Just thinking of who might be considered some of the coolest bad guys. I'm not so much talking about stars so much as character actors with presence, who can play a baddy with an air of dangerousness and coolness about them.
Michael Ironside would be one such actor. John Saxon would be another. Rutger Hauer, when he's the bad guy, is very cool.
I would also say Angus Scrimm, but I think his reputation is pretty much based on one series of movies.
Who else?
Dwight Frye, for the "crazy henchman" type.
Christopher Walken Makes just about the freakiest heavy I've ever seen.
Lance Henriksen
I know he's more "mainstream...." but Jack Nicholson rules....also, Tim Curry was a great Pennywise and an excellent Satan.
Dennis Hopper
Andrew (Scorpio) Robinson - "Come to Daddy."
Henry Silva
Brad Dourif
Honorable mention to...
Bruce Dern
Matt Stephens, who played Dr. Eibon in Dead Hate the Living, was a very cool bad guy.
Kane Hodder brings a great personality to Jason.
Pamela Springsteen was great as Angela in the Sleepaway Camp sequels.
And then there's Rutger Hauer, who was already mentioned, but he's one of my favorite actors. Buffy the Vampire Slayer ruled, don't laugh.
Kurtwood Smith as Clarence Bodiker in Robocop.
Andrew Divoff in the first two Wishmaster movies, Toy Soldiers and others.
I cannot believe Lee Van Cleef is not on this list already. He called his "rat-faced sneer" his Hollywood meal ticket.
Christopher Lee. Anytime he's the villain it instantly heats things up. Is anyone better suited to play Saruman? After seeing the documentaries on the LOTR DVDs I can only say absolutely not.
I personally like Peter Greene.
Jet Li did a good job playing the bad guy in Lethal Weapon 4 (the best part of that movie, really). And I thought Hugo Weaving did a great job in the Matrix as Agent Smith. I loved the delivery of his lines in that film ("I'm going to be as forthcoming as I can, Mr. Anderson...).
"You must take the ring to Mordor, Mr. Anderson"
What? No mention of Al Latteri ( check spelling) The guy Michael Shot for poppa in "The Godfather"? Her was also in "The Getaway". Died way too young.
Warren Oats! "Dillanger"...."Bring me the head Ect."....Even Sgt Hulka in "Stripes." Gotta admit...two of the greats.
Can i just say that one of the worst bad guys ever is george clooney?
He awas terrible in "from dusk 'til dawn"
But I thought Quentin Tar-an-tee-no (emily being lazy and not wanting to look it up) did a good job in that flick.
I'm sorry there was nothing good about Dusk Till Dawn! Naturally I liked it... ;-)
Hye, Juliette Lewis and Savini's acting were good, and Savini's effects were their usual greatness.
Michael Wincott is a good villain. Mostly his voice, as it just SOUNDS dark and evil and sinister-like.
KNB did the effects. Of course Greg N. DID work for Savini, so I guess...in a way...Savini was partly responsible for the effects. Interestingly, his character originally had a cameo, but when Tarantino and RR saw Savini in character, they gave him a much larger part...
Fred Williamson and Tom Savini...together...in the same shot....
COOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLNESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love FDtD. I'm a big fan of Tarantino, and of course of splatter comedies, so it was right up my alley. I've even gotten my dad into it (he doesn't like it once the vampires show up, but for the first hour it's one of his new favorite movies).