Excelsior: Really Good TV Actors Who Should Be More Famous

Isn’t it funny how people like Britney Spears or Paris Hilton receive lead roles in major Hollywood films without so much as a hint of acting experience or, say, talent? Or how some actors make a living doing essentially the same thing in every movie (cough, Keanu Reeves, cough)? At the same time, there are loads of actors and actresses out there that would more than deserve their big Hollywood break. The Excelsior is taking the opportunity to suggest five TV actors and actresses to all the casting directors out there for the next big blockbuster. Because, really, they’re good.

Lauren Graham

Let’s be honest: She was the real star on Gilmore Girls. Rory’s constant whining started getting tiresome around the third episode. And yes, we all had an opinion on the “Dean or Jess” question, but the real issue was when Lorelai and Luke would eventually get together.
In the course of the show Graham defined the character of Lorelai and revealed herself to be a radiant, gifted actress.
Which is probably why she got another main role in this season’s new show “Parenthood” as Sarah, a middle-aged woman who has to move back in with her parents after a divorce – probably the most interesting and sympathetic character on the show.
The big screen hasn’t embrace Graham as much as she would deserve it – she had notable supporting roles in “The Pacifier,” “Bad Santa” and “Evan Almighty,” but no real big break yet.

Michael Emerson

Don’t you just love a great villain? From Lady Macbeth to Dr. No, any story benefits from a compelling bad guy you just love to hate. So why Michael Emerson hasn’t been cast in more major films is a mystery. In his current engagement on TV’s “Lost,” he plays Ben Linus, the mysterious manipulator who lives on the island the protagonists land on. The role earned him a Golden Globe and two Emmy nominations as well as one Emmy win and made him a fixture on Best TV Villains lists on the internet.
His only big movie appearance was in “SAW,” where he once again played the bad guy – at least until Jigsaw showed up. He should really show his unique talent to be creepy to a wider audience. Speaking of Dr. No, why not make him a Bond villain? He’d probably be so good at it that James Bond might just lose that one.

Tom Amandes

On every good show, there is one supporting actor that grows on you and makes you love them. On “Everwood”, it was Tom Amandes a.k.a. Dr. Harold Abbott who started out as the somewhat goofy and cliché nemesis of main character Dr. Brown but developed into a multi-layered and interesting character. Tom Amandes made you cry and laugh, and was equally great at both.
He has also had guest appearances on seemingly every show on TV, from “ER” to “Big Love,” but Hollywood hasn’t noticed so far. Somebody write them a letter or something!

Tyne Daly

A supporting character on “Judging Amy”, Daly made Amy’s mother the secret star of the show. Her struggle with her often depressing job as a social worker, her striving to keep the family together, and her search for love at an age at which most people have given up made you root for her. Of course, Tyne Daly has been a TV fixture for much longer, ever since she starred in “Cagney and Lacey”, and hasn’t lost any of her charms. That’s pretty rare – so take advantage of it and cast her, producers!

Gregory Itzin

Remember the 5th season of “24”? Itzin played – spoiler alert! – the goofball-turned-terrorist associate President of the United States and made for one of the biggest cliff hangers of the season. You had to hate him, but you also felt a bit sorry for him because he seemed to have gotten himself into a really bad situation without meaning to. Okay, he was also an unbearable sleaze-ball – and Itzin pulled that one off perfectly. So can somebody cast him as Nixon already?