Most Underrated Actors/Actresses

[jason-h]

Any thoughts on your favorite Actors or Actresses that usually receive little or no acclaim?

I will start with Scott Glenn, Total powerhouse of an actor.

[thelastknowngod]

ill say that one of the most underrated directors is Darren Aronofsky. The Fountain, Pi, Requiem for a Dream... all of them great in their own way.

Jennifer Connolly as well. Requiem for a Dream, House of Sand and Fog, Dark City, A Beautiful Mind, The Rocketeer, Labyrinth... there arnt many of her films i dont like... Hulk would be one of them. haha

[steek]

Michael C Hall is one of my favorite actors. Hes Done Six Feet Under on HBO which I loved. Now hes doing Dexter on showtime which in my opinion is the best show on television right now. If you havent seen Dexter yet go watch it, its really good.

[ipostfearfully]

I have to thank my girlfriend for this one, but I believe Vincent D'Onofrio is one of the most underrated actors right now. If you don't believe me, go watch the Salton Sea, MiB 1, The 13th Floor, etc... He hasn't always picked the best flicks, but he is an amazing actor.

[jason-h]

Is anyone else a Matthew Lillard fan?

[tokenuser]

I have to thank my girlfriend for this one, but I believe Vincent D'Onofrio is one of the most underrated actors right now. If you don't believe me, go watch the Salton Sea, MiB 1, The 13th Floor, etc... He hasn't always picked the best flicks, but he is an amazing actor.Wow - someone else who saw The Thirteenth Floor, an infinately more intelligent movie that got overshadowed by a similar story settting - The Matrix.

Vincent D'Onofrio would have got a nod from me except he is the single most annoying character EVER to be on a Law & Order series.

[spinney]

Jeremy Renner from 28 weeks later and SWAT

That wink in the previews made me want to see it.

to bad it wasnt in to movie

[darksyns]

The first two that come to mind are William Forsythe and Nathan Fillion.

The things I have seen William Forsythe do with some of the characters he's played ....well have been amazing. I know alot of people either hate or really hate The Devil's Rejects but I honestly just love the movie for two things ...the music (which is another story) and just the way he slowly goes off the deep end. By the end of the movie he's the baddest mother ****er ever.

So do I really need an explanation on why Nathan Fillion is totally underrated as an actor or does everyone already agree with me (you should).

[magunwarrior]

So do I really need an explanation on why Nathan Fillion is totally underrated as an actor or does everyone already agree with me (you should).

I agree 100%.

[poltah]

Because Firefly is awesome. But really, I don't think Nathan Fillion is underrated as an actor. I don't think enough people know him for him to be underrated.

[divadawg9234]

Jennifer Connolly as well. Requiem for a Dream, House of Sand and Fog, Dark City, A Beautiful Mind, The Rocketeer, Labyrinth... there arnt many of her films i dont like... Hulk would be one of them. haha
I don't know where you live, but here on Earth, everyone know that Connolly is amazing ;)

[stopikingonme]

Keanu Reeves FTW!!






...oh.....wait you said UNDERrated....ew....my bad




(I knew we were in trouble when I saw him try (and fail) to do Shakespear in Kenneth Brannaugh's "Much Ado about Nothing")

[masherscf]

Ben Affleck is underrated...

He sucks a LOT more then people think he does...

[masherscf]

Wow - someone else who saw The Thirteenth Floor, ....

I feel bad, I rented that movie twice and never watched it...

[jason-h]

I just thought of two more, Clancy Brown and Karl Urban!

[Dazabrit]

I just thought of two more, Clancy Brown and Karl Urban!

I second Clancy Brown.... the guy is a leg-end.

He stars in two of my fave shows: Lost and Carnivale

[real]

The guy from Brick

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Awesome

[viperdkm]

The guy from Brick

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Awesome

I totally agree with you, he was also great in Manic.

[kickarse]

I'd have to say Alex Albrecht...

rofflecopter

[mittop]

What would qualify an actor or actress as underrated? Perceived skill but not a lot of roles? Or how about not a lot of awards? Depending on the criteria, I might change me answer.

[esophagus]

Steve Buscemi and William H. Macy. They obviously have a lot of Hollywood standing, but I don't they get the recognition they deserve.

[eddielee]

William Fichtner. He's "that guy who's in a lot of movies" but he's an incredible actor. I don't really know if he's underrated since he's had many roles, but he is under recognized.

[heyseuss]

Barely any of you understood the meaning of the term 'underrated'.

'cept Mash. !

[MaxTheSilent]

William Fichtner. He's "that guy who's in a lot of movies" but he's an incredible actor. I don't really know if he's underrated since he's had many roles, but he is under recognized.

Hell, yes. Been a big fan of his for a long time.

If you can stomach the turd-biscuit that is ULTRAVIOLET you'll see Fichtner acting his ass off in a movie far below his talents.

In terms of "that guy!" character actors, one of the greatest of all time was the late, great J.T. Walsh.

[ngower]

Piper Perabo

I'd also say Thora Birch doesn't get the roles she deserves, but I think people know she's a good actress when they see her.

[jason-h]

William Fichtner. He's "that guy who's in a lot of movies" but he's an incredible actor. I don't really know if he's underrated since he's had many roles, but he is under recognized.

OMG!!! you are soo right! i think he's awesome in pretty much anything he does.

[real]

I totally agree with you, he was also great in Manic.


I'll have to check it out thanks for the tip. checking Netflix right now

[iggystar]

Sigh, always the debate on the definition of the term "underrated". I thinking of starting a thread like this and naming it, "Your lesser known (possibly) most favorite actor who might or might not have a couple of awards, but should be making more money" thread.

I really love Fichtner, but right now my favorite is Alison Lohman. She's great!

[barrelroll]

Gary Oldman has to be one of the greatest underrated actors... He's so good in everything he does. Each of his roles are so different... I actually think he's one of the best actors of our time.

Yeah, I went that far.

[heyseuss]

Sigh, always the debate on the definition of the term "underrated". I thinking of starting a thread like this and naming it, "Your lesser known (possibly) most favorite actor who might or might not have a couple of awards, but should be making more money" thread.

I really love Fichtner, but right now my favorite is Alison Lohman. She's great!

****in' :rolleyes: Agreed indeed and yet they are still naming some of the most respected actors as underrated.

[zxao]

some good stuff.
The most underrated as well as greatest actor of his generation (imho) is hands DOWN Christian Bale.

I understand he's gaining quite a bit of popularity in recent years but still.
I cant think of a more versatile, dedicated actor. To me he has a very "old school" feel. I could see him fitting in perfectly in some of the great B/W films from way back when.

For crying out loud, The guy can sing and dance!!!

i recommend everyone go to imdb.com and look him up. Then go and rent everyone of his movies that you have not yet seen. You'll truly be blown away.

[boxcarjay]

Because Firefly is awesome. But really, I don't think Nathan Fillion is underrated as an actor. I don't think enough people know him for him to be underrated.

thats kind of the point in him being underrated. cause he is a great actor and people dont know about him and he doesnt get a lot of work.

[rickweasel]

Is anyone else a Matthew Lillard fan?

I am a fan of his work. He was great in SLC punk and good in Serial mom too. i like that flick. I think he was the best of all the actors in 13 ghost too. That movie sucked imo.

[heyseuss]

I am a fan of his work. He was great in SLC punk and good in Serial mom too. i like that flick. I think he was the best of all the actors in 13 ghost too. That movie sucked imo.

I liked him in Hackers, but he absolutely kicked ass sideways up the ceiling in Finders Fee, which btw, has great performances from every actor, including James Earl Jones and Ryan Reynolds et al, and is an excellent movie overall. Watch Finders Fee ppl if you haven't. So good.

Heya Rick, how's the new mac and new job ?

[rabidbadger]

It's hard to call these two guys "underrated" 'cause they have been around forever, are always working, and are household names.
So maybe call them under-respected, or something:

Matt Dillon. Drugstore Cowboy is his masterwork.

Mark Whalberg. Amazingly subtle actor in some of his lesser known movies.

Mr Dillon should have had an Oscar decades a go.

[jason-h]

It's hard to call these two guys "underrated" 'cause they have been around forever, are always working, and are household names.
So maybe call them under-respected, or something:

Matt Dillon. Drugstore Cowboy is his masterwork.

Mark Whalberg. Amazingly subtle actor in some of his lesser known movies.

Mr Dillon should have had an Oscar decades a go.



I can't argue with you on Matt, he is awesome across the board and can really do it all.

i like Donnie Whalberg better than i like Mark, he's much more talented imho.

[tsmith15]

Viggo Mortensen for his work outside of LOTR.

[darthender]

I'd have to say Bruce Campbell is technically underrated since he's not in every movie ever.

[rickweasel]

I liked him in Hackers, but he absolutely kicked ass sideways up the ceiling in Finders Fee, which btw, has great performances from every actor, including James Earl Jones and Ryan Reynolds et al, and is an excellent movie overall. Watch Finders Fee ppl if you haven't. So good.

Heya Rick, how's the new mac and new job ?

damn i never got to that flick. I will rent it and check it out. the new mac is great, although i need to get a new mouse for it. job isnt to bad. been slow but that give me time to go on the forums haha. or read.

[gglynn00]

My favorite actor of all time is Scott Bakula...I think he got typecast into sci-fi...Although that's not such a bad thing...Of course I think a lot of sci-fi guys got raw deals...Patrick Stewart I think would be great in some roles...Nathan Fillion is getting to be the same I'm afraid...I think he is awesome and he's charming and handsome, I think a dude can say that about another dude...

[heyseuss]

damn i never got to that flick. I will rent it and check it out. the new mac is great, although i need to get a new mouse for it. job isnt to bad. been slow but that give me time to go on the forums haha. or read.

The movie is incredibly unique. After the first 6 mins or so, it's non-stop dialogue. Prepare to follow a tonne of talking and character traits all bouncing off of each other at once. Don't walk away from the screen to go to the kitchen or anything because the films ending that it's leading up to, will blow your mind. Lillard got the role that all the actors kind of wanted. I lik ehim, but I don't like it when he does stonery/x-gen/teen type roles, and this one is far from it.

Like I said ppl, Finders Fee is a very good story, don't be put off by who wrote and directed it.

[niceguyjsk]

My vote goes to the entire cast of Arrested Development... how does FOX let a critically acclaimed and award winning show like that die? :confused::mad::(

[heyseuss]

how does FOX let a critically acclaimed and award winning show like that die? :confused::mad::(

Oh they've had LOTS of practice doing that.

[satori]

David Warner
As Sark from tron:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/f/ff/Sark.jpg
As Evil from Time bandits:
http://www.cuppatea.org/evil2.jpg
the head pirate from Island:
http://www.nndb.com/people/805/000042679/david-warner-6.jpg
and a sea of other great roles including multiple Star Trek appearances in the movies and TV shows
He's like the Steve Buscemi of Sci Fi.

[bananaboat]

The pie man from Pushing Daisies. I'm not sure why I've never seen him before, because he is brilliant at playing the slightly-socially odd type, like he does on Pushing Daisies. Even for his brilliance on the show, I have no idea what his name is, which probably goes to show you why he is underrated (noone can remember his name).

Another is probably Ian McKellen (sp). For all his work as Gandalf and Magneto, noone except for us (you know what I mean by "Us") knows his name, or anything about him.

[heyseuss]

Another is probably Ian McKellen (sp). For all his work as Gandalf and Magneto, noone except for us (you know what I mean by "Us") knows his name, or anything about him.

Ummm, no, not at all.

[bananaboat]

Far be it from a formal study of his popularity, but there have been times that I've been watching TV with friends and family, and noone except for me recognized him when he appeared. I guess it all depends on what type of underrated. Hollywood rates him pretty high, but middle America (where I live) doesn't especially.

[heyseuss]

Far be it from a formal study of his popularity, but there have been times that I've been watching TV with friends and family, and noone except for me recognized him when he appeared. I guess it all depends on what type of underrated. Hollywood rates him pretty high, but middle America (where I live) doesn't especially.

If you like him and haven't seen it, check out The Apt Pupil. He's rather good in that. You should probably read it first though which you can find in a book of 4 short stories by Stephen King called The Four Seasons that are all worth reading. 3/4 of the stories are good movies now. There are some very good sings of his acting ability in The Apt Pupil. It's also directed by Bryan Singer and was his third film which he did after Usual Suspects. In comparison, the story is a little bit better, but both are worth checking out.

[mltvcocktail]

Chris Cooper
David Cross
Jason Bateman
Paul Rudd
Leslie Mann
Paul Giamatti
Robert Patrick
William Atherton (Die Hard, Ghostbusters)
Sean Bean
Michael Ironside
Williams Fichtner and Forsythe
David Morse
Stephen Root
J.K. Simmons

Ok, I'm done.

[bredrenised]

Hugely underrated is the best on screen couple:

Kyle Chandler
Connie Britton

Friday Night Lights is awesome!

[jason-h]

Chris Cooper
David Cross
Jason Bateman
Paul Rudd
Leslie Mann
Paul Giamatti
Robert Patrick
William Atherton (Die Hard, Ghostbusters)
Sean Bean
Michael Ironside
Williams Fichtner and Forsythe
David Morse
Stephen Root
J.K. Simmons

Ok, I'm done.

I will second this!!!!