# Forgettable, Mediocre Actors and Actresses Who Were Nevertheless Successful **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445 "2016-01-17T21:51:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/101 "2016-01-20T05:06:34Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Sandra Bullock is anything but forgettable. I concur. She does “adorable nerd” about as well as it’s been done. ---
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/102 "2016-01-20T12:26:57Z")
[Demond Wilson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933284/) ---
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/103 "2016-01-20T12:37:33Z")
[John Schuck](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0775870/) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/104 "2016-01-20T19:08:01Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Well, it’s Carroll O’Connor and, IIRC, Robert Loggia, so…yeah. > > But I think _Circle Of Friends_ was better. I still think, “Man, she’s waaay too skinny” whenever I see her. > > She was also in a series on cable with Eddie Izzard, playing a couple of con artists who pretend to be a wealthy, upper class family. She played John’s Cleese’s daughter when John Cleese was playing Karen’s boyfriend on Will & Grace. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/105 "2016-01-20T19:25:35Z")
> [@Tread](#): > > [John Schuck](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0775870/) John Schuck? Forgettable? Without looking him up: Sgt. Enright - _McMillan and Wife_. Gregory “Yoyo” Yoyonovich - _Holmes & Yoyo_. Herman Munster - _The Munsters Today_. He also played a Klingon ambassador in two _Star Trek_ films and had recurring roles on **Babylon 5** and _Law & Order SVU_. He’s one of those instantly recognizable character actors who stands out from the background on everything he’s in. Color me puzzled as to why you think he’s forgettable. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/106 "2016-01-21T00:00:20Z")
**Andie McDowell** is the dictionary definition of this. When she enters a scene, I always think “who just walked off-screen?”. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/107 "2016-01-21T00:14:48Z")
> [@Tread](#): > > [Demond Wilson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933284/) To be fair, roles have been sparse for Wilson since 1983. There hasn’t been a lot of opportunity to kknow him, hence not much chance to forget him. I don’t remember him from anything except playing second banana to Red Foxx in Sanford and Son. He did a fair but not memorable job of that, as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/108 "2016-01-21T00:52:50Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I give you show-killer extraordinare [Dylan McDermott](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001518/?ref_=nv_sr_4) whose very name in the credits is a signal to try something else. The name is familiar only because I really liked Young Guns I and II (and still like them). On the other hand, I still can’t remember which of the not-Sheen/Sutherland/Phillips/Estevez characters he played. Even worse, I’ve looked those movies up in IMDB a few times to read the character/actor correlations and still can’t remember the face. –G! I’ve just seen a face Now I’ll forget the time and place…:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/109 "2016-01-21T01:06:19Z")
> [@Grestarian](#): > > The name is familiar only because I really liked Young Guns I and II (and still like them). On the other hand, I still can’t remember which of the not-Sheen/Sutherland/Phillips/Estevez characters he played. Even worse, I’ve looked those movies up in IMDB a few times to read the character/actor correlations and still can’t remember the face. > > –G! > I’ve just seen a face > Now I’ll forget the time and place…:smack: I’m betting you have the same problem I do in keeping these guys separated in my brain; could it be [Dermot Mulroney](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000551/?ref_=tt_cl_t5) you’re thinking of for the Young Guns stuff? ETA: See Post #39. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/110 "2016-01-21T01:13:57Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’m betting you have the same problem I do in keeping these guys separated in my brain; could it be [Dermot Mulroney](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000551/?ref_=tt_cl_t5) you’re thinking of for the Young Guns stuff? > > ETA: See Post #39. Yep! And I saw post #39 too long after the edit window to tack on an ETA. I guess they’re both that forgettable. ☹ –G! Unforgettable… That’s what you aren’t… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/111 "2016-01-21T01:23:15Z")
Maybe we need a spinoff thread where we try to come up with celebrities who are easily confused for each other. A pair from way back when would be [Dan Duryea (1907–1968)](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002053/?ref_=nv_sr_1) and [Richard Widmark (1914–2008)](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001847/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) and much was made of their resemblance back then. I suspect that sort of thing would be even easier nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Cardboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Cardboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardboard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/112 "2016-01-21T01:30:09Z")
Robin Williams ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/113 "2016-01-21T02:46:32Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Maybe we need a spinoff thread where we try to come up with celebrities who are easily confused for each other. A pair from way back when would be [Dan Duryea (1907–1968)](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002053/?ref_=nv_sr_1) and [Richard Widmark (1914–2008)](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001847/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) and much was made of their resemblance back then. I suspect that sort of thing would be even easier nowadays. Am I the only person around who frequently mixes up Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/114 "2016-01-21T04:04:55Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Am I the only person around who frequently mixes up Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman? No. ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/115 "2016-01-21T04:28:28Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Sandra Bullock is anything but forgettable. If this site had a category for Mundane, Boring Actors I Never Want To See Again, Sandra Bullock would be at the top of the list. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/116 "2016-01-21T04:49:33Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > **Andie McDowell** is the dictionary definition of this. When she enters a scene, I always think “who just walked off-screen?”. For me, she’s so far below mediocre as to be unforgettably bad. I saw Mimi Rogers in something tonight and thought she might fit. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/117 "2016-01-21T08:57:30Z")
I guess “The Practice” managed to run 7 years (and 2 Emmys for best drama, though it was only in the top 10 of the ratings for 2 years) without anyone here seeing it. And from 1997-2015 McDermott was starring on a TV series somewhere in every season except the 2 years after The Practice ended. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2016, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/118 "2016-01-21T09:59:02Z")
This is clearly a parody thread, similar to the meme about nerd shut-ins critiquing actress looks: “Jessica Alba is hideous; look at those knees!” Forgettable actors: Leonardo Dicaprio, Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Arnold fucking Schwarzenegger? Parody is the only explanation. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/119 "2016-01-21T14:32:37Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I guess “The Practice” managed to run 7 years (and 2 Emmys for best drama, though it was only in the top 10 of the ratings for 2 years) without anyone here seeing it. And from 1997-2015 McDermott was starring on a TV series somewhere in every season except the 2 years after The Practice ended. I find him very attractive so I definitely enjoyed the eye candy on The Practice. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445/120 "2016-01-21T18:04:09Z")
> [@bb49](#): > > If this site had a category for Mundane, Boring Actors I Never Want To See Again, Sandra Bullock would be at the top of the list. I am wondering if this might not be a case where gender bias is the cause of the disagreement. Women might not respond so well to Bulloch’s charm as men. Though, to be honest, I like Bulloch, but I don’t find her all that sexy. Maybe it’s residual sexism, me finding a grown woman cute in the same way you might find a child cute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgettable-mediocre-actors-and-actresses-who-were-nevertheless-successful/743445.md?page=7)