# Who would you like to see as a bad guy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061 "2002-08-15T17:48:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/21 "2002-08-16T01:55:14Z")
Andy Griffith has played a bad guy several times, and very effectively; that good ol’ boy persona cuts both ways. See _A Face in the Crowd_, where he played a completely cynical, absolutely selfish, power-hungry entertainer who manipulated and used people. He was also in two different tv movies (one was called “Pray for the Wildcats”, with Bill Shatner) in which his character left somebody for dead in the desert. And in a tv-movie with Johnnie Cash, he played a ruthless murderer who believed he could kill the poor black workers on his farm with impunity (if I remember correctly); Cash played the sheriff who just wouldn’t quit going after him until he made a case; they were both very good. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/22 "2002-08-16T02:57:58Z")
Russell Crowe I haven’t seen a movie yet where he was a bad guy. If there is, let me know. L.A. Confidential doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/23 "2002-08-16T05:51:51Z")
**Andy Griffith** : So none of the other three people besides me who saw [Rustlers’ Rhapsody](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0089945) read the SDMB, I take it. 🙂 Admittedly, he wasn’t _much_ of a villain, but… And for **Intaglio** **Russell Crowe** : He was a pretty nasty villain in [Virtuosity](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0114857). Decent flick, I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/24 "2002-08-16T06:28:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aquariusrhimme \* > \*\*I once saw a movie with Randy Quaid in it who played a bad cop. I can’t remember what the title was, but I remember being shocked that he could play a bad guy since I’m used to seeing him in National Lampoon movies. \*\* He also played a really good “bad guy” in [Parents](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0098068). Still one of the most unsettling horror movies I’ve seen, partially due to his character. ---
**Author:** ![aquariusrhimme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aquariusrhimme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aquariusrhimme)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/25 "2002-08-16T14:12:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Horseflesh \* > \*\*He (Randy Quaid) also played a really good “bad guy” in [Parents](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0098068). Still one of the most unsettling horror movies I’ve seen, partially due to his character. \*\* Thanks for linking this. I looked up his movie credits and now I’m pretty sure the movie was ‘Hard Rain.’ ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/26 "2002-08-16T14:34:00Z")
Patrick Stewart also played Sejanus in I, Claudius. In fact there is a thread here that mentions it. I would like to see Santa Claus, the Teletubbies, and Barney as a villainous team aimed at global domination. They start with the children, you know. I would also like to see Val Kilmer in more villainous roles. Some people don’t like him but I find him to be a talented actor who has done his share of bad films. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/27 "2002-08-16T15:28:47Z")
[for **Skeezix**] “Ostrich!” [/for **Skeezix**]😃 ---
**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:** [August 16, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/28 "2002-08-16T16:02:21Z")
I think Tom Cruise can play an excellent slime ball, like he was in _Rain Man_. I’m thinking when he plays the egocentric, harsh-on-lackeys, world-revolves-around-ME-baby-ME type, he’s playing himself. I’d like to see Ben Stiller play a heel. He’d be annoying, obnoxious, and continually falling on his ass, but he’d be hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/29 "2002-08-16T16:15:45Z")
How about Michael Jackson? Imagine him in a role like Macauley Culkin in “The Good Son.” He could be a deliciously creepy villian. ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de053/32.png) [@Umbriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/30 "2002-08-16T18:46:21Z")
Robin Williams has done two in a row now – in _Death to Smoochy_ and _Insomnia_, obviously in an attempt to wash off the diabetes-inducing syrup of his many previous films. Neither was successful, but I think _Insomnia_ at least was a less conspicuous bomb, and got him some positive reviews. I’d like to see him in a corporate or government weasel role… Something like Paul Reiser’s great turn in _Aliens_. My original submission to the list would be Winona Ryder. The closest she’s really done would be her supporting roles in _The Age of Innocence_ and _The Crucible_. In both those and her vampirc possession scene at the end of _Bram Stoker’s Dracula_ she displayed a little diabolic twinkle in her eye that hinted at greater villanous potential. Perhaps a _Black Widow_-like role where her usual aura of earnestness conceals more mercenary or sociopathic motivations. ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/31 "2002-08-16T19:23:00Z")
Matthew Perry is always such a sweetie in his roles, I’d love to see if he could pull off a villain. I remember being really impressed with Glenn Close’s role in **Fatal Attraction** , since she had been so nice in **The Big Chill**. Sheri ---
**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:** [August 16, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/32 "2002-08-16T19:37:33Z")
Wow, all of this is great…I actually didn’t expect any spoilers, but if the mod wants to add a bit to the title warning of them, I won’t object. Sam Neill does a wonderful villain and/or crazy guy. See the Mouth of Madness. Winona Ryder would be great (Mmm). Two actors that are fun evil guys: Jeffrey Combs and Trevor Goddard. (Sorry, crappy work computer so no links.) Jeffrey needs more mainstream work! ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/33 "2002-08-16T23:34:18Z")
After contributing to this thread yesterday, I thought little more about it (other than to worry whether I spelled Orson Welles’ name incorrectly which **Archiveguy** so politely pointed out that I did). Then at 2 a.m. I woke up and said out loud “Clint Eastwood” referring to someone who would be a great villian. Of course, my wife was just enough awake to turn to me and ask, “You’re having dreams about Clint Eastwood?” I tried to explain, but she fell back asleep before I got it sufficiently put into words. I keep hoping I will not overhear her calling her sister to say that I’m having erotic dreams about Dirty Harry. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/34 "2002-08-17T16:05:26Z")
How about John Cusack. Skeezix - I’ll have to check out Virtuosity. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2002, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/35 "2002-08-19T04:49:19Z")
Russell Crowe was the _only_ good thing in _Virtuosity_. He was in full hammy villain mode, but he was the only interesting thing in the movie, a bad thing for a movie starring Denzel Washington. I’d like to see Robert Redford play a real bad guy. _Indecent Proposal_ and Demi Moore got on my nerves, so I’ve never been able to watch it all. He has played characters who do cowardly or nasty things, but has he ever played a true villain? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2002, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/36 "2002-08-19T08:05:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dooku \* > \*\*Has Tom Cruise ever been a bad guy? Other than in _Taps_, when he was more insane than bad? He’d make a good bad guy for me, simply b/c I would enjoy watching him get killed. > \*\* Well, he was pretty evil in **Interview with the vampire** wouldn’t you say? An unapologetic sociopath who kills many before the movie’s end… How about Janeane Garofalo? She’s done some dramas already, which were refreshing, but her being **evil** would be different. (unless she’s evil in **Steal this movie** which I haven’t seen yet.) Oh, or maybe some child actors- and doing a better job than Macaulay Culkin- being vilians could be interesting… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061/37 "2002-08-19T13:18:02Z")
In addition to _Conspiracy Theory_, Patrick Stewart plays Loomis, the villian in a buddy action/comedy flick called _Gunmen_ (1994) starring Mario van Peebles and Christopher Lambert. In the first scene, Stewart orders his unfaithful wife to be buried alive. He’s a real charmer. Garafalo’s performance in _Steal This Movie_ isn’t even slightly villainous, unless you have a Hoover-ish dislike of hippie radicals. As for child actors Rick (formerly Ricky) Schroder appeared as a gun-toting Columbine-type nutcase that goes on a rampage in a high school in _Detention: The Siege at Johnson High_ (1997), alternate title: _Hostage High_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-see-as-a-bad-guy/124061.md?page=1)