# Actors who stole the show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857 "2006-12-04T20:10:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/61 "2006-12-05T17:16:06Z")
That move **Just Friends** was focused around a Ryan Reynolds/Amy Smart romantic comedy but **Anna Feris** stole the show as the psychotic actress. The unfunny and misguided **In & Out** starring Kevin Kline was just stupid. However, the bride left at the altar played by **Joan Cusak** was hilarious and made the movie worth watching. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/62 "2006-12-05T17:28:54Z")
One I haven’t seen mentioned yet: Tommy Lee Jones in **The Fugitive**. The title tells you that you’re supposed to be focused on Harrison Ford as the escaped convict trying to prove his innocence, but Tommy Lee owned every scene he was in. “I didn’t kill my wife!” “I don’t care!” ---
**Author:** ![Rebecca\_DiMwitter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@Rebecca\_DiMwitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebecca_DiMwitter)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/63 "2006-12-05T17:58:22Z")
Altho also not a small role, **Renee Zellweger** in Cold Mountain as Ruby. I definitely prefer her in this type of supporting or at least 2nd-billed role–she also was the best part of “White Oleander” in my book, playing the uber-tragic Claire without making her a caricature, and she was bettern’ Cruise in **Jerry MacGuire** , as well. On the other hand, she was outshown by both **Catherine Zeta-Jones** and **Richard Gere** in “Chicago”, IMH **John C Reilly** is one character actor who I feel nearly always steals the show—he positively made this year’s Will Ferrell vehicle “Talladega Nights” worth watching (& in fact a much more amusing film than I thought it would be) for me, and was also lovely in “Chicago”, “A Prairie Home Companion”, “The Good Girl”, & “The Hours”. And **h.sapiens** , Geoffrey Rush is the only reason I am going to see “Pirates 3”, frankly. I LOVED him in the original & also thought he darn near stole Depp’s magic. –Beck ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/64 "2006-12-05T18:42:48Z")
I’m surprised that this far into the thread that no one’s mentioned Kevin Spacey in **Se7en**. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/65 "2006-12-05T18:52:01Z")
Though he didn’t totally steal the show, Benicio Del Toro made the most disposable character in The Usual Suspects into one of the most memorable (if not always decipherable). ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/66 "2006-12-05T19:02:25Z")
[QUOTE=Hey you!] Though he didn’t totally steal the show, Benicio Del Toro made the most disposable character in The Usual Suspects into one of the most memorable (if not always decipherable). [/QUOTE] He’ll flip ya. He’ll flip ya for real. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/67 "2006-12-05T19:11:05Z")
[QUOTE=Rebecca DiMwitter] And **h.sapiens** , Geoffrey Rush is the only reason I am going to see “Pirates 3”, frankly. I LOVED him in the original & also thought he darn near stole Depp’s magic. –Beck [/QUOTE] Ooh! Geoffrey Rush is to be in _POTC3_? I am so there. I love Geoffrey Rush! Here are some more: I’m not going to list all the movies he has been in, but Jim Broadbent totally outshines everyone in every movie he’s in, IMO. _Alien_ is a favorite film of mine, and I like everyone’s performance, but Ian Holm shows the rest of the ensemble what acting is all about. I love the hokey movie _The Birdcage_, and think everyone did a bangup job in it, but Hank Azaria as Agador Spartacus equalled or even exceeded Nathan Lane’s performance, I think. “You are afraid of my Guatamalan-ness!” ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/68 "2006-12-06T00:07:26Z")
Has anyone mentioned Alan Rickman in **Die Hard** yet? ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/69 "2006-12-06T00:09:20Z")
Gollum. ---
**Author:** ![merrily](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@merrily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrily)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/70 "2006-12-06T01:37:46Z")
More Sam Elliott: _Roadhouse_ (someone had to steal it) _Mask_ Vanessa Redgrave in _Mission Impossible_ Linda Hunt in _The Year of Living Dangerously_ (playing a male–take that, Crying Game) ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/71 "2006-12-06T01:57:23Z")
Let me put forth Peter Sellers in films like: Lolita - He was at best the fourth lead in that but he was hypnotic. The World of Henry Orient - While he had the title role, he was at best the third lead. But he was dominating. and finally The Pink Panther (the original)- This was to be a David Niven vehicle, with teen heart throb Robert Wagner and sexy Claudia Cardinalle (sp) picking up the slack, but all anyone remembers is Peter Sellers. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/72 "2006-12-06T09:56:28Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] _Glengarry Glen Ross_ iss probably David Mamet’s best play. And the movie version had an awesome cast, every one of whom gave an Oscar-worthy performance. And yet, if you asked a dozen people who’d just seen it to name the most memorable performance, I’d wager they’d all say Alec Baldwin stole the show with a performance that couldn’t have lasted more thana few minutes. [/QUOTE] For anyone who’s interested, [this awesome performance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI) is on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/73 "2006-12-06T18:08:04Z")
Benicio Del Toro also stole [Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120669/) from Johnny Depp ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/74 "2006-12-06T18:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=Stuffy] Betty White in Lake Placid. [/QUOTE] What about Oliver Platt. This is a fun throwaway movie. Bridgette Fonda was very good too. But she was the star. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/75 "2006-12-06T21:01:23Z")
There’s something about minor actors with a lot of character: \*\*Sean Hayes & Megan Mullally \*\* stole Will & Grace right from under the stars’ feet. \*\*James Marsters and Juliet Landau \*\* (Dru & Spike) stole every scene they were in on BtVS. **Michael McKean and David Lander** (Lenny and Squiggy) (“Hello.”) stole the show from Laverne & Shirley. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/76 "2006-12-06T22:33:42Z")
Elle Fanning (Dakota’s little sister) in **The Door in the Floor**. For one so young (she turned five during filming), she is fantastic without being cloying or precocious. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/77 "2006-12-06T22:48:23Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Hume Cronyn as a psycopathic and sadistic prison guard in **Brute Force** [/QUOTE] I have to see this movie, because I can’t picture Hume Cronyn as anything other than a mousy nebbish bookkeeper-type. I’m experiencing severe cognitive dissonance. ---
**Author:** ![lilflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@lilflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilflower)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/78 "2006-12-07T00:25:20Z")
**Philip Seymour Hoffman** in “Along Came Polly” **Neil Patrick Harris** in both “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle” and on the TV show, How I Met Your Mother. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/79 "2006-12-07T02:38:39Z")
> [@](#): > > I have to see this movie, because I can’t picture Hume Cronyn as anything other than a mousy nebbish bookkeeper-type. I’m experiencing severe cognitive dissonance What, you never saw the two episodes of **Hawaii Five-Oh** where he played “The Monopoly Thief”? classic stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857/80 "2006-12-07T03:11:54Z")
Claude Rains in _Casablanca_ Rod Steiger in _Oklahoma_ Stubby Kaye in _Guys and Dolls_ and _L’il Abner_ Ann Miller AND Betty Garrett in _On the Town_ Rita Moreno in _The King and I_ True, a lot of those parts were written to be scene stealers. But, particularly with Steiger and Moreno, the actors did a lot more with their performances than was in the script. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-stole-the-show/382857.md?page=5)