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Also. James Cromwell is a pretty recognizable name.

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he didn't really make it mainstream until 2000. Before that he was the poster child for "That Guy" roles.

Gary Oldham

Here's my "that guy" story.

My wife and I were in Austin on new year's eve 2014. I see a guy at the Hotel bar that I've sworn I've seen before. I ask my wife if she recognizes him, and she doesn't. He saw us looking at him and kinda gave us a head nod, and my first thought was "holy crap this person is probably from Bryan/College Station and i don't recognize him." so i nod back and say "hey, how's it going?" He said he was doing good, and went on about his business,

It drives me crazy that i know him, but can't place him. Next morning, when we are checking out of the hotel, i see him again in the lobby. Then it dons on me that he might be an actor. My wife says "go ask him if he's an actor." I don't though b/c it's a holiday, and what am i going to say "hey, are you an actor?" So i let it go.

Fast forward 7 months to June 2015. All the movie channels are showing marvel movies non stop in anticipation for Ant-Man, and I'm just sitting there watching the first Avengers, when i see the guy in the ball cap and blue jacket here at 23-29 Seconds:




I rewind it and say holy @&$#!. My wife is says "what!?" I tell her "That's the guy from the hotel at New Years. She said "you recognized a person from ten seconds in the Avengers?"

So i look at the credits for The Avengers on IMDB and they actually had him listed as "Celebration Montage Interviewee." His name is Jamie McShane, and he's had bit parts on 24, Law and Order, Criminal Minds, CSI, CSI Miami, CSI NY, Castle, etc. So i had probably seen him multiple times, but it was while watching the Avengers that i was able to place him. He also played Cameron Hayes on Sons of Anarchy.

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I guess "that guy" designation is subjective, but the original post was academy award nominated James Cromwell. Stephen Root has never been a lead actor but perhaps his supporting roles are too big?

Stephen Tobolowsky has to be up there

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864997/

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I guess "that guy" designation is subjective, but the original post was academy award nominated James Cromwell. Stephen Root has never been a lead actor but perhaps his supporting roles are too big?

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Yeah I thought Cromwell was a silly choice as well

Hey, OP sets the tone - keeping with his That Guy definition.

Michael Ironside more your speed?



Or is "That Guy" mean to you just a face, never speaking?

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Stephen Tobolowsky has to be up there

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864997/

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Thats a good one - he's been everywhere for a few decades

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Also. James Cromwell is a pretty recognizable name.

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he didn't really make it mainstream until 2000. Before that he was the poster child for "That Guy" roles.

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He was nominated for an Oscar in 1996.

Chris Cooper and David Strathairn

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David Morse is my favorite

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big fan of Morse.

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Even disregarding the Tom Cruise post, some of y'all are not that good at this.

My input: Bruce McGill. First celebrity I ever saw in a random public setting. Downtown Austin P.F. Chang's for a friend's birthday party years ago.

Animal House


My Cousin Vinny


Cinderella Man


The Legend of Bagger Vance


Law Abiding Citizen


And many more appearances that always make me think, "Hey, look, it's that guy."

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and MacGyver

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Also a prime role in the Quantum Leap finale. Great actor

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I had the pleasure of spending 8 weeks doing a show with Bruce McGill years ago at Pasadena Playhouse. He played Orson Welles and I was his Irish assistant. Dude was a pretty good guy and had tons of stories.

Paul Dooley

That's awesome

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Paul Dooley

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Was great in Breaking Away

Ron Dean

Damn, Jon Polito just died

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Ron Dean

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Damn, Joel Edgerton really let himself go

If you know his name without looking it up or if he ever had a starring role then he doesn't count

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What about the Library Detective from Seinfeld? He's almost always in a presidential meeting with national security implications

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is that guy in boogie nights? He gets my vote

He's probably had too many recurring roles to quite qualify, but Ray Wise is every politician/boss/rich white guy you could ever need.

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What about the Library Detective from Seinfeld? He's almost always in a presidential meeting with national security implications

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is that guy in boogie nights? He gets my vote

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good one. this guy is in like every scene involving Important Meetings in Washington

He was also the neighbor in Modern Family that Luke befriended.

Sam Elliott



Cris Cooper

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What about the Library Detective from Seinfeld? He's almost always in a presidential meeting with national security implications

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The only reason I know who Luis Guzman is by name is because of Community.

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Boogie Nights?