# Best acting by actors who aren't actors. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 5, 2006, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178 "2006-11-05T11:41:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/1 "2006-11-05T11:41:54Z")
I just finished watching _Seabiscuit_ and admired the performance of jockey Gary Stevens as _George Woolf_. Other one off performances that I enjoyed were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in _Airplane!_ - not great acting but very funny, and the line, “You try dragging Walton and Lanier up and down the floor for 48 minutes” couldn’t be better delivered. The other standout was Ray Allen in _He Got Game_ - I think it was years later that I discovered he wasn’t an actor. Your favorite examples?? ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/2 "2006-11-05T15:16:26Z")
Gary Stevens was excellent in **Seabiscuit**! “So long, Charlie!”…gives me goosebumps every time. One famous example of the OP is [Dr. Haing S. Ngor](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0628955/). Untrained as an actor; won an Oscar for his first movie role. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/3 "2006-11-05T15:20:10Z")
Harold Russell in “Best Years of our Lives”. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/4 "2006-11-05T15:27:54Z")
I’m quite impressed by three rappers: Ice T, Ice Cube and LL Cool J. Lot’s of people from the music industry has tried acting and failed, but these three seem to continue getting work, deliver solid performances and don’t seem to make a lot of fuzz. What I’ve seen of Cool James in interviews and such - he seems like a really good person. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/5 "2006-11-05T15:36:06Z")
Does R. Lee Ermey in _Full Metal Jacket_ count? Up to that point FMJ was his 4th movie, and he wasn’t even the first choice of Kubrick for the role of Gunnery Sgt. Hartman. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/6 "2006-11-05T16:04:05Z")
Second on Ice T, Ice Cube and LL Cool J. I especially enjoyed Cube in 3 Kings, and Ice T is pretty damn good in LO:SVU and he made a very crappy movie “Surviving the Game”, somewhat enjoyable. I was gonna mention Lawrence Taylor’s work in “Any Given Sunday”, a movie that I really disliked, though the last twenty minutes or so, is pretty damn good. Especially Taylor’s last lines in that movie. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. A very cool line delivered in a cool fashion. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/7 "2006-11-05T16:37:41Z")
Frank Sinatra did enough movies that I’m not sure he counts as a non-actor, but he certainly deserved more respect for his acting skills than he ever got. Perhaps singers and comedians shouldn’t qualify anyway, being experienced performers already? ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/8 "2006-11-05T17:03:05Z")
I’d have to say that rappers are actors to begin with - they have to put out a hard, gangsta character and be all scary and intimidating. But I agree, a lot of rappers seem to have given fine performances in movies. I’ll add Ludacris to the list for **Crash**. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/9 "2006-11-05T18:00:09Z")
If we’re counting singers, at least those who don’t do acting on the side as a matter of course, Bjork in **Dancer In The Dark**. She should have been nominated for an Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/10 "2006-11-05T18:17:34Z")
Might as well add **Eminem** , **Mark Wahlberg** , and **Will Smith** to that list of rappers who can act. **The Rock** has been good in several movies, and even the movies that are bad have generally called out his performance as being good. **Ricky Jay** is a magician who is also a tremendous character actor. You might know him as the craps dealer from _Deadwood_ who decides to rip off Cy. **Levon Helm** , the drummer for _The Band_, was excellent as Ripley in _The Right Stuff_. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/11 "2006-11-05T18:34:30Z")
William Obanhein in **Alice’s Restaurant**. Admittedly, he was playing himself (“Officer Obie”), but he was very good in the role and probably could have become an actor. Instead, he returned to arresting people for littering. Martin Lickert acquitted himself well in **200 Motels** , having gotten the role after Frank Zappa said, “The next person to enter the room plays Jeff.” Lickert, Ringo Starr’s driver, had gone out to get cigarettes for Ringo. Most of the others in the movie were musicians, and used to some performing, but Lickert had not. Speaking of Ringo, he turned out to be a pretty good actor himself. Jim Brown was solely a football player until he was cast in **The Dirty Dozen** , where he was good enough to retire from football and start an acting career. Same with Johnny Weismuller and Buster Crabbe. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/12 "2006-11-05T18:59:08Z")
[QUOTE=DxZero] I was gonna mention Lawrence Taylor’s work in “Any Given Sunday”, a movie that I really disliked, though the last twenty minutes or so, is pretty damn good. Especially Taylor’s last lines in that movie. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. A very cool line delivered in a cool fashion. [/QUOTE] I came in to mention LT in Any Given Sunday. Really surprising. Not being a football fan I didn’t recognize him until near the end.. and only because of the Wrestlemania where he fought Bam Bam Bigelow. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/13 "2006-11-05T20:07:10Z")
Let’s not forget Alex Karras’ sensitive portrayal of Mongo in “Blazing Saddles”, either. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/14 "2006-11-05T22:15:42Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] Let’s not forget Alex Karras’ sensitive portrayal of Mongo in “Blazing Saddles”, either. [/QUOTE] Mongo only pawn in game of life. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/15 "2006-11-05T22:25:03Z")
I don’t know if this counts or not, but if I am correct [Elaine Miles’](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0587111/) first part was on _Nothern Exposure_ as the doctor’s Eskimo receptionist. She wasn’t an actor before she was on the series, and she was great on that series. According to IMDB “She got the role of Marilyn on ‘Northern Exposure’ by accident - she had originally brought her mother in to audition, but the producers decided they wanted someone younger for the part and cast Elaine instead.” ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/16 "2006-11-05T22:48:34Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] Let’s not forget Alex Karras’ sensitive portrayal of Mongo in “Blazing Saddles”, either. [/QUOTE] Or John Matuszak’s Oscar-worthy performance as Sloth in _The Goonies_. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/17 "2006-11-05T23:15:58Z")
How about **Andre the Giant** in _The Princess Bride_? ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/18 "2006-11-06T01:10:12Z")
[QUOTE=Jim’s Son] Harold Russell in “Best Years of our Lives”. [/QUOTE] That was the example that immediately came to my mind. All you youngsters need to take a look at the classics. And get off my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/19 "2006-11-06T01:29:49Z")
I thought TV producer **Garry Marshall** was pitch-perfect as a casino manager in Lost in America (1985). imdb shows a smattering of what look like cameo roles prior to this performance, but still. Artist **Jean-Michel Basquiat** in Downtown 81. Many directors are also capable actors, including **Fritz Lang** in Breathless (1960); **Martin Scorsese** and **John Waters** in various movies. It amazes me that **Robin Johnson** was a non-actor before being chosen for her lead role in Times Square (1980). ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178/20 "2006-11-06T01:52:39Z")
Dexter Gordon was robbed of an Oscar for [Round Midnight](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090557/) by that bratty upstart, Paul Newman. Fie! Fie on the academy! 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-by-actors-who-arent-actors/379178.md?page=2)