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Who are the greatest "non-actors"?

post #1 of 22
Thread Starter 
...And by non-actor I mean people with no background (academic or otherwise) in acting who've appeared/performed/acted in movies and made something of a career out of it.

Like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Van Damme. Bruce Lee. Chris Rock. Eddie Murphy?

Can Will Smith be considered a non-actor?
post #2 of 22
Thats easy IMO - he's fourth from the left...






































RD
post #3 of 22
I thought this thread would be asking about Actors who don't so much act as play a slightly different version of themselves in every movie. Like Chris Walken, Jeff Goldblum, etc.

But of the type you're asking for...its hard to say because acting gives one so much on the job training that its hard to determine whats considered school and what isn't.

Connery may have never gone to a school for it, but before he was Bond he was given all kinds of "training" on how to dress, act and behave like a sophisticate.

And I wouldn't count Chris Rock or Eddie Murphy either because they were on SNL and did stand up. Those are the sort of trial-by-fire training experiences that would be immeasuarbly valuable to any actor.

And Will Smith is certainly a performer, despite what one thinks of his persona, I think what he did with his music background could be considered acting.

This is such a complicated thing to ask. If you were to claim that all actors who had no real trianing were non-actors, you'd have to count half of Hollywood at least. I suppose even the audition process is a kind of training. Still, I don't know...

Rob Schnieder?
post #4 of 22
See - I assumed he was talking personality actors (like Connery, Walken, Goldblum etc) as opposed to character actors.

Now that I look at it - I'd have to know the full thespian training history of every person I mention to do it the way its mentioned att he top of this thread.

RD
post #5 of 22
Exactly RD, I say we hijack this thread and talk about this "personality actors" theory of yours.
post #6 of 22
Do I smell a new Alan Rickman thread slowly blossoming?
post #7 of 22

Re: Who are the greatest "non-actors"?

Quote:
Originally posted by Crash-Man
...And by non-actor I mean people with no background (academic or otherwise) in acting who've appeared/performed/acted in movies and made something of a career out of it.
How about Dwight Yokum? Not "the greatest", but he's had some solid performances (Sling Blade being the best by far).
post #8 of 22
My main man...Dennis Farina!!

A tough as nails Chicago Cop for nearly 20 years, gave it all up for his role in Mann's excellent "Manhunter".
Where his role and chemistry with William Petersen was far better than even Keitel could muster up in "Red Dragon".

Always an actor worth watching, and nearly always damn fine at what he does (check out the iconic Farina turn in "Crime Story").

My other choise is that great thesp...JOE SPINELL'S MOTHER! Always enjoyment to be found when Mary was around.
post #9 of 22
Does Howard Stern in Private Parts count? Probably not, since he hasn't "made a career" out of his acting. But his solo effort so far was decent.

And I've always enjoyed the work of Fred Thompson. Not sure if he had taken any formal acting or not, though. [I would imagine law school ate up most of his time, not to mention the US Senate...]
post #10 of 22
You could say Stallone, right?
post #11 of 22
Wasn't Harrison Ford a carpenter or something before he got his lucky break?


Gaz
post #12 of 22
Quote:
Originally posted by Gaz
Wasn't Harrison Ford a carpenter or something before he got his lucky break?
Gaz
Yeah, but before that he had trained as an actor, been in some TV shows.

How about Danny Trejo...won some light and welterweight boxing titles in San Quentin...got out of prison, made a contact through a Cocaine Anonymous meeting and got a part in Runaway Train. The rest is history.
post #13 of 22
Quote:
Originally posted by Gaz

Wasn't Harrison Ford a carpenter or something before he got his lucky break?
No, I believe that was Jesus. He hit the big time this year.
post #14 of 22
Chuck Zito.
post #15 of 22
Thread Starter 
Who?
post #16 of 22
Quote:
Originally posted by 42ndStFreak
My main man...Dennis Farina!!
I too enjoy Dennis Farina. Something about the no-nonsense characters he usually plays.

Farina will be joining Law and Order this fall in place of the departing Jerry Orbach, who will be moving to the new show, Law & Order: Trial By Jury.
post #17 of 22
Quote:
Originally posted by Madman Mundt
Yeah, but before that he had trained as an actor, been in some TV shows.

How about Danny Trejo...won some light and welterweight boxing titles in San Quentin...got out of prison, made a contact through a Cocaine Anonymous meeting and got a part in Runaway Train. The rest is history.
See - thats why the premise of this thread simply doesnt work. Unless you know the personal history of every actor - how can you make an informed decision or offer an opinion?

RD
post #18 of 22
Robert Mitchum was a great non-actor. He admitted himself that all put into a performance was to learn and read the lines.
post #19 of 22
Quote:
Originally posted by moovyphreak
I too enjoy Dennis Farina. Something about the no-nonsense characters he usually plays.

Farina will be joining Law and Order this fall in place of the departing Jerry Orbach, who will be moving to the new show, Law & Order: Trial By Jury.
Will he!!?? Great news. Thanks.
post #20 of 22
R. Lee Ermy

Charles Bronson (was a coal minor before getting into the game)

Jason Mewes

Carrie Henn, who was damn good in her one movie.
post #21 of 22
Quote:
Jason Mewes
What about Kevin Smith?



*awaits for someone to say the inevitable*
post #22 of 22
Quote:
Originally posted by Crash-Man
Who?
Chuck Zito is this badass Italian biker whose best known onscreen for playing "Pancomo" in OZ.

His off-screen antics include motorcycle riding with Tony Clifton(Andy Kaufman)and kicking the shit out of Jean Claude Van Damme at a strip club.
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