Actors hate being typecast, but they are often tapped for the same type of role repeatedly because of how they can become
that character. (Examples: Jesse Eisenberg and socially awkward nerds, Samuel L. Jackson and badasses, Hugh Grant and flustered male leads in romantic comedies) Actors who make good villains are notoriously typecast, something they probably don't enjoy, but that works to the audience's benefit (as we get amazing performances). Submitted for your approval are my Top Five picks for actors who make awesome villains:
5. Gary Oldman
Oldman is probably the least pigeonholed actor on my list, as he has had a long and varied career. Some of his best known performances include Sid Vicious in
Sid and Nancy, Sirius Black in the
Harry Potter series, and Commissioner Gordon in Christopher Nolan's recent
Batman reboots. It is his intensity and commitment to his characters that makes him an excellent actor . . . and an excellent villain. Catch his bad guy turns in flicks like
The Fifth Element,
True Romance, and
Bram Stoker's Dracula
My pick for best villain role:
Corrupt DEA agent
Norman Stansfield in
Leon (aka
The Professional)
4. Malcom McDowell
It is easy to see why McDowell tends to be typecast in villainous roles. He has a very intense-looking face and a sinister-sounding voice, both of which enhance his excellent performances. In addition to his many on-camera roles, McDowell has done a lot of voice-over work for documentaries and video games. Some of his most famous villains can be found in
Caligula,
Star Trek Generations,
Tank Girl, and the first season of acclaimed series "Heroes".
My pick for best villain role:
Cliche, but true - Psychopath and classical music lover
Alexander DeLarge in
A Clockwork Orange
3. Christopher Walken
Even when Walken plays a seemingly innocuous role, he creeps the bejeebers out of me, so he had to have a place on this list. Although in more recent years he is more known for his comedic turns (especially his repeated SNL appearances) and his surprisingly good dance moves in Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" music video, he's played plenty of villains throughout his career. The unusual cadence in his speaking voice and his deep-set eyes make for a unnerving villain, especially in films like
King of New York,
Last Man Standing, and
The Prophecy.
My pick for best villain role:
Walken fans would probably select renegade archangel
Gabriel in
The Prophecy (and rightly so)*, but I have to go with the
Headless Horseman from Tim Burton's
Sleepy Hollow. Never have a set of teeth so haunted my dreams.
2. Clancy Brown
Brown is a dark horse contender in a list of heavy hitters, but he's also an amazing character actor. This makes him my go-to guy for the number two spot. The combination of his acting skill, his imposing frame, and his mega deep baritone voice make him tailor-made for villain roles. His incredible voice has scored him a large amount of voice-over work, especially in animated comic book features. He can be seen on-screen in
The Shawshank Redemption,
Pet Semetary II, and
Highlander.
My pick for best villain role:
Nefarious preacher
Brother Justin Crowe in the short-lived, but amazing HBO series "Carnivale"
1. Christopher Lee
In my book, Lee is the end all and be all of actors in villainous roles. Knighted in 2009, Lee holds the Guinness World Record for most film acting roles. Throughout his illustrious career, he has played everything from Count Dracula several times over (in the iconic Hammer horror films) to the Jabberwocky in Tim Burton's version of
Alice in Wonderland.
My pick for best villain role:
It's a tie:
King Haggard in
The Last Unicorn (purely for nostalgic reasons) and the evil wizard
Saruman in
The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
*Seriously, if you haven't seen this film, you definitely should - if only for the excellent cast. In addition to Walken it includes Eric Stolz, Elias Koteas, and arguably Viggo Mortensen's best (and most underrated) performance.
So, let's hear it. Who are some of your favorite villains?
