# Worst unknown actor to be given a starring role in a big budget movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135 "2005-04-07T00:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/41 "2005-04-07T18:36:45Z")
Sofia Coppola’s performance gave me the willies, while Klinton Spilsbury actually made me angry, so I have to give the edge to Spilsbury. Not exactly a starring role, but Candace Bergen’s performance in _The Group_ was painful to watch. ---
**Author:** ![sleepygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@sleepygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleepygirl)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/42 "2005-04-07T18:43:23Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] Elizabeth Berkeley in **Showgirls**.QUOTE] that could have been a decent movie, without her bad acting, and without kyle mclachlan AH! although what’s her name, i forget it at the moment, the other showgirl with the southern accent, was very good. also a little writing help would have been good. but i guess that’s what you get from a teen star who was sexually frustrated and doped up on caffine pills half the time. hehe for the caffine pill episode!!! “I’M SO EXCITED!” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/43 "2005-04-07T19:03:28Z")
**acsenray** , You haven’t heard of James Bond? He was a well-known ornithologist. 🙂 While we’re on the subject of Tarzan, why not mention 1984’s [Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes](http://imdb.com/title/tt0087365/)? It was Andie MacDowell’s first film and they brought in Glenn Close to dub over her voice. Not that Christopher Lambert had had a stellar career either, appearing only in a few French films. At least MacDowell survived the experience in better shape careerwise. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/44 "2005-04-07T19:18:58Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > **acsenray** , You haven’t heard of James Bond? He was a well-known ornithologist. 🙂 Ah, crap. I meant to refer to this “Kevis Cosner” person. Is he a rap singer? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/45 "2005-04-07T20:26:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Kevis’ milkshake brings the girls to the yard > And they’re like, it’s better than Wolves with Dancin’ > Damn right it’s better than Wolves with Dancin’ > I could teach you > But I’d have to take acting lessons You mean, that Kevis? 😃 ---
**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:** [April 7, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/46 "2005-04-07T20:53:52Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > Doesn’t the all-time champ in this department have to be Klinton Spilsbury in 1981’s _The Legend of the Lone Ranger_? He never acted before, and he never acted again! Another “Aye!” vote. BTW, I know someone who swears that he saw Klinton Spilsbury and family on an episode of “Family Feud” a year or two after the movie. Not as celebrities, obviously, just as a family, one of whom had happened to make a movie. However, I’ve never been able to corroboration that. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/47 "2005-04-07T21:21:55Z")
> [@me](#): > > All this and no mention of Kevis Cosner? That first “s” was trying to portrey an “n”. He learned acting from watching _Waterworld_. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/48 "2005-04-07T21:27:58Z")
Not sure if you’d call it Big Budger, but how about Sam Jones in Flash Gordon. While I loved the movie (for the cheese value), Sam is quite possibly the absolute worst actor I’ve ever seen. He later did a sci-fi TV series with the Australian wrestler Jacko called “Highwayman” ---
**Author:** ![groupwbench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6a8cbe/32.png) [@groupwbench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groupwbench)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/49 "2005-04-07T21:38:46Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > :mad: > I will not stand idly by while you mock the man who showed us a naked, a _very_ naked (a very _very_ naked), > Neve Campbell. 🙂 You really cannot leave me hanging like that…I could not find the movie in question on IMDB. Do tell. My vote is for Kevin Costner. Even playing the dead body in “The Big Chill” he sucked. I saw him take a breath! ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/50 "2005-04-07T21:43:45Z")
> [@groupwbench](#): > > You really cannot leave me hanging like that…I could not find the movie in question on IMDB. Do tell. According to IMDb, the movie is “When Will I Be Loved,” made in 2004. The reviews of the movie don’t sound encouraging, even if you think Neve Campbell is attractive and want to see her partially unclothed. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/51 "2005-04-07T21:48:25Z")
Because there is something for everyone on the Internet I give you the [Celebrity Nudity Database on Neve Campbell](http://cndb.com/actor.html?name=Campbell%2C+Neve). There is one tiny ad that may display not safe for work imagery, otherwise it is a completely chaste site. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/52 "2005-04-07T22:21:29Z")
> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#): > > Another “Aye!” vote. > > BTW, I know someone who swears that he saw Klinton Spilsbury and family on an episode of “Family Feud” a year or two after the movie. Not as celebrities, obviously, just as a family, one of whom had happened to make a movie. > > However, I’ve never been able to corroboration that. Behold the legendary career of Klinton Spilsbury! > **[Klinton Spilsbury - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0445719/)** > > Klinton Spilsbury, Actor: The Legend of the Lone Ranger. Klinton Spilbury was born in Chihuahua in Mexico. After his only feature film, "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" in 1981, he travelled around Europe, and also did some modelling. Amazingly,... ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/53 "2005-04-08T01:05:38Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Not only that, but all his lines had to be redubbed by Stacy Keach. Definitely the champ. IMDB seems to think Stacey Keach’s brother James dubbed the voice for the Lone Ranger in that movie: > **[James Keach - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005077/)** > > James Keach, Actor: National Lampoon's Vacation. James Keach was born on December 7, 1947 in Savannah, Georgia, USA as James Peckham Keach. He is an actor and director, known for National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Walk the Line (2005) and Waiting... I have no idea either way, I never saw the movie and never heard of James Keach until now. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/54 "2005-04-08T01:45:23Z")
> [@LordVor](#): > > I’d say most of the cast of Clerks falls into this catagory. The screenplay was great, but most of the acting was painful, especially Randall and his girlfriend. Yes, _Clerks_ was one of the largest budget epics ever, at least until _Titanic_ came out. Hint: There’s a _reason_ the acting was so poor in _Clerks_. Amatuers. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/55 "2005-04-08T02:09:46Z")
What about Robert Francis, who played Willie Keith in [The Caine Mutiny](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046816/)? He displayed all the rugged good looks of Oscar Wilde, combined with the easygoing charm of Dolph Lundgren. His having died in a plane crash in 1955, while tragic, in no way excuses his jaw-droppingly bad performance opposite Fred MacMurray and Humphrey Bogart. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/56 "2005-04-08T18:59:19Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > She wasn’t exactly unknown ( thought I am not sure why she is known at all) **Denise Richards** in The World Is Not Enough. She singlehanded ruined the film. > > Turned me off to Bond for good. Hear! Hear! She must give great head, that is all I can attribute her career to. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/57 "2005-04-08T19:12:40Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > Not sure if you’d call it Big Budger, but how about Sam Jones in Flash Gordon. > > While I loved the movie (for the cheese value), Sam is quite possibly the absolute worst actor I’ve ever seen. > > He later did a sci-fi TV series with the Australian wrestler Jacko called “Highwayman” Sam Jones also appeared in a made-for-TV movie of The Spirit, based on the masked crimefighter from Will Eisner’s groundbreaking comics. I’ve never seen it, but I can only imagine it is horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/58 "2005-04-09T21:41:50Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > _::Scurries off to IMDB::_ **bienville** , is this it? [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396271/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396271/) On preview, I seem to be late with this. Damn dialup. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/59 "2005-04-09T21:46:55Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Behold the legendary career of Klinton Spilsbury! > > [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0818812/](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0818812/) The cool thing is he hasn’t worked in front of the cameras in 24 years, but there’s a link to his _agent_! Uh son, I think you might wanna git ya some new repersentation… ---
**Author:** ![Legolamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@Legolamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legolamb)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135/60 "2005-04-10T10:24:47Z")
Gavin Rossdale (you did say unknown as an actor, after all) in _Constantine_. Who’d have thought it was possible to find someone who could make Keanu look almost like a passable actor? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-unknown-actor-to-be-given-a-starring-role-in-a-big-budget-movie/298135.md?page=4)