I know this has probably happened to everybody. I'm curious to know what random background actors inspired you to actually look them up to see what else they've done.

I watched Hostage, and then right after that, Trancers. The actor Art LaFleur was in both. I know I've seen him many, many times, and IMDB lists 136 movies/TV shows he's worked on since 1978.

In fact, there's a documentary from 2009 I had never heard of, called In Character, that is about this very subject, and he's in it.

Of course the big stars get all the press, but without guys (and gals) like this, movies and TV would be pretty boring. I think we all get a little added comfort during our viewing when there's some background character actor, and we think. just for a split-second, "I recognize him."

On the other hand, it backfires in TV shows where there are 3 suspects for a crime in the beginning of the episode, and we recognize one of them from countless TV appearances. We know he's the one.

So, share your experiences:
You watched two movies in a row and noticed some "journeyman" actor in both?


EDIT: Sequels don't count--I'm talking about the same actor playing different roles in unrelated movies...

Shawnee Smith as the pregnant teen in Summer School.




Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young in the Saw movies.




Nicholas Hoult in About a Boy.



Nicholas Hoult in A Single Man.




Amy Morton as Thomas Ian Nicholas mom in Rookie of the Year and as George Clooney's sister in Up in the Air.

Most recently (by accident not by choice):

Just this weekend, my wife and I watched The Jerk and 'Slapshot back to back and M. Emmet Walsh was in both films (not a rare feat seeing how prolific he is).

A couple years ago went to the theaters and caught Ultraviolet. My friends and I were so distraught from the crapfest that was Ultraviolet, we decided to sneak into Running Scared. Both movies had the kid, Cameron Bright.

/\ Cameron Bright was everywhere that year, including X-Men: The Last Stand. I think he popped up a few years earlier in Godsend and Birth. That little douche had the market cornered on creepy kid.