Most unlikely action stars

Cafe Society
1

When you think of “action stars,” Arnold, Sly, and Bruce would be the Big 3, at least of the last 30 years or so, then there’s more recent high-profile guys like Christian Bale, Will Smith, and Russell Crowe, then there’s the 2nd- and 3rd- tier guys like Van Damme, Seagal, Jason Statham, and of course your old-school guys like Chuck Norris, Steve McQueen, Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Clint, etc.

Then there’s guys like… Liam Neeson. Sure, he’s a big guy, looks to be in decent shape, has a great, gravelly “tough guy” voice, and is even a decent actor, but when you look at his overall body of work, he’s much more of a serious, dramatic actor, very appropriate to films such as Michael Collins, Rob Roy, Schindler’s List, and the like.

Until recently, that is. The past few years have seen him in starring action-hero roles in Taken, The A-Team, Unknown, and the current The Grey.

Other actors (and actresses) I’d put in this category are Tobey Maguire (Spiderman series), Sigourney Weaver (Aliens series), Adrien Brody (Predators), and Kate Beckinsale (Underworld series).

Who else you got?

2

Simon Pegg.

3

It’s got to be Adrian Brody in Predators.

I spent the first half of the movie thinkiing, “Brody? Really?”

But as far as sci fi, action goes, not bad.

Of course one action movie doesn’t qualify him as an action star.

Also Denzel Washington, not known as an action star but has done some good action roles, Book of Eli. Man on Fire.

Also, Forest Whitiker , did Ghost Dog and Repo Man

4

BTW, I think Jason Statham may qualify as 1st tier now.

5

Oh, Billy Zane , Phantom , Invincible.

6

Keanu Reeves

7

Sigourney may not be very tall but she carries herself like an Amazon. no surprise there at all.

8

Well, he was also in King Kong…

Folks about my age will probably think of Bruce Willis. When Die Hard came out, everyone was like, “Really? The goofy guy from Moonlighting? In an action movie? Whatever…” And of course it turned out to be awesome.

9

I’m not sure Tobey Maguire really counts, as you can’t cast a Schwarzenegger or Stallone as Spiderman. Elijah Wood popping up in Sin City as a serial killer was more surprising.

She is just shy of 6 foot according to wikipedia.

I’ll see your Simon Pegg and raise you Nick Frost. :slight_smile:

10

How about Paul Giamatti in “Shoot Em Up”?

11

Seth Rogan in The Green Lantern.

12

Problem is, Brody stunk up both movies big time because he was all wrong for the role in each case. He’s not really suited to be an action hero.

13

Edmond O’Brien. He played tough guys, often quite well, despite looking so soft and doughy.

14

Seth Rogan in The Green Hornet-Ryan Reynolds in The Green Lantern, Blade Trinity, Smokin’ Aces, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the upcoming Deadpool.

15

Almost the entire cast of The Mystery Men: Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Janeane Garofalo, Paul Reubens, Eddie Izzard, Greg Kinnear.

16

Repo Men. Repo Man was not an action movie.

That would be The Green Hornet.

Sorry for the nit picks…

17

Really? I thought he did a fine job in Predators - I mean, the movie wasn’t exactly “Citizen Kane”, but Brody did a fine job with the material. And I had no problem believing that his character was a Special Forces guy - I’ve read many times, both here and elsewhere, that most such people just don’t look that remarkably strong.

18

Helen Mirren in Red. Her scene on that heavy gun was worth watching the movie for.

19

She’s 5′ 11½″. How tall do you want her?

ETA: Sorry, see Alka Seltzer already commented.

20

None of the Special Forces guys or Rangers or other elite types I’ve known looked much like your typical action movie hero. Certainly, they were in excellent physical condition; but they were generally wiry-looking guys of about average size.