We’ve all been there: You’re watching a movie or TV series, and feel like you recognize the actor on screen, but you just can’t place him, and most certainly can’t name him.
There are plenty of actors who, after Googling to find their names and feasting your eyes on their photos, make you scream, “Oh,thatguy.” We’ve rounded up some of the most irksomely familiar actors, many of whom have appeared on both film and TV (though often in supporting roles) to give you some clarity. They deserve to have a spotlight shone on them, and their names placed in lights, so enjoy. And while this list features only male actors, keep an eye out for our all-ladies list in the near future.
Stephen Tobolowsky
Currently appearing in the Netflix reimagination of 1970s/’80s sitcomOne Day at a Time, you may have also seenTobolowskyin popular series likeSilicon Valley, Californication, Deadwood, Heroes, andWhite Famous. And yes, he also plays insurance salesmen Ned Ryerson inGroundhog Day. A consummate pro with a sprawling résumé, Tobolowsky even joked about his status during ahilariousJimmy Kimmel Live!skitjust before the Emmy Awards where he was handed the illustrious award for “The Guy From That Show.” (Note: all three runner-ups are also on this list!)
Jeffrey Wright
FromWestworldtoThe Hunger Games, Boardwalk Empire,Casino Royale, andHouse,Wright’s IMDB résuméincludes some of the best content on television and in theaters. Wright’s IMDB bio even refers to him as “one of the most underrated and underexposed actors of his caliber and generation.” Even if he wrote that line himself, anyone who has seen his work — including his chilling turn as Bernard inWestworld— would have to agree.
Dylan Baker
With his distinctive face and piercing blue eyes, youimmediately recognize Bakerfrom his roles in series likeHomeland, Blindspot, The Americans,andThe Good Wife. Yet, while he’s been actively working in Hollywood for more than three decades, Baker has often been relegated to supporting roles that, while memorable, still haven’t quite put his name on the map.
Titus Welliver
Welliver’s name might finally be on the map for some, thanks to his three seasons as the lead on Amazon’s well-received crime seriesBosch(which hastwo more seasons on the way). Still, many fans still know him as “that one guy” from his appearances in multiple films and series, includingAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Suits, Deadwood, The Good Wife, Sons of Anarchy, andLost. Even without name recognition, Welliver has had an impressive career, coming a long way from his first film role in 1990’sNavy SEALs,when he was credited only as “Redneck in Bar.”
Richard Kind
Kind’s most notable roles were inMad About YouandSpin Cityin the 1990s and early 2000s, but he has since appeared in plenty of series likeGotham, Big Mouth, andI’m Dying Up Here. Some may also recognize his voice from roles inAmerican Dad!andTangled: The Series. Kind is a hilarious comedic actor worthy of recognition for his work — and he’s still as funny today as he was in his heyday in the ’90. If you want proof, check him out in his role as the wacky dad in Amazon’s ’80s nostalgia seriesRed Oaks,alongsideMad About Youco-star Paul Reiser.
Kurt Fuller
At a towering 6 feet, 3 inches tall, you might thinkFuller is pretty unforgettable,and indeed he’s played memorable characters on both TV and in movies, likeWayne’s World, Anger Management(the movie),Midnight in Paris, Supernatural, Rosewood, andThe Good Wife.While his name may not stick, his character work (see the flashlight scene in the aforementionedWayne’s Worldfor a shining example) leaves a lasting impression.
Lance Reddick
Yes, he’s that guy fromLost. He’s also the guy fromThe Wire, Fringe, andOz. Thisprolific actor’stime on bothLostandFringeeven overlapped. While he isn’t a topline star, Reddick is one of the busiest guys in Hollywood, also doing voice work, starring in and co-producing theYouTube web seriesDrone, and even moonlighting as a musician.
Glenn Morshower
While his face brings up foggy memories, Morshower’s many roles as military and law enforcement officers tend to all blur together, leaving his name in the dust. It was he who played Secret Service Agent Aaron Pierce in24, and appeared in theTransformersfilm series,X-Men: First Class, andBloodline. Putting on his authoritative grimace more often than not, Morshower has also had more than a dozen guest-starring or recurring roles on everything fromThe West WingtoMatlock,Star Trek: Voyager, Deadwood, Bones, andFriday Night Lights.
Colm Feore
You likely recognize Feore from series like24, House of Cards, Gotham, andThe West Wing,but find yourself pulling out your phone to Google who he is. A theater actor, Feore has serious dramatic chops, which have helped land him supporting roles in several films throughout his career as well, includingPearl Harbor, The Sum of All Fears, Paycheck, andThe Chronicles of Riddick.
Dennis Haysbert
Doing commercial work can be a great way for an actor to increase his visibility, butin the case of Haysbert, his great portrayal in a series of television ads has made him forever known as the “Allstate guy.” Perhaps it’s also that his booming, powerful voice supersedes something as trivial as his name. Nonetheless, this actor has appeared in everything fromNavy SEALstoMajor League, and asPresident David Palmer in24, a character regarded by some as one of the best fictional presidents on television.
Andrew Daly
Having appeared in shows likeModern Family, Black-ish, Silicon Valley,andEastbound & Down, Daly often finds himself donning adoctor’s lab coat or school principal sweater vest. As a former cast member ofMADtvand the current “CarMax guy,” Dalytold the New York Post in 2016that it wasn’t until he put on the lab coat prior to filming his part in an episode of Netflix seriesLady Dynamitethat he said to himself: “Oh, this is turning into a thing now.”
David Koechner
Often seen as the humorous “sidekick,” most people likely know Koechner best as Champ fromAnchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy(whammy!).This uber-familiar character actorhas appeared in highly quotable television and film projects (often alongside Will Ferrell), including bothAnchormanandAnchorman 2, Talledega Nights, Semi-Pro, andThe Office. And while his mug is instantly recognizable to any comedy fan, his name likely isn’t. Koechner is currently appearing in CBS sitcomSuperior Donutsalongside Judd Hirsch, Katey Sagal, and Jermaine Fowler.
