Got some excellent news: David Morse, one of my favorite hey-it’s-that-guy guys, will get a multi-episode arc on House next season. He’ll play a cop who doesn’t like the cut of House’s jib. What better foil for Hugh Laurie’s irascibility than Morse’s implacability?
Oh, I know what you’re saying: Morse is too big to be a Hey It’s That Guy–and he’s not on the semi-official "Hey, It’s That Guy" list of ubiquitous-yet-anonymous character actors. The guy had his own somewhat beloved show, for cryin’ out loud! All true. Yet there’s something undeiably hey-it’s-that-guy-ish about Morse — and that’s a good thing! Too much name recognition would wreck his charming menace (menacing charm?), the ineffable something that allows him to play both loving fathers, loyal adjutants and pitiless zealots.
But enough about my HITG! obsession — who’s yours?
Gary Cole. He was Lumberg in the Office, and has appeared in tons of movies in a gadjillion different roles, all of them hilarious. Most recently, I was pointing him out in “Talladega Nights”. My exact words were “Hey, it’s Lumberg as the redneck dad!”
My favorite used to be Vincent Schiavelli, you know the “Get off my train” guy from Ghost…but sadly, he passed away. I also like Dan Hedaya, that dude is everywhere!
Peter Stormare is the ultimate “hey it’s that guy” particularly for his random ethnicity according to the role. Prison Break’s vaguely Eastern European character, his spacenik in Armaggedon, his quiet fury in Fargo… He’s the next Tony Shahloub, who used to be so “that guy” before he got his own show. Where’s Stormare’s Monk?
It used to be Chris Cooper, but winning an Oscar kind of takes you off the “Hey, it’s that guy!” list. Philip Baker Hall is a definite “that guy.” He’s been in a ton of movies (The Rock, Air Force One, The Sum of All Fears, Rush Hour, The Insider, Magnolia…) and guest-starred in a lot of TV shows (he was hilarious in Seinfeld as the library’s book cop, Mr. Bookman). He also always seems to play the role of “crusty authority figure.”
Noah Emmerich. Always someone’s best friend (truman show, frequency, beyond borders) and undeniably likeable, even as a shmuck (love and sex).
I’ve always been partial to David Morse as well. He generally gives the best performance in whatever he’s in. I’m also partial to Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, the Patriot). He’s very cute and very funny and I don’t understand why he’s not a bigger star.
Maybe not so much anymore but mine used to me John C. Reilly. In 2002 he was in everything!
My brother and I always shout, “It’s that guy who’s in everything!” Our favorite is Leeland Orser.
Oops, “used to BE”
Oops, “used to BE”
Cole Hauser is my HITG. Not a whole lot of exposure, but I’m always pleasantly surprised when he shows up in something.
JON POLITO! JON POLITO! JON POLITO! JON POLITO!
JON POLITO! JON POLITO! JON POLITO! JON POLITO!
How about “Hey it’s that girl!”
If we’re allowing women, I must say I am most thrilled when the hilariously quirky Harriet Sansom-Harris materializes before my eyes. Harriet’s few-and-far-between zingers became the only reason I kept watching “Desperate Housewives”, until she was apparently given the finger (or rather, had a few fingers taken – ew!) and written off at the end of last season. BIG mistake if they don’t bring her back. She also stole every scene as Frasier’s hurricane of an agent Bebe, and I even remember her on Ellen’s sitcom, playing a psychiatrist who Ellen caught peeing in the parking lot. And Harriet’s scenes as a bartender in the middle of nowhere in “Nurse Betty” showed that she can also play it straight with equal power and grace.
Also, Jane Lynch brings a subtle humor to every minor role she has, whether she’s playing a lesbian dog trainer, the head of an utterly inept dating service, a folk singer whose higher power is Color, or an undercover CIA agent with a fondness for getting her bugged nipples tweaked by a faux religious leader.
These two ladies prove the theory that indeed, there are no small parts.
I love Martin Donovan. He was great in “Saved!” as Pastor Skip and he was also good in “Insomnia.” He was also great in that creepy “Chimera” episode of “CSI”.