Badmovies.org Forum

Ahhh, the "that guy."  Where would we be without him?

For those of you who don't know, a "that guy" is one of those character actors that appears in a lot of movies, but no one really knows his name.  When you see him in something, you're likely to point him out and say "It's that guy!"  Some of the "that guys" now have names commonly associated with them, such as Reginald VelJohnson and Seymor Hoffman.

So I put it o you guys:

A) Who's your favorite "that guy"

B) Describe a "that guy" and see if anyone knows his actual name.

Not really my favorite, but I think "Brion James" (http://us.imdb.com/Name?James,+Brion ) qualifies as a 'that guy'

How about that guy from the show sliders and scream 2, he keeps popping up randomly

He's a good one!  "That guy's" name is jerry O'Connell, apparently.

I think my favorite "That guy" is the dude who was in "Anaconda" and recently starred in "Behind Enemy Lines."  Who is that guy, anyway?

how bout that chinese dude thats been in every action movie ever made... i think maco is his name or some crap like that, but he's got to be the king of "that guy"...

Ah, Mako. Yup, he's played Japanese soldiers, karate instructors, wizards and plenty of generic Japanese guys.

If you want aboriginal, Graham Greene is 'that guy.' If you can't get him, there's always Tom Jackson (aka Billy Two Feathers).

I used to consider Ben Stein to be 'that guy,' but he soon became known by name.

One of my favourites, however, would have to be Vincent Sciavelli, whom I used to know as 'that guy with the droopy face.' It would be a toss-up between him and Michael Berryman, that bald guy with the really weird face.

Mako is a tremendous example...also a good one is that big dude who has played Native Americans and Asian people as well in a lot of bad movies...I don't know his name, but I can conjure up a good picture of him...he may even have been in "The Scorpion King..."  Theres also Mr. Miagi...and idea what "that guy's" real name is?  I don't think he's the same as Mako.  Mako was in the Conan series (you gotta love Conan!), if I recall correctly, and I'm pretty sure Mr. Miagi was not.

James Earl Jones used to be a great "that guy" but I think after "Field of Dreams" his cover was blown.

Also important to note is that Reginald VelJohnson, a.k.a. Carl Winslow or the cop in the "Die Hard" movies actually does do other things than be a big cop in T.V. and movies!!!!  He was recently on "Will and Grace" playing a even bigger gay leader of a support group.  I could be wrong, I don't watch the show, but that's what I heard.

I'd throw Danny Trejo (http://us.imdb.com/Name?Trejo,%20Danny) in as a hispanic 'that guy'

Also Bolo Yeung (http://us.imdb.com/Name?Yeung,%20Bolo)

"He's a good one! "That guy's" name is jerry O'Connell, apparently."

I recently noticed that that guy played Vern (the fat kid) in 'Stand By Me' as well.

"Theres also Mr. Miagi...and idea what "that guy's" real name is?"

That's Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita. He wins the award for the most random name shortening. "My name's Noriyuki but you can call me Pat". He was also Arnold in Happy Days. I used to get him mixed up with another 'that guy', Victor Wong, who's the old chinese guy in Big Trouble in Little China, the Golden Child, Tremors and 3 Ninjas.

My other nomination is Paul Giamatti. He may be higher profile in the U.S., but while watching the new Planet of the Apes i actually said 'hey, its that guy' but couldnt even remember one thing I'd seen him in.

Also important to notw is Lou Diamond Phillips, who keeps turning up.  I can never remember anything that he's in....except for that movie where they kidnap China Chong (what an interesting name that is!) and I think he was in Bats......

He's also in Route 666 (which was on recently, IIRC).
He's actually a prime candidate for a "Where are They Now" segment, I can't even remember his character's name on Miami Vice.

Both Vincent Schiaveli and Danny Trejo are really good examples. But I have an even better one: Al Leong. I'll elaborate: Nobody knows how this man is called, but you can found him in any american actioner featuring orientals (check IMDB).

His speciality is being cast as a chinese goon and die horribly after a few scenes, when not in the very first one. He was the chinese goon in "Die Hard" (that guy Willis shoots in the rooftop), the chinese goon in "The replacement killers", the chinese goon in "Escape from L.A.". And who could forget him as the chinese goon in "Death warrant"? His appearence always steals some good laughs from me and my friends and we never get dissapointed whenever he enters frame. He is always the warranty of a cheesy movie and some inevitable violence.

Ron White is the biggest "that guy" I've seen in my lifetime.

I nearly fell off my chair when I saw him in that horrible movie "Screamers".

I nearly fell off my chair when I saw him in that horrible movie "Screamers".

Other then the multiple shock-endings, I really liked Screamers

As long as we're doing Asian That Guys, the all-time record has to go to James Hong.  Everyone in the world has seen him somewhere; according to his official site (http://www.jamshong.com), he's been in over 450 movies and TV episodes.

My favorite That Guy has got to be Art LaFleur, though.

And what's incredibly special is when you get a That Guy movie, where the ENTIRE CAST is That Guys.  Like Chaindance (1990), starring Michael Ironside and Brad Dourif doing meaningful dramatic roles (with Rae DAwn Chong on the side!).

Nathan

Amazing how many of these actors don't have photos on IMDB

On the subject of Asian 'that guys,' MASH was chock full of familiar faces playing the Koreans. Wish I could put names to some of them. Most of them I know by such names as the little bald guy, the big bald guy, the really wide-eyed guy, etc.

One name that actually springs to mind is Keye Luke, who played wise old Chinese guys quite a bit. I believe he was also a Korean on MASH at least once or twice, and played Mac's Vietnamese grandfather-in-law on Night Court. He had a very distinctive voice, and did quite a few cartoons as well.

IMDb has a "Place the Face" feature on their photo galleries page (http://us.imdb.com/Sections/Gallery/), which usually features actor like these.

Today's example isn't a very good one, though.

Today's example isn't a very good one, though.

Yeah, you gotta be seen in more than two movies to get 'that guy' status :)

Don Davis is a pretty good one; he played Major Briggs on Twin Peaks, and I think he's on that Stargate show too. I nearly did a spit-take when I saw him as a judge in Best In Show.

And let's not forget perhaps the king of the That Guys: Dick Miller!

I think that Steve Buscemi qualifies as a that guy. He could almost qualify for the new Borgnine or George Kennedy of this era. Also Jeff Imada is another asian that guy. he's been in Rapid Fire, Big Trouble in Little China, And Die Hard just to name a few.




Shop smart. Shop S-Mart.

For those who don't know westerns, Sam Elliot is a good "that guy with the mustache"

Also, F. Murray Abraham, who was in 13 Ghosts, Mimic, Muppets in Space, Mobsters, Mighty Aphrodite, National Lampoons Loaded Weapon, Star Trek:  Insurrection, Finding Forrester, a bunch of Bible movies, and many other things.  He's right up there for most random career ever.

On a side note, a notable "that girl" is Cameron Manenheim, who always plays the slightly awkward chunky girl.

I dont know for sure, but wouldn't Gene Hackman really fit the role of a that guy. He always seems to be in the most random of movies and will do anything, from a blind man in Young Frankenstein, to Lex Luthor in Superman, I know he is famous now, but I think he was an original that guy

Just remembered another one: That guy who always played the gay characters in Mel Brooks' movies-- The director's manservant in The Producers, Count DuMonet's friend in History of the World, Part 1, etc. What was that guy's name, anyway? Is he still around?

I don't think Gene Hackman counts because he's too well known and has had too many leading roles....

Christ!  No way in hell can I pull "Karman Ghia"'s real name out of a hat -- good one . . .
I worked with Mako on the PRI production of "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" -- he plays the King of the Flying Monkeys -- He is a really nice man with a great sense of humour -- he laughs at everyone's jokes, even the not-very-good ones.  I got a laugh out of him by doing an imitation of him & Frank Burns (Larry Linville) on the M.A.S.H. TV show.
My favorite "That Guy" is/was Elisha Cook Jr., before I ever knew who he was -- that guy was in at least as many movies as Mako -- or so it seems . . .
peter johnson

Don't know why I didn't think of him before, but Kenneth Tigar is the epitome of "that guy." He's got a fairly distinctive face, and shows up in a lot of movies. some of you guys might remember him as the priest in Phantasm II. He has also done an impressive number of guest appearances on TV.

I think the thing that makes Kenneth Tigar a real "that guy" is that I wasn't even aware of his name until I looked it up this morning, but I've known his face for about 20 years.

I also think Tim Curry is obscure enough to be a that guy.  Sure, he was famous for Rocky Horror, but you very rarely can recognize him because he's always has make-up on or something, so when he appears plain clothed, no one knows who he is.  He was in:

Rocky Horror Picture Show (Frank 'n' Furter)
Legend (Satan)
It (the clown)
Some Nickelodian movie (the bad guy)
Clue (the butler)
He also appeared on Roseanne for a while as Jackie's boyfriend.

He's been in a lot of other things....(what was that Tom Arnold movie about the Army guys....MacHale's Navy or something?)

So yeah, I think he counts.

Tim Curry: Muppet Treasure Island. That guy.

Tim Curry - "Alan Rickman"for when your story's not quite that serious

Tim Curry was a wierd foreign 'that guy' in Congo too.

on a side note, I was watching "Congo" with my roomate and she pointed to him and said, "It's that guy!"

I was so proud!

>that movie where they kidnap China Chong

China Chow actually.

>But I have an even better one: Al Leong

He played Endo in Lethal Weapon.

>One name that actually springs to mind is Keye Luke

 He played the Chinese shop keeper in Gremlins.

>Don Davis is a pretty good one; he played Major Briggs on Twin Peaks,

And Scully's father on The X-Files.

>I also think Tim Curry is obscure enough to be a that guy

He's now playing Mr. French on the new version of Family Affair.

How about Will Sampson, the large indian in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Poltergeist II? Or Soon Tek Oh who always plays an evil Veitnemes(sp?) colonel.

That fat cop with the buzzut in "Airheads"

i think "this guy" has already been named
the mexican guy that is HUGE and has all the tattoos??
he was in Dusk til Dawn and TONS of prison movies

one my favorite "that guy"s would either be Steve Buschemi (sp?)
and one similar i CAN'T think of his name..
ahaha
i just recently watched Happy, Texas on Comedy Central where he plays a gay cop
and i think he is in a new movie called Door to Door
what is THAT GUY'S name!!?!?!?!
he is in tons of stuff
and love when he pops into a movie

Kyla wrote:
>
> i think "this guy" has already been named
> the mexican guy that is HUGE and has all the tattoos??
> he was in Dusk til Dawn and TONS of prison movies
>

Danny Trejo

> and one similar i CAN'T think of his name..
> ahaha
> i just recently watched Happy, Texas on Comedy Central where
> he plays a gay cop
> and i think he is in a new movie called Door to Door
> what is THAT GUY'S name!!?!?!?!
> he is in tons of stuff
> and love when he pops into a movie

William H. Macy

 My favorite "that guy" that I can't believe anyone hasn't mentioned is Mattias Hues. He always plays the big crazy chief henchman who has a long martial arts fight with the hero but loses, obviously. I don't think he's EVER played a good guy.

Who's "Johnny 23" in "Con-Air?"  Has he been named?  Craggy faced Mexican.......

Who's "Johnny 23" in "Con-Air?" Has he been named?

Danny Trejo, mentioned a few times.

My memory is realy starting to work now. I don't know why I didn't think of Mickey Jones sooner. He's a big, burly guy with a long red beard. Shows up in lots of movies and TV shows as a biker, trucker or other country stereotype. He was a member of Doyle's band in Sling Blade, a miner in Total Recall and a mechanic in Vacation and I think he had a recurring role on Home Improvement. Those are the ones that spring immediately to mind.

I'm not sure of this actor's name but I've seen him in a number of films and always like his work.  

He played Major Baxter on The Rock (Ed Harris' right hand man) and is in a more recent film I saw but can't remember which.

He's definitely a "that guy" in my opinion.  Maybe he was already mentioned in this thread and I just didn't recognize his name.

Hues was a good-guy smuggler in Cyberzone.

Nathan

For somwe reason, thinking about Hues reminds me of Billy Drago

Yeah, they both have large noses, at least to me. Billy Drago always looks ill and as he gets older he gets creepier looking. Hues just looks serious and Nordic and as if he'll kick your ass and not care.


 Then, of course, there's Patrick Kilpatrick and Kim Coates, two more "that guys" that I'm sure you've seen but don't know where.

>why I didn't think of Mickey Jones sooner

And from V: The Final Battle.

Happened to catch Monster in the Closet on Drive-In Classics this morning. It had a couple of actors worthy of 'that guy' status.

Paul Dooley was one. He's shown up in a few movies. He was Claude Elsinore in Strange Brew, the father in Sixteen Candles, and a Cardassian on one of the Star Trek shows.

More significant was Jesse White. He's a 'that guy' from an earlier generation, showing up in a lot of movies from the 60s. Some of you will remember him as the lonely Maytag repairman, before Gordon Jump took over.

I'm a bit surprised that no one mentioned "that guy" that seemed to pop up in every major motion picture back in the Golden Days (speak: before I dedicated my life to crappy movies and actually watched movies on the big screen - late 80's/early 90's): Stephen Tobolowsky (hope I spelled him right), probably best remembered from "Groundhog Day". Last time I noticed him was in "Glimmer Man" (so go figure).

cheers
Markus

Ooh, good one! I went nuts watching Memento, trying to figure out where I'd seen him (I think it was Thelma & Louise).

i love THAT GUY!!!!!

thank you!!

yeah! THAT GUY is cool!!
one of my favorites!

another one: i REALLY can't remember his name though...
i recently saw him in Duets (don't ask i was sick as hell and it was on TV)
ohhh!!!!
one of his best known:
Pig F*cker in Howard Stern's Private Parts

i love THAT GUY

this chic really gets on my nerves most of the time...
but i have no idea what her name is..
and i see her in EVERYTHING it seems these days

she was a secretary on Ally McBeal
she played Betty Rubble in one of the Flinstones movies
she has a new Herbal Essence commercial now....
and i saw her in a movie on Lifetime network about her and some guy meeting at the dog park and thier dogs fall in love or something, then they fall in love
something stupid... i watched for about 3 mins

ick