5 Underrated Actors Who Don’t Get Enough Credit

 5 Underrated Actors Who Dont Get Enough Credit

Sure, you’ve got your Brad Pitts, your Robert Downey Jr.s, your Johnny Depps. And yeah, there’s that chameleon-woman Meryl Streep, the wonderful Helen Mirren, and the now-everywhere Jennifer Lawrence rounding it out on the female side. So what do all these players have in common? Well, they’re stars. They’re the best of the best. They sell tickets. And though we appreciate the great performances they’ve given over the years, sometimes the big stars just get too much credit. What about the other people acting in the movies? The people who you just kind of accept are there time after time. What’s the big deal, you ask? That’s their job, right? They’re not supposed to overshadow the stars, you say?

Well, a lot of these second players still manage to get their dues: Paul Giamatti, Steve Buscemi, Michael Shannon… everyone loves those guys despite the fact that they rarely take the leading roles in big pictures. But so many actors remain vastly unappreciated – so much so that if these guys disappeared into thin air, things just wouldn’t be the same. We’re not saying we should throw Oscars and Golden Globes at them ’til their heads get so big they set themselves upon impromptu rap careers… we just want to say thanks. In our minds, here are 5 underrated actors who don’t get enough credit for their fine work.

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  • http://twitter.com/Glides Glides The Man

    Faris is good, but she needs to fire her agent, since she’s been in nothing but crap lately.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jonathan-Lack/100000619690152 Jonathan Lack

    I completely agree with Farris. She’s BRILLIANT, has all the inherent qualities to be a massive movie and comedy star, but she never gets good roles. I HATED her comedy “What’s Your Number?” last year, but she was awesome in it. She could be one of the great comedians of this era if only she got roles worthy of her talent.

  • cranium7

    What are you seeing in Farris that I don’t??? I’ve hated literally every single thing she’s ever done!!! She has zero range; playing the exact same character in every film. Are you guys blind!? She a one trick pony who’s trick is terrible.

    Rest of the list is spot on though!!

    • aj

      You should see her in Smileyface. That movie was hilarious. She really can hold her own against any male comedian. She may add fluff to her performances, but can you honestly say she is dislike-able? Aside from the movie House Bunny, I don’t think there is a performance I disliked.

      • Rupert Bubbletrousers

        House Bunny was F’n terrible. But are you guys separating the performance from the movie here? Picture that script on paper…now picture ANYONE reading those lines on camera. Do you really think her performances are bad? If you do, no worries. I’m just saying that I think, with what she’s been given so far too work with, her performances really are pretty solid, although the projects she’s been involved in are pretty much all awful. But there is a difference.

    • Jack

      I can understand that she plays similar characters in a few movies she has been in, but even then, anyone with the ability to sit back and appreciate comedy could at the very least see her talent, if not enjoy her performance. Three movies I have seen personally she plays unique characters in are Waiting, Take Me Home Tonight and Observe and Report. I haven’t seen Brokeback Mountain but it’s a safe bet she doesn’t play Cindy from Scary Movie in it.

  • Jessi Rippetoe

    I agree with all of these (particularly Mark Ruffalo,) though one actor who could’ve easily made this list is Jason Flemyng.

  • Dan

    IMO Sam Rockwell is also very underrated.
    Loved his performances in Moon; The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; Gentlemen Broncos; Seven Psychopaths; and Galaxy Quest.

  • http://www.facebook.com/va.jayjay.98 Va Jay Jay

    Mark Ruffalo is the thee most underrated actor in Hollywood.

  • http://www.facebook.com/va.jayjay.98 Va Jay Jay

    Wait, John C. Reilly has been around Hollywood for a long time, he is the most underrated actor ever. If you look at his resume of movies, you would be surprised what he has been in. He was in Days of Thunder.

  • Deckard

    John C. Reilly – recently brilliant in “We need to talk about Kevin”, together with the almost-always-brilliant Tilda Swinton (who is, of course, not underrated like him) Seems this guy finally gets the roles he deserves as an actor.

  • Twinkie Bandit

    Patricia Clarkson is one that always seems to fall off the radar. Been nominated for a supporting role Oscar and a bunch of other awards, but never seems to really hit it big in starring roles.

  • http://www.facebook.com/irmaeli Irma Molina

    I love Mark Ruffalo, he should be in more movies in more stellar roles. He’s a great actor! A truly underrated performer… Whyyyyyyyyyy???

  • http://www.facebook.com/mike.sutton.3133 Mike Sutton

    Anna Farris may be one of the worst actresses I’ve ever seen. Replace her with Sam Rockwell and I’d completely agree with the list!

  • http://www.facebook.com/mike.sutton.3133 Mike Sutton

    Anna Farris may be one of the worst actresses I’ve ever seen. Replace her with Sam Rockwell and I’d completely agree with the list!

  • lucascott

    I would argue that they don’t get ‘enough credit’ because they aren’t seeking credit. Believe it or not, there are many actors/actresses that don’t do this for the celebrity. They do it to act. So they pick roles based on the acting and not the money or the fame potential.

    If along the way they pull a Christian Bale and fine the perfect storm of a great role that also gives them fame, fine. But they don’t seek it out as THE reason they do things

    • Jack

      He never said they did. He said the article was just to say thanks in the intro.

      • Rupert Bubbletrousers

        Agree with Jack. Also though, are you implying that Christian Bale is a great, underrated actor?

  • lucascott

    I would argue that they don’t get ‘enough credit’ because they aren’t seeking credit. Believe it or not, there are many actors/actresses that don’t do this for the celebrity. They do it to act. So they pick roles based on the acting and not the money or the fame potential.

    If along the way they pull a Christian Bale and fine the perfect storm of a great role that also gives them fame, fine. But they don’t seek it out as THE reason they do things

  • Denise

    I think you missed one…Robert Sean Leonard, great as Dr. Wilson on House. And anyone remember Dead Poets Society?

  • Amanda

    I LOVED ana in Just Friends with Ryan Reynolds. She was hilarious! She can play a good ditz lol but I’m very confident she’s not like that in person. I think for the scary movies she was great because it’s kind of about dumb stuff you know and I feel that she made the most out of the character she was given. I love her, not many women in the movie industry can get away with roles like that. Happy Holidays to all!! -Amanda :)

  • tom riddle

    i agree, dan.. sam rockwell should be on the list, he is a great actor.. mark ruffalo played the best hulk i’ve ever seen

  • http://www.facebook.com/alexandra.leonova1 Alexandra Leonova

    Was he the one who played briefly in Dexter’s season 7 (the writer)?

  • RHPS

    Ribisi is a great actor I really love him. I was sure he was a very intelligent and a brilliant man/actor BUT I don’t know how and where I read he’s another of the creepy guys in line to the door of the Dianetics… this is sad.

    • Rupert Bubbletrousers

      Not really relevant though. Just sayin…

  • RHPS

    Ruffalo is a super/mega/hot hairy bear with a sexy voice. I love him.
    Acting very good is the candle on the cake (and what a cake!!!).

  • Concerned Third Party

    SAM ROCKWELL!
    andy serkis would be nice too.

  • drforbes

    One of the greatest and under rated actors of all time is Ed Harris who could go toe to toe with any of the so called superstars!

  • Aradia913

    I think Liev Schreiber and Kevin Corrigan also deserve more recognition. They always elevate the films that they’re in

    • Rupert Bubbletrousers

      Man maybe it’s just me, but I really think that Kevin Corrigan is terrible. He plays a great creepy weirdo in everything. Christopher Walken – Light.

  • Stephanie13

    Garret Dillahunt is also very underrated, he was great in two separate roles on Deadwood, he was scary in the Last House on the Left remake, and he’s funny in Raising Hope.

  • q

    you’ve got to be kidding me. All flipping white guys and one white woman. All great, I agree. Esp the first and the last. But jesus, can’t you get beyond your own white boy experience? pathetic. arggh.

  • The Unicorn Whisperer

    Ben Foster for me. I would say Sam Rockwell as well, but he’s already one of my favorite actors, and gets the respect he deserves by most movie fans, and any review of any film he has been in.

  • Adam

    Absolutely agree with anyone who says Sam Rockwell. I’m not sure if Gary Oldman is underrated but he is amazing and I think deserves to be on every acting list.

    • skunkybeaumont

      Gary Oldman isn’t underrated at all. The man is a very well-respected legend who has been often nominated and has a few notable awards. He, like Samuel L. Jackson, does A LOT of movies so its possible that he seems overlooked because of it.

  • Mruby

    Love Sam Rockwell. Michael Pena deserves some recognition too

  • capper1970

    Paul Dano & Eddie redmayne for sure. I like Ben Foster, but The Mechanic seams to be taking his career to corny unrealistic action movies.

  • Spideysense

    Sam Rockwell, Karl Urban and of course Gary Oldman can be added to this list.

  • Danny Darcy

    Saw Mr Rufello in a Christmas film recently, he was fantastic in it.

  • setron

    William H Macy is missing from this list.

  • Deboo

    Stellan Skarsgaard…. has been under-rated throughout his prolific career… a brilliant and versatile actor

  • turkishberry

    Don’t forget Paul Dano

  • Cold_War_Relic

    Leaving out Sam Rockwell, Esai Morales and Lenny James is just plain wrong. This list sucks.

  • J

    Anna Faris is amazing. I know it’s hard to separate the low-brow, tongue-in-cheek movies she plays in from her actual performance, but I absolutely feel that she deserves to be on this list. In fact, the only one on this list that I really question is Mark Ruffalo – not because I don’t feel he’s a quality actor – but because I feel that he DOES get recognition for his work (who doesn’t know who Mark Ruffalo is?). Others to consider: Mira Sorvino, Jean Reno, Jamie Foxx, and (as mentioned by several others) Sam Rockwell.

  • Cedrick

    I feel like Rockwell has gotten a good bit of recognition lately. I think Guy Pearce is someone who belongs on this list. He has been good in pretty much everything I’ve ever seen him in but I never seem to hear anyone talking about him.

  • Wiabux

    Great list, the most underrated actor I feel though has to be Sean Bean.

  • http://www.facebook.com/CrazyCharlieMMA Charlie Shields

    Why no Ray Stevenson???