Bill Paxton

Though blessed with leading-man looks, Paxton spent much of his career relegated to playing gung-ho bullies or sleazebags (Aliens, Last Action Hero and his classic turn as a sadistic big brother in Weird Science). Initially, Paxton pursued a career behind the camera as a set dresser and aspiring director before switching to acting. A succession of small bits in the early '80s (including a part in Pat Benatar's "Shadows of the Night" video) finally led to supporting parts, mainly in action flicks that showcased his imposing presence (Next of Kin, Predator 2). He finally snagged a lead role in the lauded 1992 indie One False Move as a small-town police chief on a crash course with violence. While his nuanced performance upped his profile, he promptly returned to playing second fiddle, albeit in A-list pictures (Apollo 13, Titanic, Twister). He also realized his directing dreams with the 2001 feature Frailty, in which he also starred. As the '00s wore on, his career slowed down. But it got a nice boost when he signed on as a bigamist businessman on the edgy series Big Love, which showcased his heretofore untapped sex appeal.