# Movie roles that should have made a star (but didn't) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477 "2009-03-23T17:47:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/21 "2009-03-23T22:52:59Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > When I think of Michael Biehn, I think of him as Johnny Ringo in ‘Tombstone’. To me Biehn will always be Hicks. (don’t know what that says about me 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/22 "2009-03-23T23:14:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Hulce was the voice of Quasimodo in Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, but I never even saw that movie and I think I had this wrong idea about him being the Beast before Hunchback was even released. Oh well. Anyway, that’s one post-Amadeus starring role, even if he wasn’t physically on screen Hulce was also Leval, Frankenstein’s friend, in the Kenneth Branaugh **Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein** , but it wasn’t a big part. Considering the period, it felt as if he was in some kind of sequel to **Amadeus**. He also did the voice of Quasimodo in the direct-to-videosequel to Disney’s **Hunchback**. He got to sing in both nDisney films, which is a plus. Mark Hamill appeared in **Slipstream** over a decade after **The Empire Strikes Back** with Ben Kingsley and Murray F. Abraham == pretty impressive for a movie nobody ever saw. He also did a lot of cartoon voice work (which he was doing even before Star Wars) and vide Game voicing, not to mention small film roles and directing his own flick. It’s not superstardom, but it ain’t bad. I always thought of Hamill as a fanboy who got his wish – he starred in the biggest sci fi/fantasy flick series ever. Then he relatively disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/23 "2009-03-24T01:15:12Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > To me Biehn will always be Hicks. (don’t know what that says about me 😛 ) I’m Hudson, sir. _He’s_ Hicks. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/24 "2009-03-24T05:20:26Z")
I’m in the Hicks boat as well. Michael Biehn will always be Hicks to me. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/25 "2009-03-24T05:30:21Z")
Regarding Mark Hamill, I _know_ I’m not the only one who saw “Corvette Summer”. Hm, come to think of it maybe I am. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/26 "2009-03-24T05:54:29Z")
OOOH! I LOVED Corvette Summer!!! But, then again, I was a big 'Vette fan as a kid. Not so much for Mark, but the girl he did in the van. (and the gratitious butt-shot after). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/27 "2009-03-24T06:02:20Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > What about [Guy Pearce](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001602/)? He was in LA Confidential with Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Danny Devito and Kim Basinger. Then he did some smaller, interesting movies like Ravenous and Memento. Then The Count of Monte Cristo. And then he shot his career in the face with The Time Machine. When I heard they’re going to be making a [Temeraire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temeraire_(series)#Film_version) film, I thought Guy Pearce would be great as Laurence. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/28 "2009-03-24T06:35:48Z")
[Will Patton](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001599/) should have been huge after _No Way Out_. He was also robbed of an Oscar nom for that movie. He’s worked steadily since then but I’ll bet nine out ten people shown his picture would have no idea who he is. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/29 "2009-03-24T06:38:22Z")
I remember thinking when I first saw Terminator (like, last year only) that Michael Biehn was way cute, and how it seemed odd that he wasn’t a bigger deal. ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/30 "2009-03-24T07:39:49Z")
I always wondered why [Damien Lewis](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507073/) didn’t become a big star after Band of Brothers… He did an astounding job in that film imo. Not to mention did a perfect job on an american accent. I had no clue whatsoever he was british till years later. I’ll second the vote on Will Patton. Great performances in all the films I’ve seen them in. He does tend to play a limited role though… A competent/wise down to earth blue collar type. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/31 "2009-03-24T07:50:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > How about Mark Hamil? Yes, he is well known, but he is only known for that one particular role, and he was never able to parlay it into an acting career outside that one particular franchise. Harrison Ford, by contrast, was able to build a monster career. Hamill was the “pretty boy” of the movies. The just before “The Empire Strikes Back” he was in a bad car accident that tore up his face and he wasn’t pretty anymore. I think that hurt his career the most. ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/32 "2009-03-24T08:26:45Z")
> [@CutterJohn](#): > > I always wondered why [Damien Lewis](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507073/) didn’t become a big star after Band of Brothers.. He did an astounding job in that film imo. Not to mention did a perfect job on an american accent. I had no clue whatsoever he was british till years later. > > I’ll second the vote on Will Patton. Great performances in all the films I’ve seen them in. He does tend to play a limited role though.. A competent/wise down to earth blue collar type. Second your Damien Lewis - yes, he’s doing okay for himself what with starring in “Life” and other good tv work but I agree. I thought he was destined for bigger things. Much the same can be said for my two longterm celebrity crushes Jeremy Northam and Adrian Pasdar. Northam had a very high profile role opposite Gwyneth Paltrow with “Emma” but it seemed to do nothing in terms of taking him into the top tier of Hollywood leading men, where I always figured he belonged. He still works of course - I saw him most recently as Sir Thomas More in “Tudors”. Adrian Pasdar’s lack of A-list career is even more puzzling to me. Gorgeous, talented actor who seems nothing other than reliable and polite so I’m at a loss to figure out why he twice all but disappeared first after starring in Kathyn Bigelow’s vampire flick “Near Dark” and then again after starring in the little seen but critically worshipped TV show “Profit”. Back on TV at the moment in “Heroes” doing fantastic work as Nathan Petrelli but I always figure he should really be opening major films. I third the mention of Will Patton - I too thought he was brilliant in “No Way Out” and was very surprised he never did more than he did. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Gutgore\_Blooddrink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Captain\_Gutgore\_Blooddrink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Gutgore_Blooddrink)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/33 "2009-03-24T11:54:02Z")
FWIW, many Batman fans consider Mark Hamill to be the finest Joker to date, in spite of the huge Heath Ledger following that The Dark Knight produced. Granted, it might not be the best comparison considering one is voice acting while the other was an actual screen portrayal. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/34 "2009-03-24T12:04:16Z")
I had heard (possibly incorrectly) that Tom Hulce was fairly picky about the roles he took, which meant that he didn’t always take the big-exposure parts. I thought he was incredibly good in the incredibly depressing _The Inner Circle_. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/35 "2009-03-24T13:13:11Z")
Honestly, I wanted Hamill to be the movie version of the Joker as well. His voice acting is very physical, and he had the body language down pat. There’s film around of him doing the VA stuff… and the range of the Animated Joker _easily_ encompasses Ledger’s work. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/36 "2009-03-24T14:18:45Z")
> [@Tom Tildrum](#): > > Shouldn’t this thread be titled “Whatever happened to Timothy Hutton?” Heh - absolutely. Good call. > [@USCDiver](#): > > When I think of Michael Biehn, I think of him as Johnny Ringo in ‘Tombstone’. Holy cats, he was! Wow! I generally pick him out in movies when I see him - “Hey, that’s Michael Biehn” - but I never knew he was in Tombstone. (I thought it was some other actor with a close resemblance.) I think I generally pick him out so easily because of Terminator - he seems to play Reese no matter what he’s in - but he really disappeared into Johnny Ringo. Good for him. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/37 "2009-03-24T14:36:03Z")
All these references to _Tombstone_ make me want to nominate Powers Boothe for the category. He’s had some “starring” roles (most notably Jim Jones of Jonestown notoriety) but I don’t think of him as a star as such. He’s always effective as a menacing type, from _24_ to _Deadwood_ to many other memorable ventures. But he’s yet to have a role the size of Tommy Lee Jones or even Nick Nolte, with whom he shared billing in _Extreme Prejudice_ (one of my favorites in that genre). ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/38 "2009-03-24T14:52:59Z")
Anthony Daniels. Six movies playing the same memorable role and no one even knows what he looks like. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/39 "2009-03-24T15:01:44Z")
I was surprised [Gabrielle Anwar’s](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000270/)tango with Al Pacino in \*\*Scent of a Woman \*\*didn’t make her a bigger star…she did a few other movies in the early 90s and now seems to be doing only TV roles. Maybe not the most stellar actress but certainly a looker. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477/40 "2009-03-24T15:05:28Z")
The first person I thought of was [Wes Bentley](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004747/) from _American Beauty_: he had a great look and a pivotal role in an Oscar-winning film. I expected to see him everywhere, but he’s disappeared into smaller parts and projects. That said, [steps on soapbox] I think this thread just underscores the lie of showbiz that dictates all you need is “just one break” to become a huge success, in the rich-and-famous-on-all-the-magazines sense. The fact is that it takes a lot of work and a huge amount of luck to reach that level. In other words, the “break” is just the beginning. You then have to not only continue to win great parts, but you have to shrewdly market yourself as a “star.” Many talented people who had a shot at going that direction simply chose not to (e.g. Alex Winter). Others who got their break - probably after years and years of thankless struggle - maybe felt entitled and started treating others like dirt, the result being that nobody wanted to work with them any more. Or others did absolutely everything right, and was on every studio’s short list for the next fantastic, star-making part, but kept ending up just one down on the list from the guy who eventually got it. The most successful actors seem to be those who focus more on taking parts that work for them, whether big or small, and developing good relationships in the business that keep them working steadily. You may not know their names, or even their faces, but they work all the time and make decent money. But even those people are extremely lucky. Acting is a horrible business, I can’t imagine why anyone does it, frankly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-roles-that-should-have-made-a-star-but-didnt/490477.md?page=3)