# Best Performance By An Actor Whose Face Remains Wholly Unseen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564 "2012-11-10T10:08:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/41 "2012-11-11T17:48:53Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Edward Norton as Baldwin IV in Kingdom of Heaven. He was the first person I thought of before I even opened the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/42 "2012-11-11T18:09:41Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > [Carol Ann Susi](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcvr8Sp3rXk) as Mrs. Wolowitz from _The Big Bang Theory_. Hey! That’s my YouTube channel! Thanks for the plug. I have fantasies of someday hitting the 10[sup]6[/sup] mark on that one. Certainly none of my others are ever going to come anywhere near that close. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/43 "2012-11-11T23:58:43Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Hey! That’s my YouTube channel! Thanks for the plug. You’re welcome! 🆒 For the record, I had no idea that video was on a channel belonging to a Doper. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/44 "2012-11-13T19:49:57Z")
Another nomination for Edward Norton in _Kingdom of Heaven_. In the few minutes he actually appeared onscreen, I could feel my inner self declaring that I would gladly fight to the death to serve such a man. I also nominate Lon Chaney, Sr., for his appearance in the 1925 version of _The Phantom of the Opera_. He does more acting with his eyes alone than many a competent performer of any day and age would do with their entire body, let alone a speaking voice. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/45 "2012-11-13T20:06:53Z")
Tim Curry as Pennywise the Clown in Stephen King’s IT. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/46 "2012-11-13T20:15:17Z")
I’m going with Andy Serkis. It’s his performance, but not his face, you see on screen as Gollum. (& Kong & the ape in the Rise of the Apes) In the case of Gollum, his success in the role was pivotal to the success of the film. I had no idea how they were going to manage this crazy character onscreen, but they did it. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/47 "2012-11-14T16:43:07Z")
If we’re talking Star Wars characters, Anthony Daniels is the hands-down winner. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/48 "2012-11-14T16:45:08Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Tim Curry as Pennywise the Clown in Stephen King’s IT. If we’re heading in that direction, Tim Curry as Darkness in Legend. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/49 "2012-11-14T16:52:46Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Lucas sure wasn’t shy about dragging him back into the story again though, was he? I mean, fercrissakes, Boba Fett’s DAD provided the genetic material for the clones? Yeah, I’m sure he had that scripted out for decades, and didn’t just pull that out of his ass for fanservice and toy sales. > > Dammit, you’re making me think about Star Wars again. Stop it. 🙂 Sorry to hijack but your user name popping up in this thread instantly authenticates it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/50 "2012-11-14T19:45:49Z")
Michael Chiklis in as The Thing was easily the best part of the Fantastic Four movies, another great “eyes only” performance. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/51 "2012-11-14T19:58:05Z")
John Forsythe as Charlie on _Charlie’s Angels_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/52 "2012-11-14T22:11:06Z")
[Bernadette Birkett](http://mimg.ugo.com/201012/7/7/7/133777/cuts/cheers-vera_480x360.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/53 "2012-11-15T03:31:38Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Sorry to hijack but your user name popping up in this thread instantly authenticates it. 😃 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/54 "2012-11-15T16:42:13Z")
We did get to see what Thing looked like beforehand, however, and he gets a few minutes as “himself” in part 2 as well. And I’ll add William Daniels from St. Elsewhere, playing the voice of KITT in Knightrider (he asked not to be credited according to the wiki). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/55 "2012-11-15T22:04:13Z")
What about the Addams Family’s Cousin ITT? ---
**Author:** ![Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashley_Pomeroy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/56 "2012-11-16T18:21:52Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > Runner up? Peter Wyngarde’s uber-louche drawling as Klytus in \* Flash Gordon\*: “Interesting girl. I think she found it rather enjoyable”. Odd example - Gary Oldman’s turn as the sinister Mason Verger from _Hannibal_. We see _a_ face, but it’s not Gary Oldman’s face. Or Verger’s _original_ face; it’s whatever was left after he cut it off. The more I think about that film the more convinced I am that I dreamed it. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/57 "2012-11-16T18:53:04Z")
I’ll throw in a Bill Nighy as Davy Jones in POTC 2 & 3. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/58 "2012-11-16T18:53:51Z")
Clayton Moore as The Lone Ranger. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/59 "2012-11-17T02:28:07Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Kevin Costner in _The Big Chill_, just because it’s the one role when he manages not to annoy me. I saw what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/60 "2012-11-17T02:39:35Z")
William S. Burroughs as the Clark Nova typewriter in _Naked Lunch_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564.md?page=2)