTheRightVote]

113. Just heard Jerry Lewis on Dave Letterman say it is his partner, Dean

:kick:

[Broken_Hero]

114. Christopher Llyod for one...

Michael Keaton, Ed Harries, and Bruce Campbell for sure...:) Gary Oldman, he is always a semi character in most of his movies..usually at least...