Underrated/Underused Actors and Actresses

[Matt]

You know the ones...they never (or rarely ever) get the lead roles in film, but they always deliver the goods in those supporting roles. They are often relegated to 'hey, it's that guy from XXXX movie again' status, and you never really learn to appreciate their career until you look at IMDB and see just how many films they've done.

Case in point: Will Patton. The guy has been around for 30 years or so, constantly working, constantly delivering the goods. He's frequently the right-hand man to somebody ('No Way Out', 'The Punisher', 'Armageddon', 'Gone in 60 Seconds') and occasionally he's the bad guy ('The Postman', '24'). Whatever...he's the goods and deserves more respect.

Others?

[Captain Russ]

Alfred Molina.

Even in bad movies, he shines.

Whether he is chasing after Syl, kowtowing to Maverick, or interrogating a clueless Bill Murray, he always brings his best (or more importantly, his most appropriate) bag of tricks to the show.

[Anderson]

Scatman Crothers - Easily one of my favorite actors ever. Now, you only get the random person that remembers him as Hong Kong Phooey or from the Shining.

[Captain Russ]

Kim Coates also falls under this banner.

Shit, I watched fucking Carpool because he was in it.

There is something wrong with me.

[Ed Hocken]

Ron Pearlman
Scott Bakula
Thomas Wilson

[FilmNerdJamie]

James Marsden. A character actor with the looks and charm of a leading man and can effectively be heroic (X-Men and Superman Returns), funny (Enchanted) and dramatic (The Notebook).

This guy should be Jack Ryan.

[Matt]

John Polito. I swear, only the Coen Brothers have utilized him to his full potential.

[Ed Hocken]

Instead he's in Straw Dogs

And speaking of Jon Polito, check him out in the first season of Homicide. A shame that he got fired from the show.

[Timothy225]

Bridget Fonda. Loved her in damn near everything she's done, wish she'd do more work.

[Ed Hocken]

Kurtwood Smith
Ed O'Neill
Katey Segal

[Captain Russ]

Jason Isaacs.

Always solid.

Always.

Even armed with nothing but the opening voiceover and the dubbing of a doctor at the end, he was the best part of Resident Evil. It's not saying much, but he barely lifted a fucking finger and came out of it being even cooler.

[Matt]

Bridget Fonda. Loved her in damn near everything she's done, wish she'd do more work.

I'm honestly surprised that she never 'made it' as a star. I never thought that she was a great actress but she was better than many other starlets that had long, successful careers.

[Ed Hocken]

Second on Issacs, he's the only good thing about The Brotherhood.

[Captain Russ]

Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Solid work for fucking years.

[Ed Hocken]

William Sanderson aka JS Sebastian

He's always had a great prescence AND he's got a law degree