# Hey, look! It's... it's... THAT guy! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 13, 2004, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008 "2004-02-13T07:07:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/21 "2004-02-13T18:01:49Z")
I’m trying to identify one “That Guy” but am not sure I have the right person. He’s always the bad guy because of his looks, very tall, skinny, pock marked face, generally creepy looking. He was in one of the Eastwood pics, I think High Plains Drifter and in Naked Gun ? ?/? had a water hose crammed into his mouth until he exploded. Cross checking has given me the name of Anthony James but a search high and low can’t locate a pic to confirm. Any help would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/22 "2004-02-13T18:11:34Z")
[THAT girl](http://www.thatgirltv.com/newpics/sidewalk.gif) _“Oh, Donald!”_ ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/23 "2004-02-13T18:22:01Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I’m trying to identify one “That Guy” but am not sure I have the right person. He’s always the bad guy because of his looks, very tall, skinny, pock marked face, generally creepy looking. > > He was in one of the Eastwood pics, I think High Plains Drifter and in Naked Gun ? ?/? had a water hose crammed into his mouth until he exploded. Cross checking has given me the name of Anthony James but a search high and low can’t locate a pic to confirm. > > Any help would be appreciated. [Anthony James](http://www.daklar.com/images/Guest%20Stars/AnthonyJs101.JPG) from a _Vega$_ fan website. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/24 "2004-02-13T18:26:13Z")
Mine is Stephen Tobolowsky. He played the insurance salesman in **Groundhog Day** and had a fairly large role in **Great Balls of Fire** as Sam Phillips’ brother. He was also the jerky teacher in the most recent **Freaky Friday** who flunked the daughter becuase the mom dissed him in HS, lol. According the to IMDB it looks like he averages 4-5 movies a year. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864997/](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864997/) (he has a neat headshot!) I searched for my other “That Guy” and it turned out to be the already mentioned Clint Howard, lol. My favorite role of his is the dad at the little league games in **Parenthood** who screams at all the kids. For some reason I get him mixed up with the guy who played “Booger” in **Revenge of the Nerds** but that’s actually the guy from **Moonlighting** , right? ::scratches head:: ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/25 "2004-02-13T18:30:24Z")
I always enjoy seeing Frances Sternhagen pop up. She was Carter’s “gamma” on ER, Cliff Clavin’s mother on Cheers, at least three different soap operas and always a reliable choice for a mother/aunt/next door neighbor/crotchety townsperson. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/26 "2004-02-13T18:45:27Z")
> [@GMRyujin](#): > > How about Michael Ironside, who has to rate somewhere in the pantheon of all-time That Guys. Who? The bald guy with the cool voice who always plays military dudes! I have a bald guy who always plays some sort of authority figure. [James Tolkan](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0866055/) (Strickland in the _Back to the Future_ movies). ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/27 "2004-02-13T19:02:32Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I’m trying to identify one “That Guy” but am not sure I have the right person. He’s always the bad guy because of his looks, very tall, skinny, pock marked face, generally creepy looking. > > He was in one of the Eastwood pics, I think High Plains Drifter and in Naked Gun ? ?/? had a water hose crammed into his mouth until he exploded. Cross checking has given me the name of Anthony James but a search high and low can’t locate a pic to confirm. > > Any help would be appreciated. At first I thought you were talking about [this guy who’s name is apparently Billy Draco](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-2687). I don’t think this is your guy, he doesn’t seem to have been in the Naked Gun but he was in Pale Rider, the Untouchables and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/28 "2004-02-13T19:18:37Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > I searched for my other “That Guy” and it turned out to be the already mentioned Clint Howard, lol. It’s worth mentioning that Clint Howard is the brother of Ron Howard, who gives him a small role in just about every one of his movies. So, if you look at Clint’s resume, you’ll see Parenthood, Apollo 13, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/29 "2004-02-13T19:20:00Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > Mine is Stephen Tobolowsky. Another great one! Whenever we see him, it’s a contest to see who says “Hey, Needlehead!” first. > [@](#): > > For some reason I get him mixed up with the guy who played “Booger” in **Revenge of the Nerds** but that’s actually the guy from **Moonlighting** , right? ::scratches head:: Yup, that’s Curtis Armstrong. Also in _Risky Business_ (“Sometimes you just gotta say, ‘What the fuck!’”). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/30 "2004-02-13T19:45:24Z")
I think [Eric Balfour](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0050156/) should get special TV That Guy status. He doesn’t show up in a lot of movies, but anyone who watches a lot of TV has probably seen him a lot: Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Jesse, Xander’s friend that is killed in the first episode 24 - Milo the computer tech from the first season Six Feet Under - Gabe, Claire’s crazy ex-boyfriend Veritas - Cal, in the short lived Alias rip off He’s also shown up as a guest star on FreakyLinks, The Chronicle, Dr. Quinn, and a lot of other shows. When Fearless, with Rachael Leigh Cook, eventually premieres, he’s in that too. And then of course there’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/31 "2004-02-13T20:16:16Z")
**Bordelond** nailed the pic I was looking for **LateComer** but yeah, I well remember your Draco falling out of Costner’s grip for an appointment with gravity. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/32 "2004-02-13T20:21:49Z")
[William Devane](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001137/) In that movie _space cowboys_, he had the role of vocalizing the tension. There were about 5 cuts to him at mission control while they were working in space where all he’d say is something like, “come on, Jim” or he’d grimace. I think that’s the only kind of role he gets. He’s the kind of guy you’d expect to say “not bad for an old guy.” I wish I could remember some of his lines from SCs because they were all stuff like, “just a few. . .more. . .seconds. . .” and whatnot. If you see it again, check him out. IMDB listed him saying this in that movie: “space will never be the same.” ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/33 "2004-02-13T20:24:16Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > Another great one! Whenever we see him, it’s a contest to see who says “Hey, Needlehead!” first. Whenever I see him I yell out “BING!” I’ve got to second JT Walsh. I swear, he kept turning up in movies for about 2 years after he died. He’s in _everything_! ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/34 "2004-02-13T20:53:56Z")
Neal McDonough. A very respectable actor. My response to him was exactly that: “Hey, it’s that dude from Ravenous!” when I saw him in Minority Report. I just looked him up now, for the purposes of this thread. Further info: > **[Neal McDonough - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568180/)** > > Neal McDonough, Actor: Minority Report. Multi-talented and award-winning actor Neal McDonough can be seen in a multitude of stellar productions in 2019. In addition to just wrapping his second season on "Project Blue Book", he also gave a lightning... ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/35 "2004-02-13T21:12:40Z")
Steven Gilborn > **[Steven Gilborn - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0318318/)** > > Steven Gilborn, Actor: Evolution. Steven Gilborn was born on July 15, 1936 in New Rochelle, New York, USA as Steven Neil Gilborn. He was an actor, known for Evolution (2001), Doctor Dolittle (1998) and Alien: Resurrection (1997). He was married to... He’s that guy who was in the Brady Bunch Movie, and Howard Stern’s movie, and that HBO movie about Leno and Letterman, and Dr. Doolittle, and… ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/36 "2004-02-13T21:48:18Z")
Another one from The Brady Bunch Movie: Gary Cole “Yaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh, I think he’s a THAT Guy. I’m gonna need those TPS reports too.” ---
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/37 "2004-02-13T21:50:30Z")
My phrase is “isn’t that whatzername?” or “isn’t that whatizface?” instead of “who’s that guy,” but yeah. Mine is Elaine Hendrix. Lisa Luder in _Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion_, Heidi Gardelle in my favorite made-for-tv Christmas movie, _Mr. St. Nick_, nasty stepbitch to be in the updated _The Parent Trap_, and I thought I saw her as the chemistry teacher on _Joan of Arcadia_ the one time I watched it. She guested on CSI once, too. I can never remember her name–in fact, I had to go to IMDB to look it up just so I could tell you what it was! ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/38 "2004-02-13T22:26:17Z")
My family’s “that guy” was [James Hampton](http://imdb.com/name/nm0358996/). (I never knew his name till just now.) We always called him “Harry,” for his character in _Condorman_. Though he’s probably not really obscure enough, after playing the dad in _Teen Wolf._ ---
**Author:** ![sjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/39 "2004-02-13T23:08:03Z")
I had that experience with Bob Balaban, suddenly I was seeing in all sorts of things. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008/40 "2004-02-13T23:59:08Z")
The current “that guy” in my home is in a lot of commercials. He’s got a trapazoidal afro and a goatee. I think his agent is searching for “befuddled salesclerk” roles, since that’s what he seems to get - standing around looking puzzled. He was a clerk in the $20 bill ad with the guy flipping the bill around. He was a Best Buy person in the ad with the customer taking a mosh dive off his stereo set. He was a sleepy dude in a Cheerios commercial who tries to milk a bull for his cereal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-look-its-its-that-guy/229008.md?page=3)