Great Underrated Actor: Brion James

[Henry Swanson]

Will Patton killed it in yellowstone

Love that guy.

 

[Henry Swanson]

Someone needs to make a poll for best “that guy” in movies.

William Fichntner
Cliff Curtis
John Ortiz

etc

 

[Gene Tunney]

He's up there with Hector Elizondo and Richard Lynch.

 

[BisexualMMA]

He's up there with Hector Elizondo and Richard Lynch.

Richard Lynch was a wildman. Burned his own face off while on LSD and was still somehow handsome enough to play leading men in stuff like Vampire (where Joe Spinell was the cop working the case). Definitely a character.

 

[HaulParris]

People seemed to enjoy talking a little bit about Joe Spinell. I figured why not bring up another darn good and dearly departed much too soon actor who might not be known by name...in Brion James.

People will probably recognize him most from Blade Runner.

Like Joe Spinell, he was probably never going to be confused with a matinee idol, but he made his look work to his advantage, quite often as a villain or wicked henchman.

One of his best roles was in Tango & Cash, where he put on a British accent to very believable effect.



And evil as all hell in Enemy Mine.

He got to really develop a character arc over the two 48 Hours films...

So if anyone feels like doing what sometimes gets done for the big names like Arnold and Eastwood and Brando and doing a Brion James marathon...

I would suggest...

Tango & Cash
Southern Comfort
Enemy Mine
48 Hours
Another 48 Hours
Blade Runner
Red Scorpion
Armed and Dangerous
Steel Dawn
The Fifth Element

These are the ones where I think he had a sizable role and it's worth watching to see Brion James in action, at least if I remember right. He was also in...

Roots
DOA
Cherry 2000
Red Heat
Striking Distance
The Player
The Postman Always Rings Twice

...all of which are worth a watch at least once at some point. Pretty small role in some of those.

Plus an episode of Miami Vice and Cagney & Lacey which are always worth it.

He died over 20 years ago now. Doesn't feel that long ago.

RIP. Great character actor.

 

[Highway99]

Weird you keep mentioning these actors who were in movies I just saw....I just watched Crimewave last week.

 

[revoltub]

Someone needs to make a poll for best “that guy” in movies.

William Fichntner
Cliff Curtis
John Ortiz

etc

Speaking of yellowstone, dont forget about the brothers "that guys" beck. Neil McDonough and Terry serpico