# Help me identify an actor, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 9, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415 "2007-05-09T17:00:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/1 "2007-05-09T17:00:47Z")
This is tough. I can’t think of a single title or any of the characters’ names for any role this guy has had, but I’m reasonably sure I have seen him recently, probably in a movie on cable or maybe even one of the series that I watch regularly. I would guess I’ve seen him in at least five movies or TV shows but I just can’t remember a single one at this point. Nor can I visualize him opposite other actors, although he’s almost always in a supporting role and usually as a heavy or villain type. He’s the type whose performance is convincing enough that you want to see him get killed or hurt badly. It’s driving me nuts! In my mind’s eye he resembles [Linus Roache](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0730070/) or [Jake Weber](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0916617/) and he has played roles that would have been suitable for Gary Sinise, Gary Oldman, Edward Norton or John Malkovich or others like them who are better known actors. This guy doesn’t have that much star power, or at least I haven’t seen him do that sort of role yet. He’s probably in his late 30’s to mid-50’s, has dark hair and eyes, has medium height, weight and build and specializes in roles where there’s some uncertainty about his loyalty or credibility, such as being one of the creatures in a sci-fi movie where the aliens change back and forth between humans and critters. (It’s quite possible he’s never played such a character, but he would be convincing in such a role.) I can visualize him playing a priest, an office manager, a bureaucrat, a political staff member, a reporter, a military staffer, or some mid-level operative in the CIA or FBI. He’s not overly macho, but has a sneaky aspect. He’s not physically unattractive but not what you’d call handsome either. The latest thing I saw him in (as best I can recall) he was a faculty member or a therapist or counselor and his relationship with a young woman was very suspect, as if he were molesting her or something along those lines. If you can link to a picture, that will help the most. Mentioning a role or a movie where he may have been a supporting character might help, too. Some folks I know he’s not: [Taylor Negron](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0624510/) [Will Patton](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0280079/043.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Patton%2C%20Will%20(I)&seq=5) [Gary Cole](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0170550/) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/2 "2007-05-09T17:32:56Z")
I’m not sure if it is possible for you to be more vague while writing so much. 😃 How about [Zeljko Ivanek](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0411964/)? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/3 "2007-05-09T17:40:24Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I’m not sure if it is possible for you to be more vague while writing so much. 😃 How about [Zeljko Ivanek](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0411964/)? [/QUOTE] Decent guess, but not the one I’m trying to find. Yes, it’s pretty hard to describe somebody you’re trying to identify when you can only go with others he may or may not resemble. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/4 "2007-05-09T17:46:38Z")
[Tim Roth?](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000619/) ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/5 "2007-05-09T17:50:05Z")
[Leland Orser](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Orser)? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/6 "2007-05-09T17:54:18Z")
[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu] [Tim Roth?](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000619/) [/QUOTE] Good guess, but Roth has way more star power than my guy, I believe. Same range of roles would work, though, except my guy is a bit better looking than Roth and not quite as menacing. The sneakiness fits. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/7 "2007-05-09T17:56:12Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] [Leland Orser](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Orser)? [/QUOTE] This is the best guess so far, and I’ll have to remember Orser’s name. I have seen him do the same type roles and he has the similar physical characteristics, too. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/8 "2007-05-09T18:01:09Z")
I don’t suppose it’s Peter Weller? [Latest Stills - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/4024/Events/4024/PeterWelle_Kambo_7000129_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Weller,%20Peter%20(I)) ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/9 "2007-05-09T18:04:12Z")
[Matt Craven](http://imdb.com/name/nm0002023/)? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/10 "2007-05-09T18:09:09Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] I don’t suppose it’s Peter Weller? [http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/4024/Events/4024/PeterWelle\_Kambo\_7000129\_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path\_key=Weller,%20Peter%20(I)](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/4024/Events/4024/PeterWelle_Kambo_7000129_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Weller,%20Peter%20(I)) [/QUOTE] No, but thanks for the guess. Weller’s sort of the type but is older than my guy and had his big splash a while back. I’m pretty sure my guy is a more recent type, with the past ten or so years covering his career pretty well. It’s possible he was in earlier things, but his arrival as a major heavy is more a 2000’s thing, maybe 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/11 "2007-05-09T18:10:29Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] [Matt Craven](http://imdb.com/name/nm0002023/)? [/QUOTE] No, but I do like Craven. He’s good in _Raines_. Right type of actor, just not the one. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Hildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Johnny\_Hildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Hildo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/12 "2007-05-09T18:20:36Z")
[Colm Feore?](http://imdb.com/name/nm0272173/) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Hildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Johnny\_Hildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Hildo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/13 "2007-05-09T18:29:27Z")
[Henry Czerny?](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001089/) ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/14 "2007-05-09T18:43:25Z")
[Elias Koteas](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000480/)? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/15 "2007-05-09T18:45:41Z")
My best guesses are David Keith (NOT to be confused with Keith David) and William Fichtner. Or perhaps Tony Goldwyn? ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/16 "2007-05-09T18:50:29Z")
William Forsythe? > **[Latest Stills - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/gallery/rg1859820288?path=pgallery&path_key=Forsythe,%20William%20%28I%29)** > > IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/17 "2007-05-09T18:52:12Z")
Thanks for the tries, but so far no luck hitting my guy. Not: David Keith William Fichtner Tony Goldwyn Elias Koteas Henry Czerny Colm Feore All these guys are good in the sort of role my man has played, but he’s younger (or at least appears that way) than this group. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/18 "2007-05-09T18:54:32Z")
[QUOTE=Veuve\_ClicquotNJ] William Forsythe? [http://imdb.com/gallery/granitz/4640/Events/4640/WilliamFor\_Soren\_8120250\_400.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path\_key=Forsythe,%20William%20(I)](http://imdb.com/gallery/granitz/4640/Events/4640/WilliamFor_Soren_8120250_400.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Forsythe,%20William%20(I)) VCNJ~ [/QUOTE] Forsythe is better known and older than my man. Thanks, though. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/19 "2007-05-09T18:59:14Z")
[Robert Patrick?](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415/20 "2007-05-09T19:00:44Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] [Robert Patrick?](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/) [/QUOTE] Nope. Thanks, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-actor-please/403415.md?page=2)