Who Is That Guy?

Marc Antony might disagree, but we’ve come to praise supporting actors, not bury them.

Unlike the Academy Awards, which lately seem to give the supporting nod only to leading men who take on smaller roles (like Benicio Del Toro in Traffic or Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules), Hollywood.com recognizes those actors who actually support the leads of the films by giving depth to the story–not the starring wolves in sheep’s clothing.

We’ve listed our staff’s favorites below, but it’s up to you to cast the deciding vote for Hollywood’s best unsung supporting actor.

You will probably recognize all of the faces, even if only a few of the names ring a bell. Most are veteran thespians who are often called “character actors,” fellows who give sharp, electric, unpretentious performances yet receive few, if any, starring roles as a result. They’re probably untroubled by that fact, and take comfort in the knowledge that they have finely honed their craft.

Okay, that, and the hope that every now and then the Academy does recognize their efforts, like Cuba Gooding Jr.‘s Oscar for his work in Jerry Maguire, which can then catapult them into starring roles. But that doesn’t happen very often.

We ask you to take a look at these worthy actors, and vote for your favorite. (If we’ve forgotten your favorite supporting actor, please let us know.)

Jason Alcorn, Senior Writer
William H. Macy
You’ve Seen Him In:
&nbsp	Fargo, Magnolia, State and Main
Jason’s reason why:
	He’s one of those likable dudes, sort of a human plush toy–even when he’s playing a bad guy. From Fargo to Pleasantville, he pulls off the Everyday Guy thing frighteningly well, even though, now that I think about it, I don’t know any everyday guy like him at all.

Noah Davis, Assistant Mail Clerk
Ian Holm
You’ve Seen Him In:
&nbsp	Alien, Chariots of Fire, the upcoming From Hell
Noah’s reason why:
	A veteran of the famed Royal Shakespeare Company, Holm is a phenomenally talented actor who has appeared in myriad chameleon-like film roles in the last 35 years. Holm, an actor of more than 50 years, only recently admitted that he feel’s he’s gotten any good at acting.

Kit Bowen, Movies Writer
Joe Pantoliano
You’ve Seen Him In:
&nbsp	The Matrix, Memento, The Fugitive
Kit’s reason why:
	From Guido, the killer pimp in Risky Business to the crazy Caesar in Bound to the baddie Cypher in The Matrix, Joey “Pants” always brings a little something extra to his roles–a touch of craziness. And I love this quote of his: “I love doing independent movies because in them, I get to be the star rather than the third man through the door in a major motion picture.”

David Keith, Art Director
Don Cheadle
You’ve Seen Him In:
&nbsp	Boogie Nights, Rush Hour 2, Traffic
David’s reason why:
	Cheadle brings heat and passion to each and every role he’s ever had, and his characters end up stealing the show. His scene with fellow character actors Luis Guzman and Miguel Ferrer were the best scenes in Traffic, far overshadowing the rest of the movie.

Stacie Hougland, Movies Editor
Gary Sinise
You’ve Seen Him In:
&nbsp	Forrest Gump, Ransom, The Green Mile
Stacie’s reason why:
	Sinise is another Everyman, who takes great pains to be perfect both in front of and behind the camera. Sinise’s portrayal of the conflicted Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump is the epitome of supporting acting, and he was rewarded with an Academy Award nomination for his efforts.

Jorge Padron, Senior Graphic Designer
Luis Guzman
You’ve Seen Him In:
&nbsp	Carlito’s Way, Out of Sight, Traffic
Jorge’s reason why:
	A master of language, Guzman knows how to spice up dialogue with realisms such as “you know” or “man” or even the occasional obscenity, lending an earthy air to his characters. Or as we say on the streets, the man just keeps it real.

Stephanie N. Marcucci, Editorial Assistant
Alan Rickman
You’ve Seen Him In:
&nbsp	Die Hard, Dogma, Galaxy Quest
Stephanie’s reason why:
	Rickman has a resume that includes theatre, film and TV, and I like him because he’s simultaneously attractive and repulsive. I love it when he plays the guy you feel sorry for. His eyes can light up the screen and he can be such a giant teddy bear (Sense and Sensibility). On the other hand, he’s also a good villain (Die Hard) because he’s able to imbue his words with evil permanence. Truly, it’s his voice that is so sexy: deep, wise and patient–despite his heroic or villainous role.

Tracy Pollack, Marketing Writer
Ving Rhames
You’ve Seen Him In:
&nbsp	Pulp Fiction, Mission: Impossible, Bringing Out the Dead
Tracy’s reason why:
	Rhames is the current reigning champ as Stud of the Sidekicks. It’s Ving’s ability with comic timing and extraordinary stillness that sets him apart from his peers. Plus, he’s able to inject a quirky energy into each of his roles. Who can resist his turn as a deeply religious love-god in Bringing Out the Dead?

Click here to vote for your favorite supporting actor!