Easy Come Easy Gaughin

Christopher Lee

Geez, all those vampire flicks were a clue; the guy really is undead. I think he’s about 112 now, and has participated in about 400 films. He’s one of the leading lights of the Hammer Horror films, and while he’s great at a certain type of ominous melodrama, he’s almost the definition of a journeyman. But his heights were pretty solid.

Ten best roles: 10) The Terror of the Tongs 9) The Skull 8) The Man with the Golden Gun 7) The Gorgon 6) The Rainbow Thief 5) Murder Story 4) Dracula: Prince of Darkness 3) The Hound of the Baskervilles 2) The Horror of Dracula 1) The Devil Rides Out

Percentile rating: 90.57

Peak Period: 1966 – 1990

Neighborhood: Pierce Brosnan, Patricia Clarkson, Brian Cox, Peter Coyote, Ian Hart, Tcheky Karyo

Frank Langella

The original disco Dracula has consistently appeared in mostly thankless supporting roles, but his fortunes turned with his recent Oscar-nominated take on Richard Nixon in the film Frost/Nixon. Now I can only hope for an upcoming The Castle of Count Richard.

Ten best roles: 10) Superman Returns 9) The Caller 8) Dracula 7) The Twelve Chairs 6) Eccentricities of a Nightingale 5) Those Lips Those Eyes 4) Diary of a Mad Housewife 3) Dave 2) Starting Out in the Evening 1) Frost/Nixon

Percentile rating: 90.3

Peak period: 1993 – now

Neighborhood: Roberto Benigni, Peter Coyote, Vincent D’Onofrio, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Ian Hart, Hugh Jackman

John Lynch

Irish leading man about whom I know very little, though I like a couple of these films. Cal is a must-see, with an excellent performance from Helen Mirren to boot.

Ten best roles: 10) Some Mother’s Son 9) Nothing Personal 8) Sliding Doors 7) Lassie 6) In the Name of the Father 5) The Quarry 4) The Secret of Roan Inish 3) Angel Baby 2) Isolation 1) Cal

Percentile rating: 89.98

Peak Period: 1984 – 1995

Neighborhood: Ann-Margret, Patricia Arquette, Julie Delpy, Rupert Everett, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Mark Hamill

Michel Lonsdale

French actor probably most famous in the states as Bond villain Hugo Drax from Moonraker, Lonsdale’s had a productive career including 75-100 film roles and hundreds of hours on European TV. He’s accomplished, with a multitude of important roles; it’s a shame most of his fame is associated with the only Bond to make you wish for more George Lazenby.

Ten best roles: 10) Une Sale Histoire 9) L’Eveille Du Pont D’Alma 8) La Table D’Emeraude 7) Douce Enquete Sur la Violence 6) Section Speciale’ 5) Le Printemps 4) Stolen Kisses 3) India Song 2) Murmur of the Heart 1) The Day of the Jackal

Percentile rating: 89.02

Peak Period: 1970 – 1975

Neighborhood: Adrien Brody, Gary Busey, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Brian Dennehy, Edward Fox, James Fox

Sergi Lopez

I don’t know much about this Spanish (Catalan) actor, though his reviews are good. Somebody more learned than me, feel free to fill in the blank.

Ten Best Roles: 10) Rien a Fare 9) Jet Lag 8) Le Lait de la tendresse humaine 7) La Campagne 6) Solo Mia 5) With a Friend Like Harry 4) Dirty Pretty Things 3) An Affair of Love 2) Western 1) Pan’s Labyrinth

Percentile Rating: 88.27

Peak Period: 1995 – 2000

Neighborhood: Penelope Cruz, Andre Dussollier, Brendan Fraser, Tom Hulce, Angelina Jolie, Anthony LaPaglia

James LeGros

Scruffy character actor who found some favor in lots of fine indie films in the 90’s and early aughts. His characters are frequently angsty and sullen. I sometimes argue that Drugstore Cowboy is the finest example of greatness in the hey-day of indie films. Most people just ignore me.

Ten Best Roles: 10) Sherman’s Way 9) My New Gun 8) Don’t Do It 7) Living in Oblivion 6) Scotland PA 5) November 4) Floundering 3) Safe 2) The Last Winter 1) Drugstore Cowboy

Percentile Rating: 87.05

Peak Period: 1989 – 1995

Neighborhood: Jennifer Aniston, Bob Balaban, Jeremy Davies, Will Ferrell, Cuba Gooding Jr, Lance Henriksen

Rob Lowe

Here’s a textbook case study in how to weather a potentially disastrous public scandal. Lowe’s always been a little larger than life. Squaring his already angled jawline often served as his best strategy for conveying any type of intense emotion. He’s commonly associated with the Brat Pack, but his best work mostly has occurred outside of that group. He was accused, in fact there was videotape, of him, ummm, commiserating with a girl who turned out to be below the age of consent, even in Georgia. What can you do in the face of such accusations? Lay Lowe (GET IT! GET IT?) for a bit, then slowly emerge from your cone of PR silence by taking roles that use your wooden emoting to comic effect. This sort of self-depracating stance goes a long way towards rehabilitating a fallen public profile, and after a few sparse years, Lowe found himself suddenly re-castable. He’s made hay in a couple of TV series, and still shows up in films from time to time. That little girl from that convention must be close to 30 by now!

Lowe and Kato Kaelin have never been seen in the same room at the same time.

Ten best roles: 10) The Specials 9) Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me 8) The Outsiders 7) Bad Influence 6) Proximity 5) Masquerade 4) Framed 3) Wayne’s World 2) About Last Night 1) Salem’s Lot

Percentile rating: 86.78

Peak period: 1983 – 1992

Neighborhood: Bob Balaban, Joan Cusack, Jeremy Davies, Giancarlo Esposito, Paul Giamatti, Maggie Gyllenhall

Denis Leary

Popular stand-up comedian with a successful TV dramedy has a surprisingly accomplished selected filmography to boot. He’s best known for playing variations on his acerbic stand-up persona. He’s hilarious in The Ref, and Double Whammy includes a number of very funny situations. He’s beloved among 5-15 year olds for his recurring voice role in the animated Ice Age series. He’s also noteworthy for a novelty tune that was included on one of his early stand-up recordings; propriety dictates that I not give the name, but I will admit to having laughed myself silly the first time I heard it. Yo ee ho!

Ten best roles: 10) True Crime 9) Lakeboat 8) Monument Ave 7) Double Whammy 6) Suicide Kings 5) Sand 4) The Secret Lives of Dentists 3) Final 2) Jesus’ Son 1) The Ref

Percentile rating: 86.57

Peak Period: 1994 – 1999

Neighborhood: Kim Basinger, Sonny Chiba, Joan Cusack, Olympia Dukakis, Paul Giamatti, Maggie Gyllenhall

Jennifer Lopez

Angular-faced beauty had a support role or two before landing the lead in the run of the mill biopic Selena. She was then cast in one of the finest films of the last 20 years, Out of Sight, a crazy quilt Soderbergh film that blends film noir atmosphere with great comedy bits. The film features Albert Brooks in a mostly serious role, and George Clooney establishing himself as a real movie star reminiscent of Cary Grant.

After that bit of film history, she sold out hard, making horrible but wildly popular music, and appearing in a long series of horrible films that did nothing to further her acting credentials, but doubtless padded her bank account.

She is undoubtedly enormously popular, a true pop culture star who has done all she could to bury her talents. In this regard, she is our Elizabeth Taylor.

Ten best roles: 10) El Cantante 9) Blood and Wine 8) The Cell 7) Maid in Manhattan 6) Angel Eyes 5) Anaconda 4) Shall We Dance? 3) An Unfinished Life 2) Selena 1) Out of Sight

Percentile rating: 86.19 (higher than you would think, but her roles are all leads, which lifts her a bit above expectation; but for a star of this magnitude, this score’s not really so hot)

Peak Period: 1997 – 2002

Neighborhood: Aurore Clement, Daniel Craig, Benicio del Toro, Carrie Fisher, Diane Ladd, Virginie Ledoyen

Delroy Lindo

Lindo’s a very charismatic actor who made his name with supporting roles in Crooklyn Clockers, and Get Shorty prior to moving into higher profile roles in smaller films in the last 6-8 years. Mostly known for quiet tough-guy roles, he was Associate Producer and star of the recent This Christmas, a satisfying and effective family drama in which he got to tone down the attitude a bit.

Ten best roles: 10) The Winner 9) The Core 8) Ransom 7) Heist 6) The Cider House Rules 5) Malcolm X 4) Wondrous Oblivion 3) Crooklyn 2) Clockers 1) This Christmas

Percentile rating: 85.77

Peak Period: 1999 – now

Neighborhood: Josh Brolin, James Caviezel, Angie Dickinson, Christopher Guest, Marcia Gay Harden, Yaphet Kotto