# Who are the best/your favorite non-actor actors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, movies\ **Created:** [November 16, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325 "2024-11-16T18:23:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/41 "2024-11-18T04:43:36Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > You wouldn’t think Farina could be funny, but if you haven’t seen it, Dave Barry’s **Big Trouble** is a hoot and he’s great! One of my favorites! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/42 "2024-11-18T04:56:09Z")
Gil Hill was perfect as Axel Foley’s fed up boss Inspector Todd. The Beverly Hills Cop movies were his only acting roles. He was a retired Commander in the Detroit Police Department who once ran for mayor of Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/43 "2024-11-18T07:11:41Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The Beverly Hills Cop movies were his only acting roles. Because the Deputy Chief chewed his ass out. You see he don’t have any bit of it left, don’t you? 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/44 "2024-11-18T07:29:14Z")
Two immediately came to mind. The first one, I was a little surprised he hadn’t been mentioned yet: Robin Williams. I remember him from Garp, and I loved him in Good Will Hunting. The other one is Mark Wahlberg, who I really liked in The Departed. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2024, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/45 "2024-11-18T07:42:09Z")
Somehow, a few years ago, I happened to watch a clip of “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” from _The Last Waltz_. It’s sung by The Band’s drummer, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I recognized him from somewhere. It took me a while, but I finally figured out where I’d seen him, he was in my favorite movie. From a clean-cut Air Force officer in _The Right Stuff_ to a scruffy, bearded musician, I’m surprised I recognized him at all. He’s **Levon Helm**. Still probably more known as a musician than an actor, but he did have other movie roles, including _Coal Miner’s Daughter_. In _The Right Stuff_ I think he shares all his scenes with **Sam Shepard** , who started as a playwright. > [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Good choice. I will nominate Harold Russell, who played the serviceman who had hooks for hands in The Best Years of our Lives. He was the first non-professional actor to win an Academy Award for acting I was chatting with a friend of mine, and Russell came up. I looked him up online and discovered he’s buried in a small town that I visit fairly often. I had a few spare hours there once and found his grave in the town cemetery. I read up on him a bit, and he sounds like an interesting guy; served on presidential comissions on employing disabled veterans. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/46 "2024-11-18T11:30:08Z")
I’m surprised no mention of John Cena (Peacemaker). Started as a wrestler similar to Dave Bautista and The Rock. He’s carved out a pretty good niche playing comically oversized characters. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/47 "2024-11-18T11:34:30Z")
I did forget him. Very funny in 🐓Blockers. I hope he teams up with Bautista someday. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2024, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/48 "2024-11-18T12:08:17Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > He’s **Levon Helm**. Still probably more known as a musician than an actor, but he did have other movie roles, including _Coal Miner’s Daughter_. He was the only good thing in _Shooter_ IMHO. Everyone else in the film phones it in but not Helm. > [@msmith537](#): > > I’m surprised no mention of John Cena (Peacemaker). Cena has turned out to be a much better actor than anticipated. He brought a level of pathos to _Peacemaker_ that type of series usually doesn’t manage. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/49 "2024-11-18T13:57:12Z")
Are we still pretending that acting isn’t a requisite skill for a professional wrestler? Same for comedians. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/50 "2024-11-18T13:58:56Z")
Well, it is to be a _good_ pro wrestler. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/51 "2024-11-18T14:02:08Z")
Once upon a time, competitive swimming was a ticket to Hollywood: Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Crabbe, Esther Williams… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/52 "2024-11-18T14:09:10Z")
As far as I know this was a one-shot deal, but I enjoyed director John Sayles’ performance as Ring Lardner in “Eight Men Out”.\* \*notably, his singing “I’m Forever Blowing Ball Games” to the Black Sox on the train. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/53 "2024-11-18T14:31:34Z")
Similar to R Lee Ermey, Dale Dye is a former Marine who became a technical advisor and then appeared in like a million movies (usually as “Colonel” or “General” somebody). ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/54 "2024-11-18T14:34:22Z")
Jason Statham was a diver-turned-male-model when Guy Ritchie kickstarted his acting career by casting him in _Lock, Stock, and the Two Smoking Barrels_. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/55 "2024-11-18T14:46:39Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Similar to R Lee Ermey, Dale Dye is a former Marine who became a technical advisor and then appeared in like a million movies (usually as “Colonel” or “General” somebody). How could I have forgotten him? I actually know him: his wife (and partner in his technical advisor company) is a friend of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/56 "2024-11-18T15:01:35Z")
Phil Hartman was a graphic designer who had designed album covers for bands like Crosby, Stills & Nash and America. Feeling the need to find a social outlet, he joined the Groundlings comedy troop. There he met Paul Reubens and helped develop the Pee Wee Herman character. He got small parts in movies and became a voice actor in cartoons but then became famous for his stint on _Saturday Night Live_, where he earned the nickname “Glue” for being able to hold sketches together with his timing and character work. He followed up his work on SNL with more movie parts, voicework on _The Simpsons_, and the show _NewsRadio_. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/57 "2024-11-18T15:03:45Z")
RIP Phil Hartman. He was very funny and talented. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/58 "2024-11-18T15:13:43Z")
Several years ago, Peyton Manning hosted SNL and appeared in some skits. He was a natural. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/59 "2024-11-18T15:25:14Z")
I didn’t really like him in Guardians of the Galaxy but I thought Dave Bautista was fantastic in Knock at the Cabin. He’s not a great actor, but also John Cena. I smile every time I see him in a movie. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325/60 "2024-11-18T15:41:30Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > The other one is Mark Wahlberg, who I really liked in The Departed. And then he turns around and does comedy in _The Other Guys_. > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Several years ago, Peyton Manning hosted SNL and appeared in some skits. The United Way bit is a masterpiece. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-your-favorite-non-actor-actors/1010325.md?page=4)