# Good actor in a bad movie. Do you pity them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536 "2012-09-12T20:12:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/41 "2013-06-03T20:08:58Z")
“People ask me why I’m playing in this picture. The answer is simple: money, dear boy.” - Laurence Olivier, about _Inchon_ ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/42 "2013-06-03T22:50:18Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Steve Buscemi: _“I wanted a bigger house.”_ I will forgive him forever. [http://www.watchboardwalkempire.com/steve-buscemi-9-11/](http://www.watchboardwalkempire.com/steve-buscemi-9-11/) > [@](#): > > Before he ever saw the bright lights of Hollywood, Buscemi was carving out a career as a fireman in New York’s Little Italy in the 1980s. A hard-working and dedicated employee, Buscemi never gave up on his dreams of professional acting while putting in four years of service to Engine No. 55 in the New York Fire Department. Needless to say, Buscemi was rocked to his core by the events of 9-11, and he decided to join up with his former employer the very next day. > > While eschewing photo opportunities or interviews, the former firefighter worked tirelessly in monster shifts for the next week. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/43 "2013-06-03T23:35:13Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Who are these people? (Besides Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie, that is.) I’ve been in tons of casting directors offices with actors going for commercials, and no one felt oppressed. Well, I presume that the actors who won’t do commercials (if indeed there are any such) aren’t going to be found in casting directors’ offices going for commercials. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/44 "2013-06-04T00:01:56Z")
If I watch something crappy and there is a good actor in it giving an entertaining performance, then that is usually the only reason I am watching it. No, I don’t feel bad for the actor, I feel bad for me for not having something better with a good performance in it. Many is the time I’ve sat through some crappy movie that was saved only by the presence of Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Vanessa Redgrave or Michelle Pfeiffer. On the other hand, I’ve sat through some crappy movies that had hideous performances by Olivier. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/45 "2013-06-04T01:00:29Z")
Some need the work for the cash, or keep SAG benefits. Some have careers that ain’t doing so hot but want to keep working. I guess some have bad agents who gave bad advice. But no, I do not pity them. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/46 "2013-06-04T01:07:09Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Well, I presume that the actors who won’t do commercials (if indeed there are any such) aren’t going to be found in casting directors’ offices going for commercials. Big stars didn’t, of course. Back then, at least. But I never heard anti-commercial buzz even in legit shoots. in fact the star of the series was in some commercials. And I saw some pretty well know actors in casting director waiting rooms. Someone doing a series doesn’t have a lot of time to do commercials, though. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/47 "2013-06-04T02:50:50Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > This does not seem to be the [consensus opinion](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bringing_out_the_dead/) among critics. (Haven’t seen it myself.) I’ve seen it, and found it very enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![WisdomofLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/34f0e0/32.png) [@WisdomofLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WisdomofLife)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/48 "2013-06-04T09:53:26Z")
It depends on the situation of the actor or actress in terms of their career. If they have made it big with several hits but end up being typed cast due to one role (like Bela Lugosi-Dracula) they excel in, then it would suck since you have limited opportunities to gain new experiences to improve other performances and money to survive. However some actors or actresses are really good playing certain type(s). If you are good at acting the type and there is large market for it, the actor should have a lot of jobs. Sometimes typecasting is due to the actor or actress just being really crappy and can’t perform great roles if their lives depend on it :rolleyes:. But I’m happy for them if they enjoy their jobs and love doing what they do. I think also there is tolerate of how much audience or fans can take from great actors in their career stump. If an actor gets all diva, uses their money for drugs, or demands more money for a role; they lose my respect (like Tom Cruise). Some actors (like Betty White) have stumps (she did game shows and guest spots when not in a prime TV roles) but seem to enjoy their work (at least publically). The oddest low points for good actors to me is selling a product on TV. I think an actor would be getting better offers after a hit show or movie (even if it is a crappy TV show or movie) than a 1 to 2 minute commercial. Some of the actors I seen selling are Joan Lunden (selling senior care even though she was good reporter and host in the 90s), Henry Winkler (the Fonz selling insurance 😕) and Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman is selling contacts lens :dubious: though Wonder Woman role was a hot one-hit wonder role for her :D). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/49 "2013-06-04T11:18:00Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > I can’t imagine the pressure that someone like Robert Downey Jr. must be under to help make sure that the latest IronMan movie is a hit. I saw RDJ on a talk show around the time the first Iron Man movie came out, and he was asked why he chose to do a big schlocky special-effects-extravaganza blockbuster when he’d done so many smaller movies to great critical acclaim. RDJ turned to the crowd and said “How many of you have seen _Fur_?” No one raised their hand. “That’s why I made _Iron Man_.” ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/50 "2013-06-04T11:26:45Z")
I generally feel like “what an idiot” or “they’re judgement is really slipping.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536.md?page=2)