# Who's the current "That Guy!" king? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500 "2009-03-23T20:45:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/21 "2009-03-24T11:25:40Z")
The first person I always think of when the subject of “THAT guy” comes up is [Art LaFleur](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480869/). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/22 "2009-03-24T11:46:59Z")
> [@Chanteuse](#): > > The first person I always think of when the subject of “THAT guy” comes up is [Art LaFleur](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480869/). That guy always reminds me of the boxer that appeared in Bugs Bunny cartoons from time to time. ---
**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, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/23 "2009-03-24T11:48:33Z")
[Al Leong](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Leong). On that page I count eight roles as “Nameless mook”, four “thugs”, two “right-hand mans” (men?), and one “luggage salesman”. Plus, of course, Genghis Khan in the first Bill and Ted film. I’m always flabbergasted when he actually gets to say anything (besides running at you and screaming, I mean). ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/24 "2009-03-24T12:14:13Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > Stephen Toblowski was my main pick but he’s been pointed out already so I nominate [Joe Pantoliano](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001592/). I can’t believe this. I had no idea who Joe Pantoliano was, so I clicked the link and realized he’s the guy I came into the thread to mention. I just saw \*The Fugitive \*on TV, and I kept saying ‘Who is that guy – the one playing Tommy Lee Jones’ sidekick? I know I’ve seen him before!’ Eventually, of course, I realized it was Ralph the psycopath from _The Sopranos_. Joe Pantoliano. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/25 "2009-03-24T12:37:55Z")
[Gregory Itzin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0411857/) gets my vote. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/26 "2009-03-24T12:55:55Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > Stephen Toblowski was my main pick but he’s been pointed out already so I nominate [Joe Pantoliano](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001592/). To me Joey Pants is way too famous to be a that guy. Maybe when he was Guido the Killer Pimp but not now. > [@Chanteuse](#): > > The first person I always think of when the subject of “THAT guy” comes up is [Art LaFleur](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480869/). Very good. I had no idea who that was by the name but when I clicked the link I thought, “Oh _that_ guy”. > [@Gyrate](#): > > [Al Leong](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Leong). > > On that page I count eight roles as “Nameless mook”, four “thugs”, two “right-hand mans” (men?), and one “luggage salesman”. Plus, of course, Genghis Khan in the first Bill and Ted film. > > I’m always flabbergasted when he actually gets to say anything (besides running at you and screaming, I mean). I always thought he was the fight coordinator on the movies he appears in but looking at his credits it seems like he has only done that on a few movies. His look makes him a very distinctive that guy. I know this thread is about current actors but I have to tip my hat to Phil leeds, comedy’s that guy for 5 decades. ---
**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, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/27 "2009-03-24T13:33:28Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > To me Joey Pants is way too famous to be a that guy. Maybe when he was Guido the Killer Pimp but not now. I agree he’s been in some major roles but I think if we can allow J.T Walsh, we can have Joey P 🙂 Besides there’s just something about his immersion into his roles that means he flys under the radar of recognition, I think. > [@Loach](#): > > I know this thread is about current actors but I have to tip my hat to Phil leeds, comedy’s that guy for 5 decades. AGENT SID! (Hank’s agent from The Larry Sanders Show) Awww, good spot. And reminds me to drop off [Elya Baskin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0059946/) -one of _the_ go to guys for ‘Quick! We need a Russian in a second tier role’. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/28 "2009-03-24T13:44:40Z")
There is also [Bob Balaban](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000837/). Whenever I see his name in the credits I always think of about 3 actors who it could be. Once he is on screen I remember who he is. ---
**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, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/29 "2009-03-24T13:53:09Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > [Gregory Itzin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0411857/) gets my vote. This guy is so convincing as a total shit! Ever since _24_, no matter how sympathetic his role me be intended to be, his excellent job of being that slime of a President just crawls all over his performance. These days, he’s not supposed to be all that sympathetic on _The Mentalist_, and it’s good that he’s not. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/30 "2009-03-24T13:58:32Z")
[Paul Rudd](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0748620/) used to be a “that guy” but I would argue that he’s too well known now. One of the greatest “that guys” from all time is [Dick Miller](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0588241/). He’s been in a ton of stuff over the years. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/31 "2009-03-24T14:03:39Z")
[Jon Polito](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0689237/) “Let me tell ya something - I dig your work.” ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/32 "2009-03-24T15:57:45Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > There is also [Bob Balaban](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000837/). Whenever I see his name in the credits I always think of about 3 actors who it could be. Once he is on screen I remember who he is. That guy! I was trying to describe him in _The Mexican_! ---
**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:** [March 24, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/33 "2009-03-24T16:22:57Z")
[Charles Durning](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001164/) has been in a good bit of stuff. A favorite has always been [Bruce Greenwood](http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=Bruce+Greenwood&x=14&y=12). Might be a little too well-known, though. Also [Charles Dutton](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001165/) and [Ric Young](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949983/) have gotten around. ---
**Author:** ![Erasmus\_Darwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@Erasmus\_Darwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erasmus_Darwin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/34 "2009-03-24T16:43:03Z")
How about [Dylan Baker](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048414/)? He’s got a distinctive appearance, and he’s in a lot of different stuff (most recently “Kings”, earlier in the short-lived “Drive”, and Dr. Connors in the last two Spider-Man movies). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/35 "2009-03-24T16:43:08Z")
I didn’t realize until the “dead montage” at the Oscars that one of my favorite That Guy’s, [Pat Hingle](http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-38,GGGL:en&q=pat%20hingle&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi), died this January. Another that guy I didn’t know was dead until very recently (when I realized he hadn’t played a mob boss in anything lately) was [Joe Viterelli](http://images.google.com/images?q=joe%20viterelli&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi), who I think could have attended any mafia summit in the world with everyone there assuming he was a made man. Of course the biggest 21st century loss to that guys was [John Fiedler](http://images.google.com/images?q=john%20fiedler&sourceid=navclient-ff&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-38,GGGL:en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi). ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/36 "2009-03-24T16:48:48Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Another that guy I didn’t know was dead until very recently (when I realized he hadn’t played a mob boss in anything lately) was [Joe Viterelli](http://images.google.com/images?q=joe%20viterelli&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi), who I think could have attended any mafia summit in the world with everyone there assuming he was a made man. I loved him in _Eraser_- “I don’t see no union guys on dis dock.” ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/37 "2009-03-24T17:16:38Z")
> [@Erasmus\_Darwin](#): > > How about [Dylan Baker](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048414/)? He’s got a distinctive appearance, and he’s in a lot of different stuff (most recently “Kings”, earlier in the short-lived “Drive”, and Dr. Connors in the last two Spider-Man movies). You know, you’re right, he’s definitely up there. I didn’t realize just how much he’d been in until I saw his IMDB listing. > [@Chanteuse](#): > > The first person I always think of when the subject of “THAT guy” comes up is [Art LaFleur](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480869/). That guy is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/38 "2009-03-24T18:29:13Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > [Al Leong](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Leong). > > On that page I count eight roles as “Nameless mook”, four “thugs”, two “right-hand mans” (men?), and one “luggage salesman”. Plus, of course, Genghis Khan in the first Bill and Ted film. > > I’m always flabbergasted when he actually gets to say anything (besides running at you and screaming, I mean). He’s my #1 “It’s that guy!”. I actually yelled it at the 1998 movie called Godzilla! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/39 "2009-03-24T22:09:55Z")
Not a That Guy king but at least a Duke or an Earl of “That Guys”: M_A_S\*H & POLICE ACADEMY’s and a thousand other show’s [G.W. Bailey](http://images.google.com/images?q=g.w.%20bailey&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi). ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/40 "2009-03-24T22:23:46Z")
Is there such as thing as “That Girl?” I am trying to think of an actress who is in tons of scenes in the same way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500.md?page=3)