# A-list actors in B-roles **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746 "2010-07-06T17:58:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/21 "2010-07-06T20:55:43Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > God Bless Oakminister!!! > > (I always thought Karen Allen was stunning, but I supposed that I must be the only one who felt that way) Trust me, you weren’t the only one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/22 "2010-07-06T21:48:13Z")
Bill Murray in “Zombieland.” John Candy in “JFK.” And Charlie Sheen who was fantastic in “Being John Malkovich.” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/23 "2010-07-06T21:56:56Z")
This list will be huge; it might be easier to name A-listers who haven’t done this at some point. Also, I don’t think leading a movie or two makes one an A-lister, though I could be wrong on _my_ definition of A-lister versus standard convention. Guy Pearce, in my mind, is not an A-lister. A-listers sell movies. The drolling masses are not going to a movie because Pearce is the star, whereas Cruise and Diaz sell _Knight and Day_. I would even have issues calling Statham, whose name sells a certain type of inexpensively made movie (which I usually enjoy) as an A-lister. Maybe an A-minus or B-plus. Still, I have no clue, nor do I really care about, the Hollywood pecking order and accept that my view may be narrower than the accepted norm. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/24 "2010-07-07T01:24:08Z")
Matt Damon appeared in a very small bit part in the movie **Finding Forrester** , with Sean Connery. Anna Paquin was also a third-bill as Jamal’s girlfriend. StG ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/25 "2010-07-07T21:52:55Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > Michael Caine in Jaws: The Revenge? My favorite quote from Caine concerning _Jaws: The Revenge_. “I have never seen the film, but by all accounts it was terrible. However I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific.” ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/26 "2010-07-07T22:08:32Z")
I think the king would be Harvey Keitel. I think he really loves to be in “art” films, and loves to be in films that are innovative or edgy. I suspect he either partially funds these films or takes a reduced wage. However, in regards to this thread, it’s tough to argue that he’s an A-lister. Overall though, I think there’s tons of great actors who could get more money, but love the art, so they often take non-starring roles. I’ve read on more than one occasion, for example, that some actors just wanted to work with Spielburg or Scorsese once in their careers, and were willing to take a much smaller role or bit part. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/27 "2010-07-07T22:18:34Z")
Sir John Gielgud in I’m Gonna Get you Sucka - though that might count as a cameo, and not a B role? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/28 "2010-07-07T22:23:21Z")
Christian Slater had 1 line in the Star Trek 6 movie. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/29 "2010-07-07T22:51:07Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Sir John Gielgud in I’m Gonna Get you Sucka - though that might count as a cameo, and not a B role? You mean John Vernon? ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/30 "2010-07-07T23:53:59Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Matt Damon appeared in a very small bit part in the movie **Finding Forrester** , with Sean Connery. He also had a small bit part in **Chasing Amy**. How about Drew Barrymore in **Donnie Darko**? It was too big a role to be a “bit part” or “cameo,” but she was certainly not the star of the film. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/31 "2010-07-08T04:28:55Z")
While the main stars were by no means unknowns, seeing Charlie Sheen killed off in the first few minutes of _Mission: Impossible_ was certainly odd. I think there might have been some sort of story about how that came to be, as it wasn’t really a celebrity cameo or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/32 "2010-07-08T04:57:56Z")
Does this count? Sean Connery played King Richard in Costner’s _Robin Hood._ I believe he had about a 20 second camera shot. …or am I just lost? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/33 "2010-07-08T05:20:46Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Ah, good point. But those were still Tom Cruise movies. He didn’t exactly have bit parts in those. You glossed over both Magnolia and Tropic Thunder, both of which he was in and neither of which was a Tom Cruise movie. Is there a single actor who _doesn’t_ meet the criteria of the OP? Tom Cruise absolutely does. Though in fairness, perusing his imdb listing shows a mere four films that aren’t “Tom Cruise movies.” (Magnolia, Tropic Thunder, The Outsiders, and Austin Powers in Goldmember.) I think the much more interesting question is which actors have the highest percentage of personal star vehicles on their resume? Tom Cruise may be at the top of the list. Kevin Costner is up there, but Tom has him beat. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/34 "2010-07-08T05:45:40Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > While the main stars were by no means unknowns, seeing Charlie Sheen killed off in the first few minutes of _Mission: Impossible_ was certainly odd. I think there might have been some sort of story about how that came to be, as it wasn’t really a celebrity cameo or anything. Not Charlie Sheen, but Emilio Estevez. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/35 "2010-07-08T07:12:37Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Will Wheaton and River Phoenix starred in _Stand By Me_. John Cusack was on screen for what, about 15 seconds? B roles _before_ reaching A status is quite a different thing from B roles _after_ or more importantly, during the peak of A status. Also, an A-list _cameo_ is quite a different thing than a B role. Also, have a major role in an indy movie or low rent comedy is not quite the same as getting to A list… ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/36 "2010-07-08T07:34:35Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Donald Sutherland had a bit part in _Animal House_. And cost himself a whole lot of money by taking a straight paycheck instead of getting a percentage of the film. One of my favorites is Jimmy Cagney won an Oscar for playing George M Cohan in “Yankee Doodle Dandy”. One scene has Cohan exchanging good-natured ribbing with his rival Eddie Foy, played by Eddie Foy Jr. Several years later Bob Hope starred as Foy Sr in a biopic. Cagney reprized the role of Cohan in another ribbing scene that featured both Hope and Cagney dancing on a table. Bette Davis as Empress Catherine the Great in the Robert Stack film about John Paul Jones. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/37 "2010-07-08T09:03:35Z")
It seems like Nick Cage is overextending his A-List status. Saturation. Can’t go a season without seeing Cage in some moneymaking role. He seems to have degraded to a B+. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/38 "2010-07-08T10:42:36Z")
Saving Private Ryan had a bunch, but many war movies tend to be ensembles anyway. Vin Diesel (for that short window where he was an A-lister), Matt Damon (although he was the title character, he was only on screen for the final act) and Tom Sizemore. It is hard to argue that Ben Affleck was an A-lister immediately after Good Will Hunting, but he had a B role in Shakespeare in Love. Judi Dench seems to have made a career out of being the A-list of the B-roles. Just about all of her work is as supporting cast, but she has a better than 50% chance of being nominated for an Oscar in that role. Women tend to have this role more often than men, as “the hero’s girlfriend” is pretty much always a B role. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/39 "2010-07-08T11:02:38Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > It is hard to argue that Ben Affleck was an A-lister immediately after Good Will Hunting, but he had a B role in Shakespeare in Love. Same year Bruce Willis prevented Armageddon right in front of him – sure as Giovanni Ribisi was the one toiling away in the Boiler Room, and something something Dogma. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746/40 "2010-07-08T11:09:30Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > I’ve read on more than one occasion, for example, that some actors just wanted to work with Spielburg or Scorsese once in their careers, and were willing to take a much smaller role or bit part. And, of course, have the opportunity of impressing said director in person in the hopes of a major part in their next movie? > [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](#): > > Sean Connery played King Richard in Costner’s _Robin Hood._ I believe he had about a 20 second camera shot. And completely stole the scene. Indeed, in that movie, it seems that Costner is very much the supporting actor to everyone else. > [@Superhal](#): > > Judi Dench seems to have made a career out of being the A-list of the B-roles. And she completely stole _Shakespeare in Love_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-actors-in-b-roles/545746.md?page=3)