Let me clarify the title, by “normal looking” I mean the type of actors that clearly aren’t in Hollywood for their looks but for their talent as an actor or their humor.
Now more than ever it seems like there are a myriad of forgettable actors that are chosen only to show off their bodies and couldn’t act their way out of a paper bag. That’s not to say there aren’t incredibly beautiful people that are also incredible actors, but it’s a rare treat.
Who are your favorite “normal looking” actors?
When I was thinking up this question I had one person in mind – John Goodman. I can think of only a small handful of other actors that I have loved since I was a kid and have always been impressed by. John Goodman has played so many roles and Walter Sobchak in The Big Lebowski ranks among my favorites. I would love to see Goodman walking down the street so I could shake his hand.
With 129 acting credits under his belt at the time of this writing, Goodman is not only one of my unsung favorite actors, but he really just seems like a normal guy that made it to Hollywood based on talent.
It’s also worth mentioning that I chose the picture on the right because Steve Buscemi happens to my be second runner-up for the title of Favorite “Normal Looking” Actor. Number three, not pictured, would be Bill Murray.
What about you? Who are some of your favorite “normal looking” actors?
Andy Watches Movies 
Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Peter Sellers, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, John Wayne. There Are So So SO MANY! hehehe
There WERE so many, back in the good ol’ days it was more common – probably why so many people love the classics! I wish there were more “average” guys and girls that aren’t comedians working in movies today.
Ain’t That The Truth, Dude. Fo SHO.
That’s exactly what I thought, when I read this list. (Which is a great list, btw.) Now I’ll be keeping an eye out for average / reasonably attractive young actors. (I think John Goodman is actually pretty cute 🙂 Right now, no one comes to mind.
I have a long-time admiration for the superb character actor Strother Martin.
Yes! Great pick
Robert DeNiro, Bill Murray, and Gene Hackman are the first to pop up in my head.
How could I forget about Hackman?! Definitely agreed
Big second on Strother Martin.
John Cazale, if only he wouldn’t have died so young, his career would have been amazing.
Bryan Cranston definitely.
Also Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, Joe Pesci, John C. Reilly, Jack Warden, George C. Scott, Burgess Meredith, Jack Elam, Clu Gulager, and, of course, Robert Z’Dar.
This could be a very long list. I think “character actor” is basically synonymous with “normal-looking dude.”
Good call on Cazale
I guess I had more than character actors in mind when creating this question, more leading or supporting characters but sometimes character actors seem like the hardest working people on the screen.
Lili Taylor, Martha Plimpton, Sammo Hung, John Vernon, Grace Zabriskie, and Harry Dean Stanton, just to name a few.
Great picks!
I was wondering when someone was going to bring up some women. There are so many men that fit in this category, but the women that do are much fewer and further between. And the ones that are out there are much less known. I don’t even recognize the names you mentioned.
Shoot, I could list ’em all day. Judy Greer, Camryn Manheim, Louise Lasser, Melissa Leo, Lena Dunham. Carol Kane, Angela Bettis, Shelley Duvall, CCH Pounder, Sandra Oh, Mercedes Ruehl, Mare Winningham, S. Epatha Merkerson, Edie McClurg, Anne Ramsey, Ruth Gordon…
All great picks and out of those I love Judy Greer the most
I’m glad you are picking out women too, it seems tougher to do
It’s rare they get leading roles. Kathy Bates is the only obvious actress I can think of that would fit the bill that has still helmed films/tv shows
With John Goodman at the top of the post and you can’t think of Roseanne? And also Rosie O’Donnell.
I never really liked either of them growing up. Still kind of don’t actually
Steve Buschemi of course – love him in Fargo.
I would say Robert Duval and William H. Macy are another couple of greats that fit this category.
Bobby Duvall gets bonus points for being one of the rare bald actors in Hollywood
So true.
Yep William H. Macy was the one that leapt out at me as well.
I would have to say Gene Hackman and Maggie Smith off the top of my head.
Great choice with Smith – I love her
First one to come to mind is Philip Seymour Hoffman.
I have been continuously impressed by his work, definitely agreed
I’m a fan of Joe Pesci and Christoph Waltz although they aren’t exactly newcomers. I don’t know whether you’d class Fassbender as ‘normal looking’ but I wouldn’t put him in the classically good looking category either. Maybe others would!
I would classify Fassbender as better-than-average looking, personally. Maybe even Waltz too.
Pesci on the other hand…I feel like I would see him at the DMV blending in…
Yeah you’re probably right with Fassbender to be honest. I’m gonna throw Woody Harrelson in there though, I definitely wouldn’t put him above average!
Oooh, good pick! In fact, the whole cast of Cheers could probably make the list
Apart from the love machine that is Ted Danson, of course! 😉
Mmmmmhmmmmmm
I don’t know if he can be considered “normal looking” because those eyes are something else, but I love Peter Lorre!
Hahaha ohhh poor Peter…
Great pick, though. He is a classic choice of someone that I think would have a really tough time making it today, even though he’s a terrific actor.
Steve Buscemi is incredible. I think he does amazingly well as Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire. Off the top of my head I also have to say I love James Gandolfini – he was superb in Killing Them Softly recently and really stole the show. In many ways I wish he had the whole movie to himself. Another of my favourites is Alan Rickman. He has done some very diverse movies but impresses me every time. I’m sure I will think of plenty more as the day goes on – this is verey good question!
Alan Rickman is superb
Daniel Craig..YES…look at his earlier work and I tell you, talent brought him here not the six pack! oh and Simon Pegg… raw talent!
Simon Pegg – definitely
Daniel Craig I’m spotty on since it’s hard to think of him as anyone but James Bond now…but I’ll allow it
Andy you are killing me… he is ugly, really… not Steve Buscemi but ugly all the same 🙂
Well, his lips are kind of weird, I guess…but BOND!! I just can’t see past it
Ok Ok lets split the abs.. I mean the arguement 50/50
🙂
Haha fair enough
you don’t think daniel craig is a good looking guy? i beg to differ. not coming out of the closet here, but the blond hair, blue eyes, square jaw. i’ll take that any day.
🙂 duck face, not so good looking …. I’ll put a pillow on his head and deal with the rest 🙂
Off the top of my head — Charles Durning
Oooh, nice one!
Michael Shannon, Christopher Walken, John Turturro, Emily Watson, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel…okay this list could go on forever! I think just about every single one of my favourite living actors/actresses are “regular-looking”.
How could I forget Michael Shannon?!
Those are all great picks
Most of the funny guys…Will Farrell,Paul Rudd,Jonah Hill, John C. Reilly etc.
The funny guys all get a pass for not looking like models haha
Gene Hackman, Daniel Day Lewis.
More recent, Pail Dano.
A few years ago I would have said Dano’s only roles would be creepy guys, but he’s really surprised
I would have to say Tom Hanks, Timothy Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, David Arquette, Jon Favreau, John Lithgow….my list could go on. Great topic!!
Definitely great picks!
Oh and Jeff Daniels!
Is this due to Dumb and Dumber? haha
Yeah right! 🙂 His best look yet!
I don’t know if I’d consider Steve Buscemi to be normal looking. The thing is, male actors can get away with having average looks, or being downright ugly. Women tend to all look alike in movies–young and pretty with similar body types. It’s so refreshing when a “normal” woman shows up on screen, such as in “Paranormal Activity.” The female leads in that series always seemed like regular people and not movie stars pretending to be average.
But to answer your question, Tom Hanks always seemed like a normal guy to me, and that everyman appearance serves him well in pretty much every movie he makes. I also liked Richard Dreyfuss, whose normalcy led Spielberg to put him in three different roles.
You bring up an excellent point and it has been mostly reinforced with people’s choices here: female actors are usually gorgeous and there aren’t as many “average” looking ones that get big roles.
Steve Buscemi for sure. He was great in Reservoir Dogs, Fargo and I found him pretty hilarious in Mr. Deeds. Simon Pegg is also pretty amazing.
I would also bring up modern day Bruce Willis. I think it’s the lack of hair and wrinkles that make him believable in playing an everyday guy, AKA John McClane. 😛
Bruce Willis is another great, bald actor. A rarity.
Yeah, I loved him in 12 Monkeys and Looper. He’s a lot more versatile than people give him credit for.
William H. Macy, John Turturro, Frances McDormand, Meryl Streep, Lola Dueñas, Jonah Hill, Dustin Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Richard Jenkins and of course Jimmy Stewart.
Glad to see a few women on your list – definitely agree with all those people
Philip Seymour Hoffman for me. Followed by James Gandolfini.
Solid picks there
Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymor Hoffman, William H Macy, Tim Roth, and the King of Normal, Richard Jenkins.
Richard Jenkins! Love that guy, glad you thought of him
You hit the nail right on the head with John Goodman! I absolutely adore him, he’s a superb actor. Two of my other all time favourites are the great John Candy and Dan Aykroyd.
I miss John Candy 😦
Some of these guys may be good-looking, but I like them for their talent; Johnny Dept, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch. They’re all amazing!
Another pick for Maggie Smith!
Oh,and when I think of guys who turned an unusual look into a career, I also think of Vincent Schiavelli and Michael Berryman.
They definitely found their niche in the business
steve buscemi and catherine keener.
Yes! Yes! Steve Buscemi!
Ah yes, Keener is a good pick I don’t think I’ve seen yet
and toni collette. i think that’s the spelling.
Mmm I love her
Danny DeVito, Kathy Bates….
DeVito has had a surprisingly successful career considering the way he looks
John Goodman is a TOP choice. I fully agree with you – he’s excellent.
But after I read that, I couldn’t think of one!!! All I could think of was attractive actors & actresses!!
Though probably – ah, what’s his name?…. The chubby & very funny guy who was in the remake of Starsky & Hutch – you know, he looked like a chubby Eminem. He’s great, I really love all his movies. I’d vote him. (& shame on me forgetting his name!)
Thanks!
My first thought was Patton Oswalt, was he in that one?
No. Oh, it’s killin’ me! I will come back & let you know, if I remember. Arrgh. He was also in a movie where HE was the babysitter.
Does ‘actor’ mean either male or female or are you using it in the strictly literal sense. If the former then I would say Dame Maggie Smith or Dame Judi Dench for me! Otherwise John Candy….only he can be very irritating too!
I meant it to be unisex so you have 3 great picks! I love John Candy
Bill Murray, John Goodman, John Hawkes, John C. Reilly, Jack Nicholson (he seems pretty normal looking), Tim Curry, Forest Whitaker, Jim Broadbent, Gary Oldman (sort of).
Oh man, great pick with John Hawkes. I love that guy
Janeane Garofalo!!! Joan Cusack (infinitely more talented than her brother). Toni Colette.
Awesome picks! I used to have a thing for Janeane…
I hope she plays me in the movie about my life. Even if she is half my size. Sexy little dwarf, she is.
Haha I’d watch it!
I’m a little late to the party for the Friday question this week, but had to add my two cents. Three words: Philip. Seymour. Hoffman.
And John Goodman rocks – I just saw Argo this weekend and he was great in it.
I still have to see Argo! It looks really good
It is! It’s well-written, well-acted, and moves at a pretty good pace for a political-type drama. The cast is like a “who’s who” of working character actors – lots of solid performances. When you get to see it, I’d be eager to see your review!
Judi Dench, Kathy Bates, Jean Stapleton. Wonderful actors all.
I went through the entire comments and I don’t think anyone mentioned Walter Matthau, or Jack Lemmon, but they would fit for sure. On the ladies side I would say Anne Bancroft and Geraldine Page.
I don’t think I saw them mentioned either – good stuff!
wow so many good ones have been named. The first to pop into my mind was William Powell. I know, I reached way back.
I’ll be honest, I had to look him up!
Have you seen the movie, The Thin Man? If you haven’t and you like classics I recommend it.
I have not, but I’m pretty sure it’s in my Netflix queue – I’ll move it closer to the top of my list now!
John Rhys-Davies!! 😛 love that man!
Oooh, definitely!
Haha he is just amazing! 😀
Love the fact that he cant stop telling stories about every production he has been on! 🙂