# Spotting a Familiar Actor in a Surprising Place - Part Deux **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931 "2017-06-26T19:06:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [July 6, 2017, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/81 "2017-07-06T10:47:56Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Just saw Donna Douglas in an episode of \*\*\*Twilight Zone \*\*\*opposite Jesse White and Carol Burnett. Blink and you’d miss her; she’s a high society girl in a tight white dress. Looks just like she did in those episodes of _ **The Beverly Hillbillies** _ where Elly May was all gussied up! :o Donna Douglas was also the girl wrapped up in the mummy-like bandages in the Twilight Zone episode _Eye of the Beholder_ (the one where everyone else is pig-ugly). At any rate, she is after the bandages are removed. When she’s bandaged, she was played by actress Maxine Stewart. In _the Twilight Zone Companion_ Ms. Stewart says she understands the director’s (Douglas Heyes) intent – they wanted the Girl in the Bandages to be extremely beautiful, so Donna Douglas got the part. But the knowledge still musta hurt. > **[Eye of the Beholder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eye_of_the_Beholder)** > > Eye of the beholder is a phrase meaning something is a matter of personal opinion. It is shortened from the aphorism "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", which originally appeared in the 1876 novel Molly Bawn. It may refer to: ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/82 "2017-07-06T13:53:53Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Fess Parker as a traumatized pilot in **Them!** > > That’s just wrong, though. Dan’l Boone ain’t supposed to be flyin’ no airplane. Neither is Davey Crockett. Hollywood legend has it that Parker’s single brief scene in _Them!_ is what got him the part of Davy Crockett in the first place. Supposedly Walt Disney saw it and basically said, “There’s our Davy!” ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/83 "2017-07-06T14:13:49Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Band of Brothers has a ton of “before they were famous.” Without mentioning the leads who became better known through the show, some of the minor roles were played by Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy, Simon Pegg, Jamie Bamber and James McAvoy. It had the already-famous post-_Friends_ David Schwimmer. Perhaps the most surprising appearance is that of Jimmy Fallon. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/84 "2017-07-06T14:17:06Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > It had the already-famous post-_Friends_ David Schwimmer. Perhaps the most surprising appearance is that of Jimmy Fallon. Wow, you’re right!: [http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsF/tve46579-5-1365.gif](http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsF/tve46579-5-1365.gif) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/85 "2017-07-06T16:54:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Fess Parker as a traumatized pilot in **Them!** > > That’s just wrong, though. Dan’l Boone ain’t supposed to be flyin’ no airplane. Neither is Davey Crockett. Was there a scene where he actually flew a plane? The only scene with him that I remember is the one where he comes into the headquarters/tracking center to deliver a report and says something like “Boy, those things sure can move!” In that scene, he’s wearing a khaki dress uniform, not a flight suit or anything else that would identify him as a pilot. (Maybe an Air Force patch on his sleeve?) Then again, the last time I saw the movie was probably in 1984, so my memory may be incomplete. On the other hand, Clint Eastwood was the jet pilot who bombed the titular creature in _ **Tarantula** _, though his face was covered by an oxygen mask. Maybe he was the aviator who was traumatized? ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/86 "2017-07-06T17:08:28Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Was there a scene where he actually flew a plane? The only scene with him that I remember is the one where he comes into the headquarters/tracking center to deliver a report and says something like “Boy, those things sure can move!” In that scene, he’s wearing a khaki dress uniform, not a flight suit or anything else that would identify him as a pilot. (Maybe an Air Force patch on his sleeve?) You must be thinking of someone else (or thinking of a different movie). Parker plays a civilian pilot who’s been committed to the psych ward at a hospital, because he made an emergency landing and claimed that his plane had been forced down by UFOs that looked like giant ants. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leUn0KnauYs) is the scene (Parker first appears at about 38 seconds in). Leonard Nimoy also has a small, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role as a soldier, though not in that clip. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/87 "2017-07-06T17:17:54Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > You must be thinking of someone else (or thinking of a different movie). Parker plays a civilian pilot who’s been committed to the psych ward at a hospital, because he made an emergency landing and claimed that his plane had been forced down by UFOs that looked like giant ants. > > [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leUn0KnauYs) is the scene (Parker first appears at about 38 seconds in). > > Leonard Nimoy also has a small, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role as a soldier, though not in that clip. Okay, I’m convinced! I would like to see the part I remember again, though. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/88 "2017-07-06T17:54:09Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > Also in “Tootsie” > > When Dustin Hoffman, as Dorothy, hails a cab and a guy gets in first, Tootsie drags the guy out of it and gets in. That guy is Woodie Allen No, it was Willy Switkes, long time character actor. http://variety.com/2013/film/obituaries-people-news/character-actor-willy-switkes-dies-at-83-1200325577/ ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/89 "2017-07-06T18:35:38Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Two more examples from _ **The Graduate** _: Marion Lorne and Alice Ghostley (Aunt Clara and Esmerelda from _ **Bewitched** _) are both in the receiving line for the Singleman party at the hotel. What’s really interesting about this scene is that they weren’t co-stars on “Bewitched”, but rather Ghostley was Lorne’s _future_ replacement on the show. When Marion Lorne died in '68, Esmerelda (Ghostley’s character) had yet to appear on the show. After Lorne died, instead of recasting yet another role (which hadn’t worked out that well with either Mrs. Kravitz or Darrin), the producers created a new character to fill the same role that Aunt Clara (inept witch whose spells typically went wrong). While modern day audiences look at this movie and think “Hey, there’s two cast members of “Bewitched” making cameos”, when the film was in general release, that wasn’t even a consideration. Meanwhile, elsewhere, I happened to catch a VERY old “Law & Order” (we’re talking “Chris Noth as Det. Logan” era), I saw Laura Linney playing a perp. She’s the assistant to a Japanese businessman who gets murdered. The cops discover she did it, but while in court she pleads self-defense, claiming her boss was sexually abusive and menaced her. Funny thing is, I actually remember watching that episode back in the day, but never actually connected that role with the Linney later on. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/90 "2017-07-06T19:00:32Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > What’s really interesting about this scene is that they weren’t co-stars on “Bewitched”, but rather Ghostley was Lorne’s _future_ replacement on the show. **Fun Fact:** Ghostley, who replaced Kathleen Freeman as Frau Gertrude Linkmeyer on _ **Hogan’s Heroes** _, was married IRL to Felice Orlandi, who played Lt Maurice duBois of the French Resistance on _ **Hogan’s Heroes** _. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/91 "2017-07-06T20:01:25Z")
John Krasinski, Jim from _The Office_, played a college basketball player who was part of a game-fixing scheme in an episode of _Law & Order._ I was blown away when I realized Christopher Guest was both Nigel Tufnel in _This Is Spinal Tap_ and Count Drogan (the six fingered man) in _Princess Bride_. Same when I realized Gary Oldman was Drexl Spivey, the scary drug dealer in _True Romance_, and Commissioner Gordon in the Nolan-directed Batman movies. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/92 "2017-07-07T02:33:48Z")
George Reeves (Superman) as Sergeant Maylon Stark in “From Here To Eternity”. The US military could have used him when the Japanese attacked Pearl. I guess he forgot his cape. Also Lucille Ball in the Three Stooges short “Three Little Pigskins”. One of her first accredited roles. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/93 "2017-07-07T03:20:10Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I was blown away when I realized Christopher Guest was both Nigel Tufnel in _This Is Spinal Tap_ and Count Drogan (the six fingered man) in _Princess Bride_. He’s also the doctor from Guantanamo who testifies about Santiago’s cause of death in _A Few Good Men_. That can be a useful link in Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/94 "2017-07-07T13:54:53Z")
Timothy Busfield as the soldier ordered to fire the (unaimed) mortar by John Larroquette in Stripes. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/95 "2017-07-07T15:18:57Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Leonard Nimoy also has a small, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role as a soldier, though not in that clip. Is he a radio operator? I thought that was _Night of the Lepus_. I saw Col. Klink (Werner Klemperer) on an episode of Wanted: Dead or Alive. ---
**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:** [July 7, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/96 "2017-07-07T15:27:14Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > [Christopher Guest was] also the doctor from Guantanamo who testifies about Santiago’s cause of death in _A Few Good Men_. That can be a useful link in Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Wow! I had no memory of him in that - quite a different i.e. square look: [Ma Vie En Rows: Image](https://mavieenrows.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/afgm2-guest.png) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/97 "2017-07-07T17:24:38Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Is he a radio operator? I thought that was _Night of the Lepus_. > > I saw Col. Klink (Werner Klemperer) on an episode of Wanted: Dead or Alive. Here is Nimoy. His scene apparently came just before Parker’s: Col. Klink was also in an episode of \*\*\*Perry Mason\*\*\* set in Switzerland, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/98 "2017-07-07T17:44:00Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Here is Nimoy. His scene apparently came just before Parker’s: > > Col. Klink was also in an episode of \*\*\*Perry Mason\*\*\* set in Switzerland, IIRC. Nimoy has about five seconds as a radio operator in Lepus. He is a green Martian in the Republic serial _King of the Rocket Men._ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/99 "2017-07-07T18:47:52Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > George Reeves (Superman) as Sergeant Maylon Stark in “From Here To Eternity”. He’s also one of “Scarlett’s beaux” in the opening scene of _ **Gone with the Wind** _. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931/100 "2017-07-07T19:33:33Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > He’s also one of “Scarlett’s beaux” in the opening scene of _ **Gone with the Wind** _. One of the Tarlton or Carlton twins, as I recall. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-a-familiar-actor-in-a-surprising-place-part-deux/789931.md?page=6)