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“I love that people can’t place me. They don’t know my name. That’s ‘mission accomplished’ in my world.” — John C. Reilly
Today may as well be National Character Actor Day. Reilly was born on this day in 1965, while across the pond, the Brits are celebrating the talent of Jim Broadbent, who was born May 24, 1949. They might lack the name recognition of brighter stars, but it’s their unmistakable mugs that instill an authentic Everyman quality into their eclectic collection of supporting characters. Broadbent is a legendary chameleon, slipping from Harry Potter to British period indie to Bridget Jones, and he even has an Oscar, for Iris.
Reilly (the “C” stands for Christopher, by the way) has a batting average any actor would envy — with scene-stealing roles in Boogie Nights, Chicago, and The Hours — but in recent years, he’s seemed intent to put his above quote to the test. Following some Will Ferrell comedies — Talladega Nights, Step Brothers — he’s stepped out front with the musical-comedy, Walk Hard, and last year’s indie romantic-comedy, Cyrus. Devoted fans found lots to like in both, but neither film cleaned up at the box office. That might “doom” Reilly to the types of roles he knocks out of the part, like his upcoming performance as the “affable but oblivious” husband in the Cannes hit, We Need to Talk About Kevin. Or his co-starring role in Roman Polanski’s Carnage.
Is it okay that I prefer my Reilly sad and pathetic (and funny)? Like this:
How do you like your John C. Reilly? Do you still think of him as a “character actor,” or has he graduated to the next level? What other supporting players do you think we should recognize on unofficial National Character Actor Day?
The guy who played ‘Lennon’ during the last season of Lost. He was also terrific in Winter’s Bone and Deadwood. I don’t even know his name.
John Hawkes. He was also in the first season of Eastbound and Down.
I think you’re referring to John Hawkes. Also dug him as a jittery motel clerk in IDENTITY and in the rom com ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW.
Man, if you headline a movie with Will Farell, are you really a character actor anymore? Pretty sure this guy graduated to the next level.
Steve Buscemi anybody?
yesssssss
OH YEA
I *LOVE* him in Boogie Nights!!!! Soooooo hilarious!!!!
Mr. Cellophane–and
Dewey Cox
He was perfection in “Chicago”, as Roxy Hart’s husband. The character was such a schlub, I can’t even remember his name (and I’ve seen the movie A LOT of times!). Mr. Hart is sympathetic and pathetic–you feel for him because of what Roxy is doing, but at the same time, you really can’t blame her because he’s extremely…meh.
Paul Giamatti
Viola Davis
Tom Wilkinson
Judy Davis
Harvey Keitel
Cloris Leachman
Stanley Tucci
Kathy Bates
Stephen Tobolowsky
Frances McDormand
Jeff Daniels
Allison Janney
Richard Jenkins
Catherine Keener
Ving Rhames
Hope Davis
J.K. Simmons
Mary Kay Place
William Fichtner
…I’m getting a cramp in my hand. There are so many!
Alfre Woodard
ahhh, how could I forget JK Simmons. He’s the best.
Chris Cooper.
Illeana Douglas
Dr. Steve Brule, dumb-dumb.
That guy, you know from the show…..
Broadbent was also amazing as Zidler in Moulin Rouge! Compare that loud role with his schlubbier part as Bridget’s dad, and it’s easy to see why he’s got an Oscar!
I’ve always had a penchant for character actors and here’s a few more to add to the list:
Margo Martindale
Alfred Molina
Phillip Baker Hall
John Michael Higgins
Melora Walters
Ernie Sabella
James Karen
Oliver Platt
Octavia Spencer
that’s all I can think of so far, I may have more to come.
There’s a few Paul Thomas Anderson regulars on that list…
I’m a huge “Boogie Nights” fan… those two scenes are not on the deleted scenes on my DVD… are they from the blu-ray? That last scene shown above is incredible. I love John C. Reilly. About 7 years 8 years ago, I saw Reilly and Philip Seymour Hoffman at a Prince concert… they were walking in the doors to take their seats….I was as excited to see them as I was to see the concert itself (and I’m a huge Prince fan). I ran up to them just to tell them both how much I love their work… and this was before Hoffman’s Oscar and Reilly’s nomination… they were much less well-known. They are both so good.