"That Guy" Character Actors And How You Know Them

You Know “That Guy”

They're the faces you recognize on-screen but can't quite place. They're the actors that make you say, "I know that guy, he was in..."

Many of these actors manage to work steadily without becoming superstars, while some work their whole careers as character actors only to find fame late in life. Regardless of which group they fall under, we know you’ll recognize the guys on this list—and now you’ll finally remember where exactly you saw them.

J.K. Simmons

He may be moving from "that guy" to bankable star, but J.K. Simmons has nevertheless had a long career as a reliable character actor. Notable TV roles include the evil Schillinger on Oz and psychiatrist Emil Skoda on three Law & Order series. He finally broke through in 2015, winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the film Whiplash.

Redxonard, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

­­­David Koechner

You know that face. He was in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and The Office and a thousand other things. He's David Koechner and given his large build and bald head, it's not surprising that loudmouths and blowhards are his stock and trade.

Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Clint Howard

Is he famous or just recognizable as a "that guy"? With a long career in his brother Ron Howard's shadow, Clint Howard nevertheless has an impressive resume for TV and film. He has played both comic and serious roles and is noted for appearing in five Star Trek series, starting as a child in Star Trek: The Original Series.

Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Elias Koteas

Canadian actor Elias Koteas has had a long career as a face but not necessarily a name. Noted for working with Atom Egoyan and David Cronenberg, Koteas enjoyed mainstream success in films such as The Thin Red Line.

Jose M Mendez, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ray Winstone

English actor Ray Winstone has distinguished himself for decades as a fixture on British television. To North American audiences, he is probably best known for appearing as Mr. French in Martin Scorsese's The Departed.

Denis Makarenko, Shutterstock

John Hawkes

An intense actor familiar from independent films such as The Sessions and the HBO series Deadwood, John Hawkes also appears in the fourth season of True Detective. He received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2011, for Winter's Bone.

John Hawkes, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Tom Wilkinson

A mainstay of British television and films, most people have seen Wilkinson in movies like The Full Monty and Shakespeare in Love. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for the 2001 film In the Bedroom. Wilkinson won an Emmy Award for his work as Benjamin Franklin in HBO's John Adams mini-series. He passed on in 2023 at the age of 75.
Andre Luis, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

James Cromwell

A veteran character actor who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 1995’s Babe, James Cromwell is also known for appearances in Star Trek: First Contact and many television guest roles over the decades. He received some of his best reviews playing a corrupt police captain in L.A. Confidential.

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Pete Postlethwaite

With a unique presence and emotional intensity, British actor Pete Postlethwaite was a fixture on British television. In 1993, Postlethwaite made the transition to international films, with an Oscar-nominated performance in 1993's In the Name of the Father. Other notable roles include appearances in films such as The Usual Suspects, Amistad, and Inception. Postlethwaite passed on in 2011 at the age of 64.

J. Vespa, Getty Images

David Morse

Famous for not being famous, David Morse has appeared in key supporting roles in films and television since the early 1980s. He first came to audiences' attention in the TV series St. Elsewhere and has since appeared in films such as Contact, The Green Mile, and Proof of Life.

Nan Palmero, CC BY 2.0, mons

Gary Cole

Gary Cole is famous but is somehow not a household name. You've seen him in The Brady Bunch Movie, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and countless appearances in television roles over the years. Perhaps his best-known role is as the aggravating and greedy boss in Office Space.

David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Stephen Root

Another Office Space actor who is famous yet unknown, Stephen Root has been a reliable and likeable actor in numerous television roles, such as the 1990s sitcom NewsRadio, and in numerous feature films including On the Basis of Sex (2018), Life of the Party (2018), and Bombshell. Most recently, Root received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the hit series Barry.

Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Keith David

As a voice actor and reliable character actor, you've seen Keith David's face and heard his voice in countless films and TV series. Some of his voiceover credits include Adventure Time, BoJack Horseman, Rick & Morty, Spawn, and Gargoyles, just to name a few. A winner of three Emmys, it’s safe to say if you've watched a movie or TV show in the last 40 years, you've seen or heard Keith David.

Brad Bethell, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

David Keith

Not to be confused with Keith David, David Keith is also a well-known but somehow anonymous actor, appearing in films like The Rose, Brubaker, and An Officer and a Gentleman. He continues to work today, appearing in television series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI: Miami, NCIS, and Hawaii Five-0.

s_bukley, Shutterstock

Paul Gleason

You definitely know Paul Gleason. He was the principle in The Breakfast Club. He was also in Trading Places, Die Hard, Boiling Point, and Van Wilder. If those don’t ring a bell, then you might have seen him in TV shows like Hill Street Blues, Dawson's Creek, and Friends. Gleason passed on in 2006 at the age of 67.

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Philip Baker Hall

The late Philip Baker Hall was famous for two key roles: Jimmy Gator in Magnolia and the Library Cop in an episode of Seinfeld. He worked in a variety of roles over the years, in film and on television, but his appearance in Seinfeld is what made him an icon.

David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Zeljko Ivanek

Zeljko Ivanek definitely has a face that you know. You've seen him in so many things, but his name always escapes you. Remember the corrupt governor in the harrowing prison drama Oz? That was Ivanek. You've also seen him in the 1990s series Homicide: Life on the Street and films such as Seven Psychopaths, Argo, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Larry Miller

Larry Miller is a familiar face in comedy. In addition to umpteen television appearances over the years, such as 10 Things I Hate About You and Seinfeld, he's appeared in films such as Pretty Woman and A Mighty Wind.

State Farm, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Richard Kind

Richard Kind has a unique screen presence. An award-nominated stage actor, he is mostly known to audiences for films such as Argo, The Visitor, and The Station Agent, as well as TV shows like Mad About You and Spin City. His voice may also be familiar from animated films such as A Bug's Life and Cars.

David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

George Wyner

George Wyner is a familiar face to comedy fans, but he is perhaps best known as Colonel Sandurz in Mel Brooks' Spaceballs. He also appeared in countless television roles since the 1970s, including six seasons as Deputy D.A. Irwin Bernstein on the classic 1980s series Hill Street Blues. Wyner does have some dramatic roles under his belt, including playing Rabbi Nachtner in A Serious Man.

s_bukley, Shutterstock

John Heard

John Heard was famous for playing a father to Macaulay Culkin in the Home Alone movies. He was also an established dramatic actor, appearing in Between the Lines and Cutter's Way. Later, he was nominated for an Emmy for his role as a corrupt detective whose gambling debts made him beholden to the mob in The Sopranos. John Heard passed on in 2017.
AA911Truth, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

David Paymer

A reliable character actor who has worked steadily through the years, David Paymer's big break came when he appeared in the Billy Crystal vehicle City Slickers, in 1991. Crystal chose to work with Paymer again, writing a role specifically for Paymer in Mr. Saturday Night, which would earn him an Oscar nomination. Paymer also appeared throughout the following decades in various films such as Amistad, Quiz Show, Nixon, Ocean's 13, The American President, and Get Shorty.

DFree, Shutterstock

John Carroll Lynch

A big presence on-screen, John Carroll Lynch has appeared in films such as Fargo, Beautiful Girls, and Feeling Minnesota. Perhaps his most famous role is as one of the McDonald brothers in The Founder.

Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

J.T. Walsh

J.T. Walsh was perhaps one of the most famous "that guy" actors in the 1980s and ‘90s. He seemed to be in everything over the years, appearing in films like Breakdown, Sling Blade, and Needful Things. Walsh passed on in 1998.

Barry King, Getty Images

Michael Jeter

Michael Jeter has a varied and remarkable career. A theater actor, Jeter is best known to audiences for his Emmy-winning role in the 1990s sitcom Evening Shade. Another key role was Mr. Noodle's brother, Mister Noodle in Sesame Street, showcasing his skills in mime and physical comedy. Jeter passed on in 2003 at the age of 50.

Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dean Winters

An alumni of television dramas Oz and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Dean Winters was able to showcase his comedy skills in 30 Rock, playing Liz Lemon's former boyfriend. He also appeared in the series Rescue Me and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, as well as countless TV and film roles throughout the last few decades.

Peter Massas, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Matt Walsh

Matt Walsh has appeared in countless films and TV series over the years. He is best known for appearing in the series Veep and films such as The Hangover and Into the Storm.

Joint Chiefs of Staff, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bill Macy

Not to be confused with William H. Macy, Bill Macy was a classic comic actor. Famous for his role as Walter in the 1970s series Maude (with Bea Arthur), Macy also appeared in the films The Jerk and Analyze This. He passed on in 2019.

CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

Robert Davi

You may not know his name, but you have seen Robert Davi. Whether as Bond villain Franz Sanchez in License to Kill or FBI Special Agent Big Johnson in Die Hard, Davi makes his presence known. With over 140 roles to his credit, Davi can be seen in a wide range of films including Showgirls, The Iceman, and Expendables 3.

Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons

Powers Boothe

As a big screen tough guy, Powers Boothe seemed to be in everything at one point. He won an Emmy for his performance as Reverend Jim Jones in the 1980 miniseries Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones. He went on to appear in countless films like Tombstone and Nixon, as well as TV shows like 24 and Deadwood.

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Dylan Walsh

Dylan Walsh is one of those actors who seems to be everywhere and is always a reliable addition to a project. He is best known for his roles in Congo, The Stepfather, and the TV series Nip/Tuck, Unforgettable, and Superman and Lois.

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Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson had an unusual career. He served as a United States senator from 1994 to 2003 and ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. But before that, he was an actor, appearing in films such as No Way Out, The Hunt for Red October, and the TV show Law & Order.

United States Senate, Wikimedia Commons

Delroy Lindo

Best known as a regular is a number of Spike Lee films, Delroy Lindo was first noticed as Archie in Malcolm X. In addition to Lee's Crooklyn and Clockers, Lindo also appeared in films such as Get Shorty and Feeling Minnesota.

Mike Wooldridge, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chris Williams

A versatile actor in film and television, Williams is another familiar face with a maybe not so familiar name. He had a starring turn the comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and was a regular on the TV shows Silicon Valley and Better Things. Other television roles include
The Great Indoors, One Big Happy, and The Wedding Bells.

thepaparazzigamer, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Richard Schiff

Richard Schiff has the bearing of a serious character actor. First appearing in theater, Schiff went on to appear in movies like The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Man of Steel. His most notable role, however, was as Toby Ziegler in the series The West Wing.

Pruneau, Wikimedia Commons

M. Emmet Walsh

M. Emmet Walsh was perhaps the best known unknown actor in Hollywood. Walsh made a career of playing cops and crooks, as well as comedic roles. He played the sniper in The Jerk and was a reliable character actor in such films as Slap Shot, Brubaker, Reds, and Blade Runner.

David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

John C. McGinley

Best known as the snappy and sarcastic Dr. Cox in the long-running series Scrubs, McGinley is also known for working with director Oliver Stone. McGinley has appeared in Stone's films Platoon, Wall Street, Talk Radio, Born on the Fourth of July, Nixon, and Any Given Sunday.

Nehrams2020, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Hector Elizondo

Hector Elizondo is a familiar face to audiences. In the 1970s, he was mostly working in guest roles on television. However, he also appeared in films such as The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, American Gigolo, and Pretty Woman. On television, he is best known for Chicago Hope and Last Man Standing.

 MingleMediaTVNetwork, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Joe Don Baker

Joe Don Baker has entered pop culture history for his iconic role as Sheriff Buford Pusser in the over-the-top hit thriller Walking Tall. He also appeared in the much-parodied Mitchell. Since then, Baker has been a reliable character actor, appearing is such movies like Fletch, The Living Daylights, Mars Attacks!, Tomorrow Never Dies, and GoldenEye.

Everett Collection, Shutterstock

Fred Ward

Fred Ward is a renowned character actor known for nearly 90 appearances in film and television. He had roles in movies such as Escape from Alcatraz, Southern Comfort, Uncommon Valor, and The Right Stuff.

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