# Journeymen actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeymen-actors/293891 "2005-03-10T20:17:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeymen-actors/293891/1 "2005-03-10T20:17:04Z")
I define journeymen actors to be those who, while not being megastars, seem to pop everywhere you turn. You see them in supporting roles and bit parts. Everytime a new animated film comes out you can almost count on their voice being in there somewhere. They are the ones you are delighted to see even if the vehicle they are performing in is a flop. My two favorites are: [Cheech Marin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001507/) [Tim Curry](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000347/) Who are yours? ---
**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:** [March 10, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeymen-actors/293891/2 "2005-03-10T20:24:11Z")
I call those actors That Guys, as in “Hey, it’s that guy!” Someone devoted a whole site to those familiar character actors: [http://www.fametracker.com/hey\_its\_that\_guy/](http://www.fametracker.com/hey_its_that_guy/) Some of my favorite That Guys include Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, William Shatner, Bruce Campbell, Vince Vaughn, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, and Michael Madsen. Admittedly, they are all better-known names, but still nowhere near Tom Cruise status (and all far more entertaining than Cruise). ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeymen-actors/293891/3 "2005-03-10T20:27:38Z")
For the second time today, I’m going to throw in Eddie Izzard. He’s very well-known as a comedian, but has been in films pretty regularly over the last five years or so. Most of his work has been excellent, but the movies themselves haven’t been too well-received. I think he’s on the verge of a breakout into mainstream. I’d consider an actor in that position - on the verge of breakthrough - as the definition of “journeyman”. What you’ve got I think I’d call character actor. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeymen-actors/293891/4 "2005-03-10T20:27:42Z")
Martin Short often turns up in interesting places. And the voice of David Hyde-Pearce. And Miranda Richardson. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeymen-actors/293891/5 "2005-03-10T20:37:06Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > I call those actors That Guys, as in “Hey, it’s that guy!” Someone devoted a whole site to those familiar character actors: [http://www.fametracker.com/hey\_its\_that\_guy/](http://www.fametracker.com/hey_its_that_guy/) Yes, the late, great JT Walsh would be the very first name on my list of “that guys” too. Also - there was a character actor who used to show up regularly on sitcoms and in small movie parts in the 70s and 80s, and (with JT Walsh in mind) I used to call him “that OTHER guy.” Let me see if I can dig up his name… Got him! [Richard Masur](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0557956/) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeymen-actors/293891/6 "2005-03-10T20:48:08Z")
Charles Lane, of course. Shows up all over the place in old movies. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeymen-actors/293891/7 "2005-03-10T22:10:44Z")
Bob Balaban - the father on _Ghost World_ and Russell Dalrymple on _Seinfeld_ Jennifer Coolidge - _American Pie_’s MILF and also on _Best in Show_ and _Joey_ Paul Giamatti, if he’s not too famous now Brendan Gleeson Arye Gross Luis Guzman Philip Baker Hall Philip Seymour Hoffman The Chinese Triumvirate – James Hong, Victor Wong, and Al Leong! David Paymer The GREAT AUSTIN PENDLETON!!! John Rhys-Davies Jeffrey Tambor Stephen Tobolowsky