Actors That Need Big Roles
by LadySailor1975 | created - 28 Apr 2016 | updated - 15 May 2016 | PublicA list of wonderful lesser-known actors that need big roles. I wish people like Jerry Bruckheimer or James Cameron (who both put out big movies) and others like them would give these actors a chance! Some do not have photos.
1. Ned Luke
Actor | Grand Theft Auto V
Ned Luke was born on October 4, 1958 in Danville, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Grand Theft Auto V (2013), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and Boardwalk Empire (2010). He has been married to Amy Sax since November 12, 1997. They have one child.
2. Danielle Kremeniuk
Actress | Stargate SG-1
Danielle Kremeniuk is known for Stargate SG-1 (1997), The Hard Cut (2011) and Naked Frailties (1998).
3. Scott Whyte
Scott Whyte was born on January 8, 1978 in Manhattan Beach, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Ghost in the Shell (2017), The Invisible Man (2020) and D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996). He has been married to Chantelle Barry since September 2018.
4. Milena Govich
Director | FBI
Milena Govich is a director, actor, and musician who has helmed many episodes of TV, including The Equalizer (2021), Chicago Med (2015), FBI: Most Wanted (2020), Chicago Fire (2012), among others. She also served as Co-EP/Producing Director on Dick Wolf's CBS series FBI (2018), and is attached to ...
5. Gina Nguyen
Actress | Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Gina Nguyen is known for Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005) and An Early Summer (2012).
6. Jonny Phillips
Actor | Titanic
Jonny Phillips was born on September 5, 1963 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and director, known for Titanic (1997), Bronson (2008) and The Death of Stalin (2017). He has been married to Yolanda Vazquez since 1989. They have two children.
7. Tovah Feldshuh
Actress | Just My Luck
Terri Sue "Tovah" Feldshuh is an American actress, singer, and playwright. She has been a Broadway star for more than four decades, earning four Tony Award nominations. She has also received two Emmy Award nominations for Holocaust and Law & Order, and appeared in such films as A Walk on the Moon, ...
9. Harry Napier
Actor | Breaking
Harry Napier is known for Breaking (2009), Jawaani Jaaneman (2020) and A Postcard from Brighton (2009).
10. Daveigh Chase
Actress | Lilo & Stitch
Daveigh Chase was born on July 24, 1990 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was raised in the small town of Albany, Oregon; where she continues to spend much of her time. She began singing and dancing in her hometown and other local areas at community events and shows starting at age 3. After visiting Los ...
11. Darren E. Burrows
Actor | Northern Exposure
Darren E. Burrows was born on September 12, 1966 in Winfield, Kansas, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Northern Exposure (1990), Casualties of War (1989) and Cry-Baby (1990). He has been married to Melinda Delgado since June 19, 1993. They have four children.
Son of Billy Drago
12. Jesse L. Martin
Actor | Rent
Jesse Martin was born Jesse Lamont Watkins in Virginia's Blue Ridge mountain range. His mother, Virginia Price, was a college career counselor. His father, Jesse Reed Watkins, was a truck driver. His parents divorced when he was very young. His mother then moved his family to Buffalo, New York. He ...
13. Jason Beghe
Actor | The Next Three Days
Jason Beghe was born on March 12, 1960 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Next Three Days (2010), Thelma & Louise (1991) and Monkey Shines (1988). He was previously married to Angie Janu.
14. Estella Warren
Actress | Planet of the Apes
Estella Warren was a synchronized swimmer from the age of 7 until 17 in her native Canada. She moved away from home at 12 to train for the Canadian National Team. She was the Canadian National Champion for three years and represented her country at the World Aquatic Championship, where she placed ...
15. Noah Dalton Danby
Actor | Riddick
Noah Danby is a Canadian born actor, known for his versatility in Television, Film and Theatre. Noah is known for his film work with his roles in Riddick (2013) opposite Vin Diesel. The Tuxedo (2002) with Jackie Chan and opposite Dave Bautista as Todd in My Spy (2020)
In Television, Noah is known ...
16. Ken Kirby
Actor | Good Trouble
Ken Kirby was born on March 1, 1984 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is an actor and producer, known for Good Trouble (2019), Dynasty (2017) and The Gifted (2017).
17. Chris Gauthier
Actor | Freddy vs. Jason
Chris Gauthier was born on January 27, 1976 in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Freddy vs. Jason (2003), Watchmen (2009) and 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002). He was married to Erin. He died on February 23, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
18. Jurnee Smollett
Actress | The Burial
Jurnee Smollett is an award-winning actress and activist of rare talent and conviction. In the fall of 2020, she starred in J.J. Abrams, Jordan Peele and Misha Green's critically acclaimed drama for HBO, "Lovecraft Country." Smollett's performance was lauded by industry insiders and critics alike. ...
she is not quite unknown, but I don't see her much since "Full House" and "Law & Order" franchise.
19. Miko Hughes
Actor | Kindergarten Cop
Miko started his acting career in a public service announcement when he was 22 months old and followed that up by appearing in his first feature film at 27 months old. Since that early start Miko has consistently been one of the busiest young actors in Hollywood. Miko is best known on film for his ...
20. Gregory Scott Cummins
Actor | Cliffhanger
Greg grew up in Orinda, CA (East Bay Area in Northern CA) and graduated from Miramonte High School in 1974. In 1985, after receiving his M.F.A. in Acting from U.C.L.A., and many years performing in theatre, Greg began his Television and Film career. He has performed lead, supporting lead, and ...
21. Geoffrey Blake
Actor | Forrest Gump
Geoffrey Blake is an Emmy nominated, two-time SAG Award winning actor best known for his role as 'Wesley' (the abusive radical boyfriend) opposite Robin Wright's 'Jennie' in the iconic Academy Award Best Picture Forrest Gump (1994). In addition to Forrest Gump (1994), Blake has appeared alongside ...
22. Annie Parisse
Actress | National Treasure
Anne Marie Cancelmi known professionally as Annie Parisse, is an American actress. She portrayed Alexandra Borgia on the drama series Law & Order. Parisse has also starred as Julia Snyder on the soap opera As the World Turns, for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award.
23. Richard Roxburgh
Actor | Van Helsing
Richard Roxburgh is an Australian actor, writer and producer who is known for portraying Dracula in the 2004 cult classic monster movie Van Helsing starring Hugh Jackman, Hugh Stamp in Mission: Impossible 2 and for his collaborations with Baz Luhrmann, particularly Moulin Rouge. He is married to ...
24. Miranda Otto
Actress | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Miranda Otto is an Australian actress. Otto is a daughter of actors Barry Otto and Lindsay Otto, and half-sister of actress Gracie Otto. She began her acting career at age 18 in 1986, and has appeared in a variety of independent and major studio films. Otto made her major film debut in Emma's War (...
25. Jade Calegory
Actor | Mac and Me
Jade Calegory is an American actor and best remembered for playing one of the leading roles in the sci-fi/comedy "Mac and Me" (1988). He plays Eric, a teen who befriends a strange alien who jumped on his car during moving day and he tries to help him return home. The role required a ...
"Mac & Me" was a bad ET knock-off. But Jade was a good actor and even did some of his own stunts.
26. Tahmoh Penikett
Actor | Battlestar Galactica
He is the son of former Yukon premier Anthony David John Penikett (Tony). A graduate of the Victoria Motion picture school, Tahmoh also studied at the Lyric School of Acting in Vancouver. Tahmoh and his family (his father, and his twin sisters Sarah and Stephanie) make their home in Vancouver, ...
27. Yasmin Kassim
Actress | Jungle
Yasmin Kassim was born on May 21 in Perth, Western Australia. Yasmin stars opposite Daniel Radcliffe in 'Jungle' directed by 'Wolf Creek' creator Greg McLean along with Joel Jackson and Alex Russell. Prior to this Yasmin played the popular character 'Shay Quill' on iconic Australian soap opera '...
28. Veronica Clavijo
Actress | All About E
Veronica Clavijo is known for All About E (2015), Aussie Dreams (2014) and On Hold (2018). She has been married to Adrian Espulso since February 24, 2017. They have one child.
29. Jane Edwina Seymour
Actress | Ahsoka
Jane Edwina Seymour is known for Ahsoka (2023), You (2018) and Star Trek: Picard (2020).
30. Jason Marsden
Actor | Boy Meets World
You've seen him. You've heard him. Appearing across platforms such as television, feature film, animation, video games, commercials, talking toys, promotion, narration, and internet; as a result, Mars is affectionately referred to as "That Guy From That Show".
Originally from Warwick, RI, Marsden ...
Not really an unknown, but not seen as much since "Full House" quit.
31. Frances Fisher
Actress | Titanic
Frances Fisher began by apprenticing at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. She spent 14 years based in New York City, playing leads in over 30 productions of plays by such noted writers as John Arden, Noël Coward, Emily Mann, Joe Orton, Sam Shepard, William Shakespeare, Jean-Claude van ...
Though I hated her "Titanic" character, I am sure she is nice in reality. I also liked her in "Unforgiven"!
32. Marin Hinkle
Actress | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Marin's parents met while serving in the Peace Corps. She was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, but her family moved to Boston, Massachusetts, when she was four months old. Two years later, her brother Mark was born. Her father, Rodney, is a retired school teacher. Her mother, Margaret, is a judge ...
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