Some actors have the gift of seeming omnipresent — they appear in several productions, especially in the action genre, but end up being remembered only as “that guy from that movie.” Here, we decided to help you remember the names of those actors you know but can’t remember their names. In addition, we’ll take the opportunity to recommend some films where you can see the talent of these actors up close.
Ben Foster: Real Stories, Action and War
This is an actor who does not go unnoticed, he is known for his intensity and commitment to his characters. His career brings a balance between roles that require emotional and physical strength.
In addition to The Program — available on Filmelier+ — where he delves into the universe of a true cycling story with visceral dedication, he has worked on films such as The Untamed , Hell or High Water , and The Big Hero , alongside Mark Wahlberg and Emile Hirsch, which demonstrate his range of styles from westerns to drama and action. Ben is the first name to remember.
Ed Begley Jr.: comedy, drama and horror
Veteran Hollywood actor with a career spanning five decades, marked by his versatility and presence in different genres.
Nominated for an Emmy for St. Elsewhere , and with notable appearances in films such as Unknown , Amsterdam (by David O. Russell) and the cult comedy She’s the Devil , he built a filmography that mixes drama, satire and absurdity with the same lightness. Also engaged in environmental causes, Begley Jr. never needed to be the main character to stand out — he’s another one of those actors whose name you don’t remember but who make all the difference on screen.
Kyle Gallner: youth on the surface, fear in the eyes
With a career marked by bold choices, Kyle Gallner has established himself as one of the most interesting names of the new generation of American actors.
From Hell Girl to the recent Smile 2 , including American Sniper and Unknown — which we mentioned when talking about Ed Begley Jr. — his choices of roles reveal a preference for dense and psychological narratives. Furthermore, Gallner manages to balance tension and vulnerability like few others, creating characters that remain in the memory even when the plot demands subtlety. For this reason, he has become a recurring name in productions that explore fear, trauma and loneliness. With a career in constant evolution, he reaffirms his presence as one of the most intriguing faces in contemporary cinema.
Kevin Durand: the villain who always steals the show
With his imposing physical appearance and penetrating gaze, Kevin Durand is often cast as an antagonist — and not by chance.
In productions such as Reign of the Planet of the Apes, he plays the authoritarian Proximus Caesar, a new leader who imposes rule through force and fear. In Abigail , a praised horror thriller directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (directors of Scream VI ), Durand brings a natural weight to action and suspense scenes.
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In Killer Instinct , which has just arrived on Pure Adrenaline+ , he brings intensity, precision and a certain dark charisma that make his characters even more dangerous. In the film, he shares the screen with Frank Grillo — another frequent name in the most visceral action productions of recent years. In addition, Durand has a particular talent for playing calculating and determined characters, which makes him a striking presence in action and suspense scenes. Even in smaller roles, he always leaves his mark. So, if you’ve ever watched something and thought “I know this guy”, there’s a good chance you’re remembering him — the villain you love to hate, and who cinema never forgets.
Luke Goss: action, charisma and physical intensity
Before turning to film, Luke Goss was a member of the pop band “Bros”. Since then, he has built a solid career in action films, marked by intense and physical roles.
In Make Your Move , he shows versatility by mixing romance and dance. In On the Point of the Bullet and Sky on Fire , where he stars alongside Dolph Lundgren, he delivers combat and chase sequences with impressive technical preparation — often performing his own fight scenes.
You can watch Goss in Traffik (2018) on Filmelier+, a notable role in a thriller about human trafficking directed by Deon Taylor ( The Intruder ), where he stars alongside Paula Patton and Omar Epps. The film received attention for addressing a sensitive topic within an intense survival narrative.
Ben Whishaw: From James Bond to characters on the brink of collapse
Ben Whishaw is one of the most respected British actors of his generation, with a career that spans theater, film and TV. Recognized for his technical and emotional mastery, he gained notoriety for his role as Q in the 007 franchise, including 007: No Time to Die , opposite Daniel Craig and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. But it is in the intense dramas that Whishaw surprises the most. In Surge , he practically carries the film alone — directed by Aneil Karia — with a performance that moves between repression and emotional explosion. In Perfume: The Story of a Murderer , directed by Tom Tykwer ( Run, Lola, Run ), he shares the screen with Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman, playing a silent and disturbing protagonist.
In Limonov , a biopic directed by Kirill Serebrennikov and shown at Cannes 2024, Whishaw takes on the role of controversial Russian writer Eduard Limonov, reaffirming his dedication to morally ambiguous and intensely human figures. In doing so, he consolidates a filmography marked by courageous choices and memorable performances.
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