Veteran character actor Ethan Suplee has featured in an incredible variety of films and shows. From cult TV comedy classics such as My Name Is Earl, to modern, big-budget Hollywood epics, Suplee has brought his unique style to each performance.
In real life, Suplee recently made the news for his incredible weight loss journey. At his heaviest, the star was 536 pounds, but after successive dieting and exercise regimes the star has managed to lose over 250 pounds. In 2021, he revealed he had reached his goal of having visible abs. With numerous films in pre- and post- production, Suplee likely has a long and successful career ahead.
A versatile and recognizable actor, the following is a short selection of the stand-out productions we’ve seen him in.
10. Babylon (2022)
While it may have been a commercial flop, Babylon is still a must-see for anyone interested in the golden age of Hollywood. Sure, it’s way too long and slow-paced for many, but the striking visuals mixed with the excesses portrayed on screen make for an intoxicating mix. Suplee’s turn as the doomed henchman, Wilson only adds to the entertainment value.
9. God is a Bullet (2023)
God is a Bullet comes from master director Nick Casavettes. This epic thriller is set to explode onto screens this summer. Bob Hightower (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is a vice detective whose wife is killed and daughter abducted by a satanic cult. After the official investigation turns up nothing, Bob goes rogue and decides to infiltrate the cult. He is aided by the brilliant but damaged Case Hardin (Maika Monroe), a young woman who escaped the cult and now seeks revenge. Keep an eye out for Suplee, who is set to portray a character named “Gutter.”
8. Chasing Amy (1997)
Suplee stars alongside Ben Affleck in Chasing Amy, an unusual romantic comedy about a pair of comic book authors who both fall in love with the same woman. Suplee plays a nerdy fan and shows off his early character acting ability that has become the hallmark of his career.
7. Mallrats (1995)
Before My Name Is Earl, Suplee and Jason Lee (Earl) worked together in the 1995 comedy hit, Mallrats. Two best friends both get dumped by their girlfriends on the same day. They seek refuge at the local mall, where many strange characters have gathered. Suplee plays William, a guy obsessed with trying to crack a hidden code he believes lies within a giant magic eye picture.
6. Chance (2016-17)
Chance probably deserved more airtime than its measly two seasons. Psychiatrist Eldon Chance (Hugh Laurie) is running away from a boring job and a collapsing marriage. His life takes a spicy turn when he falls for the troubled Jaclyn Blackstone, and Chance decides to take on her corrupt-cop husband. Calling on the skills of a man simply known as “D” (Suplee), Chance gets pulled into a web of intrigue. “D” becomes Chance’s right hand man. Despite being socially unhinged, “D” possesses remarkable calculating intelligence and a plethora of combat skills.
5. John Q. (2002)
In the Nick Casavettes thriller John Q. — the second film where Suplee starred alongside the great Denzel Washington — a family man is pushed beyond his breaking point when his son requires a life-saving heart transplant that his medical insurance will not cover. With no alternatives left, John (Denzel Washington) takes an emergency room hostage in a last-ditch effort to save his son’s life. Watch for Suplee’s role as the security guard, Max, one of the hostages who bears witness to John’s final testament.
4. Remember The Titans (2000)
Suplee stole every scene he was in in Remember the Titans. Based on actual events, the movie stars Denzel Washington as Herman Boone, a coach determined to lead his racially-integrated High School football team to victory amid the racist backdrop of America in 1971. At first reluctant, the team eventually adopts his forward-thinking ethos and learns to work together. Suplee takes on the role of lineman Louie Lastik, a loveable guy full of acerbic wit.
3. My Name Is Earl (2005-09)
My Name Is Earl gained cult status almost as soon as it hit screens back in 2005. The premise is simple. After almost dying in a car accident, Earl (Jason Lee) experiences a zen revelation and embarks on a quest to repair all the negative things he has done. No matter how minor the wrong, Earl is determined to rebalance his karma one good deed at a time. Suplee stars as Earl’s dim-witted younger brother Randy Hickey, who backs Earl up on his various misadventures.
2. Blow (2001)
The no-holds-barred story of how cocaine flooded America in the ’70s. Johnny Depp is George Jung, a small-time marijuana dealer who ends up falling in with the infamous Pablo Escobar cartel. What starts off as a way to earn extra cash quickly snowballs into a major drug empire. Suplee plays Tuna, Jung’s best friend and fellow unlikely kingpin. Blow is still a great film and well worth a look if you are interested in crime stories.
1. American History X (1998)
One of the most brutal films of the ’90s, American History X follows the saga of a former neo-Nazi named Derek who is desperately trying to ensure that his younger brother does not fall into the same dark web of hate, fear, and violence that he did. The film is still extremely uncomfortable to watch, and Edward Norton gives probably the finest performance of his career as Derek. Suplee provides some excellent support as the casually violent skinhead thug Seth – Derek’s ex-accomplice who wants him to return to his old ways.
