Underappreciated Actors

[orion59]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 9:54am

So tired of threads dedictaed to subjects such as when Idina had her last bowel movement, whether or not Kristen has changed her brand of masscara and what brand of paint was used to do the sets of Wicked. Gosh I want to do my bedroom in teh exact same shade of green as the Emerald City.

Let's give some due to those great actors who have not achieved cult status. Actors who don't receive the attention they deserve. You know who I mean. The ones that give great performances no matter what part they are playing. The ones who have honed the craft of acting, do the job beautifully yet somehow evade the attention paid to their every movement. Those actors who, when their names are mentioned, cause the teen fans to say "WHO?"

Who are these people? List your favorites. Two that come immediately to mind are:

Mercedes Ruehl
Stockard Channing

Updated On: 5/4/04 at 09:54 AM

[Ruffian]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 11:25am

Stephen Dillane

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 11:36am

I would definitely have to agree about Ms. Susan Stockard (A.K.A Stockard Channing). She is a magnificent actress.
I would also have to say:
Linda Lavin
&
Christopher Walken (Who may be pretty well known, but is often thought of as weird and scary. I think he is one of the greatest actors, and quite versatile). A lot of people don't even consider the fact that he was a Chorus Boy for a great many years.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 11:55am

MADONNA!!!
Just kidding.
But I swear to God, if COURTNEY LOVE wasn't such a ****-up, she would have been a huge acting sensation on a par with Bette Midler or Cher in their respective primes.
Luvvin' the ladies:
ELIZABETH MARVEL (I think she's the Real Thing)
MARTHA PLIMPTON (Maybe the best actress of her generation. Should have been nominated for an Oscar for "Eye of God")
KATE WINSLETT (Should be a much bigger star than she is.)
LOIS SMITH (How do you totally enchant with several pages of purely expository dialogue? Check out "Minority Report")
ISABELLE HUPPERT (I can't imagine Meryl or Sigourney having the guts to take on "The Piano Teacher")
MARISA TOMEI (People seem to hold it against her that she won the Oscar for no good reason. She's damn brilliant.)
ROSIE PEREZ (The next time you see a crappy movie ask yourself: Would this have been more interesting with Rosie Perez as the lead? The answer is almost always yes.)
KATE NELLIGAN, SISSY SPACEK, MIA FARROW....uh, girls where are you hiding?
And did CHLOE WEBB retire, find a sugar daddy, or OD in some flop house somewhere...?

[orion59]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 11:59am

I just recently saw an episode of Law & Order SVU in which Martha Plimpton played a herion addicted prostitute. She was, as always, wonderful. I used to love her and had forgotten about her because she hasn't been around much. It was nice to see her in one of those meaty roles that she so easily used to take on and perform brilliantly, even if was only one episode of a tv show.

[mominator]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 12:50pm

Wow, juch great lists alredy. Last year I saw a small off broadway show called "Tea at Five" Kate Mulgrew did a one woman show on two days in the life of Katherine Hepburn. So I'd like to add Ms. Mulgrews' name to the ever growing list.
Barbara

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 12:52pm

Timothy Olyphant
Helen McCrory
Johdi May
Matthew Modine

[ckeaton]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 1:14pm

Julia Roberts
Tom Cruise
Brad Pitt

...oh wait, sorry wrong list.

James Cromwell
Hector Elizondo
Gary Sinise

[Ruffian]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 1:21pm

LOVE CROMWELL & SINISE

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 6:10pm

John Glover

[dramaqueen]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 7:34pm

ckeaton-even if it were the right list-not exactly what i'd call "underappreciated"-who is ur icon(im sure i asked u this several times)

[marge2033]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 7:48pm

Marc Kudisch
Anastasia Barzi
Lili Taylor
Devon May

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 8:42pm

John C. Reilly. Enough said!

[DAME]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 8:54pm

John C. Reilly is brilliant. I thought he was sesational in Chicago. I have now seen him in 3 films and two plays. I am convinced he is one of the best we got.

[HunterFosterIsMyGod]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 9:08pm

tia leoni (i know i spelled that wrong...is it leonie?)

[DAME]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 10:00pm

I love her!

[HunterFosterIsMyGod]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 10:04pm

yay! me too. i esp. love here in FAMILY MAN. i hate nicholas cage, though.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 10:13pm

I have always hated Nicholas Cage. He was seated next to me at this reastaurant called Spumante here in my neighborhood. He is bald.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 10:53pm

I know that the actress I'm going to name is getting more mainstream, but people still do not appreciate her work as much as they should. Renee Zellwegger. She has done some really wonderful work before Chicago, espeically some very good independent films. She is incredible with her comedy and drama, the faces she makes sometimes are to die for, and lots of teens do not consider her to be a great great actress. Though she is wonderful. Just my thoughts.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/5/04 at 12:41am

I would have to see one of the most underappreciated actresses working today is Michelle Pfeiffer. I know that she is a huge star and a stunningly beautiful woman, but people ALWAYS seem to forget just how absolutely amazing she is as an actress.
-Matt

[jcr279]

Posted: 5/5/04 at 12:47am

Francis Conroy from Six Feet Under is one of the best. I am so impressed any time I see her in anything. I just can't seem to take my eyes off her when she is in a scene.

[TiggerMee]

Posted: 5/5/04 at 2:05am

In my opinion, Norbert Leo Butz is the most underappreciated actor! He is my favorite guy on broadway right now and he has been totally passed over regarding recognition for his amazing performance in WICKED. He is incredible and I admire him so much. He is the greatest! Yay Norbert!!!!!!!

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 5/5/04 at 8:40pm

Marcia Gay Harden
Swoozie Kurtz
Pamela Isaacs
Kevin Bacon (yup, I mean it)

and about 1000 other working actors in New York.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/5/04 at 8:47pm

Me.

[CJR]

Posted: 5/5/04 at 9:15pm

Gabriela Garcia from the cast of Chicago on Broadway. She's a swing in the company, but covered Velma in Mexico City. She's an amazing talent who is SO underused and underappreciated!

Also... Donna Lynne Champlin. If you have DLC in a show, USE HER!