Some actors have amassed an impressive number of roles under their belts, and it should come as no surprise that, with each character they play, they become more and more famous. However, the reality is that some of the most skilled performers in the business have a tendency to disappear in their characters, creating a unique phenomenon where we do recognise them; it’s just that we don’t know what their names are. You know, famous actors nobody knows. On this list, we’ll take a look at 10 actors we’ve probably seen in countless flicks and TV shows, but only because of their faces. These are actors we know but can’t name.
10. Toby Jones
A well-seasoned British thespian, Toby Jones has a respectable number of roles on his resume. He began his acting career in 1992, only getting small support roles until 2006 when his starring role in Infamous turned him into a superstar.
Despite being easily recognisable for his role as Truman Capote, few people mention Toby Jones by name. Perhaps modern audiences would be more familiar with the character he plays in the Captain America movies: Doctor Arnim Zola.
9. Liam Cunningham
Cunningham rose to mainstream popularity thanks to his role as Ser Davos Seaworth in the hit TV series Game of Thrones. However, the Irish actor has been working in the film industry since 1992, mostly starring in small supporting roles.
However, as the saying goes, “there are no small parts, only small actors,” and Cunningham’s acting skills cannot be easily overlooked. The actor has displayed an impressive range in each of his roles, something he demonstrated fully in Game of Thrones, making him a fan-favourite character quite easily. Even more impressive is the fact that he’s one of the few fan-favourite characters who didn’t get killed in the show.
8. Jon Polito
When an actor has been playing different characters for over 30 years, one would expect that his name would be emblazoned on everyone’s minds by now. Sadly, the name “Jon Polito” isn’t uttered with the same admiration as the “Brad Pitts” and “Leonardo DiCaprios” of our time. That doesn’t mean that Polito wasn’t an incredible character actor and one that everyone’s sure to have seen in at least one detective flick.
Perhaps you’ve seen Polito in one of the Coen Brothers’ films. The actor appeared in five of the duo’s movies, including the beloved The Big Lebowski. Sadly, Jon Polito passed away on September 1st, 2016.
7. Oliver Platt
Platt is one of those actors you surely remember from somewhere, but sadly, his name just refuses to leave the tip of your tongue. Born in Canada, Oliver Platt has been working on TV and films since 1988. His features allow him to play a multitude of characters from various ethnic backgrounds, which is a huge plus in the entertainment business.
Even though he’s better known nowadays due to his work on Dick Wolf’s Chicago franchise, Platt has been nominated for two Emmys and one Golden Globe for his outstanding performances in the past.
6. Wallace Shawn
A very serious comedian, Wallace Shawn is a renowned actor and essayist who has been in the business since 1979. His debut in the Woody Allen-directed film Manhattan proved that Shawn was a multifaceted thespian with an impressive range and a strong commitment to his roles.
His most prominent role might be Vizzini in The Princess Bride, even if he’s only in the film for a little while. Beyond traditional acting, Shawn has also demonstrated his talents in voice acting, having been the voice of Rex the Tyrannosaurus in the Toy Story franchise since 1995.
5. Wayne Knight
Better known as “that guy from Jurassic Park,” Knight has been acting since 1979 when he got an uncredited role as a waiter in the movie The Wanderers. He rose to popularity playing the character Newman in the hit comedy series Seinfeld. Thanks to this role and his energetic comedy style, Steven Spielberg wanted him in his new film: a small project with dinosaurs and a theme park.
Knight has managed to avoid the dreaded “Seinfeld curse” to some degree. Much like Wallace Shawn, Knight has also taken part in voice acting, lending his voice to the character Al McWhiggin in Toy Story 2.
He is definitely one of those actors we know but can’t name.
4. M. Emmet Walsh
Over 200 film and television roles: that’s just how dedicated Michael Emmet Walsh is to his craft. From comedy to drama and everything in between, Walsh has been acting since 1969, long before some of the actors on this list were even born.
His deadpan comedy style is something that even Leslie Nielsen would be jealous of. Despite his innate comedic abilities, Walsh has also played some impressive serious roles, like those of Captain Harry Bryant in Blade Runner and Loren Visser in Blood Simple – the Coen Brothers’ debut film.
3. John Carroll Lynch
Better known for his role as Norm Gunderson in Fargo, John Carroll Lynch is a dedicated character actor who doesn’t nearly get all the recognition he deserves. His acting career began in 1993 when he played a small role in the film Grumpy Old Men. Since then, Lynch has been cast as an everyman in a selection of great films, including Gran Torino and Shutter Island.
In 2017, Lynch decided to try directing a film for a change. The result is the touching Lucky: a tale of a 90-year-old man coming to terms with his own mortality. The movie stars Harry Dean Stanton, who, coincidentally, is another actor who is often criminally overlooked.
2. William Fichtner
William Fichtner fits the definition of “famous actor nobody knows” to a T. Although the actor has been acting since 1994, his flexible acting skills and imposing looks make him fit to play any type of character, whether they’re one of the good guys or the villains.
Perhaps his first big role could be considered the one he got in 1998’s Armageddon, where he plays Colonel William Sharp. A couple of years later, he starred in The Perfect Storm and appeared as an unnamed bank manager in 2008’s The Dark Knight.
1. Peter Stormare
Do you need a Russian guy? Here’s Peter Stormare, probably the most famous actor nobody knows. Oh, was it a German villain? Here’s Peter Stormare. Whenever there’s a bad guy in an action flick that’s vaguely Eastern European, there’s a good chance that it’s going to be played by Peter Stormare.
This Swedish actor and musician has appeared in a multitude of roles throughout his career. He began acting in 1978 and has since worked in films, movies, and even video games, most notably in the PS4 title Until Dawn, where a digitalised version of himself appears as the game’s narrator.
As we mentioned before, Stormare’s Eastern European looks and thick accent have made him the guy to call if you need a foreign baddy of any kind. Stormare has acted both in America and in his native Sweden. Let’s just hope that more people know his name in Sweden than they do overseas, even though he’s been in nearly every film with a Russian/German/Ukrainian guy ever made.
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Can you think of other famous actors whose names nobody knows? Are there other actors we know but can’t name?
Just noticed some comments are A YEAR OLD….This is NOT A NEW ARTICLE…???
William Fichtner is my Favorite Actor??!! So I DEFINITELY KNOW his name?☺️ I ‘discovered’ him when I Found a very interesting show on ABC called INVASION ?????
Btw, I just hate the term “Character Actor”….Aren’t ALL ACTORS Character Actors??!! ????
I like the term actor because it represents the type of actor that are not showy or the leading man/woman but slips seamlessly into films in myriad genres and usually a crucial plot point. They are much more versatile than lead actors. These are the rank and file of working actors who managed to carve a niche for themselves in the business and work consistently. I love character actors, you get some of the most poignant, nuanced and subtle performances from these professionals. As well as some of the funniest scenes.
Cliff Curtis ! He played such a variety of roles in so many good movies. Everyone knows him, but few know his name !
John Carroll Lynch’s best role was in Zodiac as the suspected title character. A shame you either forgot to mention this or you’re just not up on his resume.
Also, he had a recurring role as Drew Carey’s brother on his show. He also was terrifying on American Horror Story: Freak Show as Twisty the clown. He is an actor that I definitely know by name.
Xander Berkeley
These lists always amuse me – because maybe the general public don’t know the names of these actors… But, if you are a proper nerd/film buff, then you will know them. Like I do.
Also Glenn Morshower.
Kevin Dunn who has been in a ton of movies, like Ghostbusters2, Dave, the fitrst two Transformers, and so many others.
Here’s the thing. He used to live in a small Southern California town that I used to hang out in and I met him at a coffee house there. He was the busy character actor, and I Was a nobody. He remembered my name, but I routinely forgot his.
Look him up. You know that face!