When thinking of a successful movie, usually the lead actor is the one who gets most of the fame and credit, but there are certain films where the cameos and supporting characters really surpass themselves. We’d like to give these fine actors recognition for giving their respective movies that extra special quality that wouldn’t have existed without them. Warning: Possible spoilers ahead!
Gary Sinise as Lt. Dan Taylor (Forrest Gump)
Lieutenant Dan was a complex character with plenty of demons, but Sinise’s portrayal of him allowed us to empathize with every side of the troubled soldier. Even though he acts hostile towards Forrest at first and uses him to fuel his alcohol addiction, you soon learn he is acting out of pain from his difficult past with the military. His stand-out moment is when he arrives at Forrest and Jenny’s wedding with a new pair of titanium-alloy legs and a new bride of his own, makes you so happy that he has has gotten back on his feet (quite literally) after everything he’d been through.
Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter)
Luna wasn’t a major character in Harry Potter and we didn’t learn much about until at least the fifth movie, yet there was something enigmatic about her that caused her to stick in our minds long after the credits ended. It is said that Evanna Lynch has a soft-spoken, airy personality which is why she could get into the character of Luna so easily. The reason so many people became attached to Luna is due to her open-mindedness and individuality. She’s the kind of person we’d all like to be friends with in real life because she’d accept us for exactly who we are.
Ed Harris as Christof (The Truman Show)
The Truman Show was in a class of its own in terms of storyline, and gave way to one of Jim Carrey’s greatest performances. However, it wouldn’t have been as magnificent without Ed Harris’s depiction of Christof, the director of the fictitious television show. He manages to make an obsessive, controlling man somewhat likable, and for a while we sympathize with his need to create the perfect entertainment broadcast. Perhaps he brings out the perfectionist in all of us or maybe we’re all just suckers for reality TV!
Anne Hathaway as Fauntine (Les Miserables)
Though Anne Hathaway only appears in the first 40 minutes of the movie (aside from a small appearance at the end), she still manages to make Fauntine the most memorable character of Les Mis! She was able to get us to all understand what it feel likes to have reached the lowest point in your life. Her rendition of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ was as raw and emotional as songs come, and it didn’t leave a dry eye in the theatre!
Christopher Walken as Frank Abignale Sr. (Catch Me If You Can)
Of course Leonardo DiCaprio played teenage crook Frank Abignale Jr brilliantly, but Christopher Walken stole every scene he appeared on. His performance as the father who was the main influence for his son’s life of crime was incredibly grippling. His persona was captivating and convincing, not only to the other characters in the movie, but also to the viewers at home. He also delivered one of his best monologues of his career:
“Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse, wouldn’t quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and crawled out. Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse.”
Chiaki Kuriyama as Gogo Yubari (Kill Bill Vol. 1)
Who would have thought a 17-year old schoolgirl could make the toughest samurai cower in the corner with just a look? Chiaki Kuriyama had less than 30 minutes of screen time, but she still undoubtedly brought the most entertaining character to the story. Armed with a spiked ball and chain, her combat scene with The Bride has us all on the edges of our seats, and the fact that she was in a uniform the whole time gave it that extra touch of terror.
Bill Murray as Himself (Zombieland)
This has to be one of the best movie cameos of all time. There’s nothing funnier than a celebrity who takes the mickey out of themselves and Bill Murray does this flawlessly in Zombieland. He mocks his many film roles including Ghostbusters and Garfield, while playing the role of a cowardly celebrity who locks himself in his mansion, disguised as a zombie to ward of the enemies. The dialogue between him and Woody Harrelson, who happened to be Murray’s number one fan, made it all the more hilarious.
Tim Curry as Long John Silver (A Muppet’s Treasure Island)
Tim Curry is a chameleon actor, who can play a wide variety of personas and take on any accent you throw at him. So it’s surprising that out of his entire filmography, one of his most admired roles comes from a Muppet movie! Curry does a bang-up job of playing the deceitful, yet charming, pirate who is able to make the viewers fall for his lies, just as he does to Jim Hawkins in the film. His emotions are so realistic, that when he interacts with Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang, you forget that you’re watching a bunch of felt puppets!
Scrat the Squirrel (Ice Age)
Scrat wasn’t involved in the main storyline and he hardly ever interacted with the main characters, yet somehow the franchise (which is set to release it’s fifth movie) wouldn’t have been the same without him. Whenever this saber-toothed squirrel entered the scene, we suddenly forgot about the struggles of Sid and Manny and Diego, and focused our attention on the only thing that mattered – a single acorn. The lump in our throats whenever Scrat let the oak nut slip from his furry fingers was just too real!
