# 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:** 3
**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, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/41 "2009-03-24T22:34:23Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > 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. There used to be [Edie “He’s a righteous dude!” McCLurg](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566052/), who’s still alive but doesn’t turn up as much as she used to. Back in the day there was [Fran Ryan](http://images.google.com/images?q=fran%20ryan&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi) but she passed on to the Great Casting Call a few years back. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/42 "2009-03-24T22:45:09Z")
> [@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. Bob Balaban’s very first role was in the very memorable scene in _Midnight Cowboy,_ where he gives a blowjob to a less-than-enthusiastic Jon Voight, while the latter watches some old space movie in a movie theater. Right as he climaxes (after fantasizing about his old girlfriend) the movie shows a space capsule launching, or some other such sight gag to coincide with the ejaculation. Then Bob Balaban runs to the bathroom and vomits all of the semen into the sink. At this point, Joe asks for his ten dollars, but Balaban doesn’t have it (I have to wonder why Joe didn’t demand that he pay in advance) and gets roughed up by a very, very frustrated male hustler. Since the guy is now typically known for playing stuffy bureaucrat types, I find it funny that he made his film debut in such a sleazy role. ---
**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, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/43 "2009-03-24T22:48:23Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Is there such as thing as “That Girl?” I’d say Illeanna Douglas is a “That Girl!” I’m sure there are more, but none are coming to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/44 "2009-03-24T22:50:57Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I didn’t realize until the “dead montage” at the Oscars that one of my favorite That Guy’s Hell, that is when I say “Oh! THAT guy!!!” the most. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/45 "2009-03-24T23:14:08Z")
My “That Guy” is still around, and just as prolific as when he was in Dirty Harry and Witness: [Josef Sommer](http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=josef%20sommer&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi). ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/46 "2009-03-24T23:45:15Z")
I’ve been seeing [Erick Avari](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0042805/) around a lot in the last few years, and I always say, “Oh! THAT guy!” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/47 "2009-03-25T01:54:59Z")
> [@MN\_Maenad](#): > > I’ve been seeing [Erick Avari](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0042805/) around a lot in the last few years, and I always say, “Oh! THAT guy!” I’m surprised to learn he’s 57 because he seemed that old 15 years ago.😛 ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/48 "2009-03-25T02:25:35Z")
I would second Zeljko Ivanek. He fits the bill perfectly. Most of you have no idea who he is, unlike JK Simmons or Joe Pantoliono, but you would recognize him instantly. Excerpted from IMDB, here are some of the TV shows he has been in: Heroes Big Love Damages House True Blood The Mentalist John Adams Numbers Lost Cold Case Bones SVU Law and Order The West Wing The Practice ER Homicide Ally McBeal Millenium Frasier Chicago Hope Murder She Wrote The X Files LA Law St. Elsewhere So basically every major television show ever aired except for Judge Judy and Survivor. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/49 "2009-03-25T03:02:26Z")
[James Rebhorn](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0714310/) deserves a short-listing on a “That Guy!” list. He plays your classic shithead-in-a-suit, specializing in weaselling, officious and stuffy doctors, lawyers, D.A.s, high-ranking govt. officials, police officials and military officers. And he’s got five credits for 2009 already. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/50 "2009-03-25T05:27:27Z")
> [@fruitbat](#): > > I would second Zeljko Ivanek. Ivanek ceased being “that guy” to me after Season 1 of _Damages_. He was so amazingly good in that role that i’ll never forget his name again. ---
**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 25, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/51 "2009-03-25T05:29:39Z")
> [@fruitbat](#): > > So basically every major television show ever aired except for Judge Judy and Survivor. Don’t forget 24. He was so memorable as the first season’s villain that he instantly became “That Drazen!” instead of “That Guy!” It was a start and now I know his name. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/52 "2009-03-25T05:32:37Z")
[Saïd Taghmaoui](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0846548/) is “That Arab Guy.” Lots of good suggestions so far, though I think that Luis Guzman, J.K. Simmons, and Joe Pantoliano have too much name-recognition to be considered. ---
**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 25, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/53 "2009-03-25T05:35:26Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Ivanek ceased being “that guy” to me after Season 1 of _Damages_. He was so amazingly good in that role that i’ll never forget his name again. I’ve felt that way since _Homicide_ where he played the DA. Then again in _Oz_ where he played the sleazy governor. I’ll never forget his name, at least not since I learned how to pronounce it. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/54 "2009-03-26T03:36:54Z")
The current title for “that kid” has to go to [Vanessa Marano](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1404825/). Teenage daughter of the main character on “Without a Trace”, teenage daughter of the main character on “Trust Me”, teenage daughter of the male lead on “Gilmore Girls” . . . plus guest appearances on “The Closer”, “Ghost Whisperer”, “Malcolm in the Middle”, “Six Feet Under”, “Grounded for Life”, etc. There have been times where I’ve watched three different shows back-to-back and had her show up in _all_ of them. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/55 "2009-03-26T15:19:25Z")
I’ll submit [James Karen](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0439170/). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/56 "2009-03-26T22:45:47Z")
He’s 88 and hasn’t made a movie in 10 years (though he does do voiceover work), but he is still alive: [G.D. Spradlin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0819525/). ([pic1](http://img.listal.com/image/31342/600full-g.d.-spradlin.jpg)[pic 2](http://www.nerve.com/CS/blogs/screengrab/gdsprdln.jpg)[very recent](http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/ap/nyet35810041551.vmedium.jpg)). For 30 years whenever a corrupt politician/power-behind-the-throne/executive/etc. was needed he was hired, though he’s most famous for the words “Mister… Cor-lee-o-ney”. He’s also of that breed with [Leon Askin](http://images.google.com/images?q=leon+askin&sourceid=navclient-ff&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-38,GGGL:en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi) and [Charles Lane](http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/06vCfVl6I34ze/610x.jpg) who would show up in new vehicles from time to time and make you think “Damn! That guy was an old man when I was a _kid_ and he’s still around and playing old men!” Another: [Dennis Burkley](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0122036/). He was [obese](http://www.dennisburkley.com/Mask2.jpg) for many years but has slimmed down so much in [recent years](http://www.dennisburkley.com/head_shot%20_6.jpg) it’s sometimes hard to recognize him. He’s most famous as Cal on _Sanford_ (not “and Son” but the footnote later series) and for _Mask_, but he’s been on everything including a recent _My Name is Earl_ and he voices the principal and other characters on KING OF THE HILL. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/57 "2009-03-26T22:54:12Z")
And speaking of slimmed down fat guys, [Glenn Shadix](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0787187/). Bk4 _Beetlejuice_, _Planet of the Apes_, and a zillion TV appearances, he’s the current occupant of the James Coco Memorial [Obese Gay Character Actor](http://www.glennshadix.com/biography/glenn-noni.gif) Turned [Just Chunky Gay Character Actor](http://www.horrormovieguitars.com/chiller_april03/shadix_me.JPG) Chair. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/58 "2009-03-26T23:20:13Z")
[WIlliam Fichter](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001209/). Most folks know his face and even know his movies, but they don’t know his name. So to me he is definitely “That Guy!” ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/59 "2009-03-27T00:47:42Z")
William Hickey–someone who always seems to show up as [“That Senile Guy.”](http://entimg.msn.com/i/150/Movies/Actors3/HickeyWilli66031736_150x200.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500/60 "2009-03-27T02:39:31Z")
I used to have “that guy” moments about [Michael Lonsdale](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003909/), from movies like _The Name of the Rose_, _Moonraker_, _Ronin_ and _Munich_. [You know](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f8/Sir_Hugo_Drax_by_Michael_Lonsdale.jpg/200px-Sir_Hugo_Drax_by_Michael_Lonsdale.jpg), [that guy](http://www.zuguide.com/image/Michael-Lonsdale-Munich.11.jpg)! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-current-that-guy-king/490500.md?page=4)