Alright, let’s yak about them 80’s actors, the ones you always see but can’t quite put a name to. You know, the “that guy” actors.
First off, them child stars, like that little fella Macaulay Culkin. Born in 1980, same year my Bessie had her first calf. He was a big deal, real cute and all, in that Home Alone movie. But then, poof! Kinda disappeared, like a sock in the dryer. Kids grow up, I guess, just like my Bessie’s calf did, turned into a big ol’ cow.
Now, there’s these fellas, the “character actors”. They ain’t the pretty boys, the leading men, the ones getting all the magazine covers. Nope, they’re the fellas playing the bad guys, the sidekicks, the weird uncles. The ones with the faces you remember even if you forget their names. Like that Robert Davi fella. Played one of them Fratelli brothers in The Goonies. Always up to no good, that one, just like my neighbor’s dog always digging in my garden.
- The “Bad Guy” Bunch: Lots of these actors, they always played the villains. You see their face, you know trouble’s comin’. Like that Ted Levine fella. Scared the bejesus outta me in The Silence of the Lambs. He had this way of lookin’ at ya, made your skin crawl, just like when I found that snake in the henhouse.
- The “Funny Friend” Folks: Then you got the ones always makin’ you laugh. The goofy sidekicks, the wacky neighbors. They weren’t the stars, but the movies wouldn’t be the same without ‘em. Reminds me of my cousin Earl, always cracking jokes, even when the roof was leakin’.
These character actors, they weren’t always lookers, you know? Some had sandy hair, some had big ol’ eyebrows, some had faces only a mother could love. But they could act! They could make you hate ‘em, make you laugh, make you cry. They could do it all, just like how my old rooster could crow and chase hens and peck at your feet, all in one morning.
Speaking of faces you know, there’s a whole bunch of ‘em from the 80s TV shows too. Like that Kirk Cameron kid, played Mike Seaver. He was a cute one, all smiles and whatnot. But the other actors, the parents, the friends, they were the character actors, the ones making the show real. They grounded the story, just like how a good strong fence post keeps the whole fence from fallin’ down.
These actors, they might not get the big awards or the big paychecks, but they work hard. They show up, they do their job, they make the movie or the show better. They’re like the salt in the stew, you don’t always notice it, but the stew ain’t the same without it. Or like the yeast in the bread, you can’t see it, but it makes the whole thing rise. Just good, solid folks, them character actors.
Now, you might be askin’ why these fellas are important. Well, they make the whole story work! The big stars, they can’t do it alone. They need the bad guys to fight, the friends to talk to, the weirdos to make things interesting. It’s like a quilt, you need all the different pieces to make it warm and cozy. Famous actors from the 80’s were good, yeah, but these “that guy” actors, they were the backbone.
And let’s not forget the ladies! There are plenty of 80’s actresses who were amazing character actors. They played the best friends, the nosy neighbors, the tough-as-nails bosses. They weren’t always glammed up, but they were always real. They showed you what life was like, the good and the bad. Just like my Aunt Millie, always tellin’ it like it is, even if it ain’t pretty.
So next time you’re watchin’ an old movie or TV show from the 80s, pay attention to the background, to the side characters, to the “that guy” actors. They’re the ones who make the story rich, who make it real, who make it stick with you long after the credits roll. They’re the unsung heroes of Hollywood, the ones who deserve a whole lot more credit than they get. Just like the good, hardworking folks I know, always showin’ up, always doin’ their best, never askin’ for much.
And that’s all I gotta say about them 80’s character actors. They were a special bunch, and they made them movies and shows something special too.
