TV Actors You Are Not Watching (But Should Be)

The second article in my "But Should Be" series is a look at the character actors that toil away in TV shows with little recognition. While some of these actors have also starred on stage and the big screen, they currently reside on the small screen and hope you are watching.

Ray Wise:
Currently Mr. Wise can be found on "The Reaper" on CW playing none other than the Devil, himself. This performance is bitingly clever and very witty. I'm hoping the show makes it to a second season. It is currently on the bubble - and I'd miss Mr. Wise cracking wise if it is canceled. But Mr. Wise is not only known for playing the Devil and in fact has had a long career. The man has over 100 credits listed at the IMDb going back all the way to 1969.

While he recently had a stint on "24" in 2006 as Vice President Hal Gardner, arguably his best role in the past two decades was Leland Palmer on "Twin Peaks". As a man shocked by the sudden, violent death of his daughter, his hair turned white overnight, but Mr. Palmer held a lifetime of secrets. If you haven't seen "Twin Peaks" you can rent the entire series (two seasons) at netflix.com or buy it now at amazon.com.


Victor Garber:
Mr. Garber recently finished a stint on "Eli Stone" (which was a featured show in my previous blog - check it out). Eli Stone is also another show that has yet to get renewed for a second season, but I've got my fingers crossed. The man is has a career that I have long admired for its versatility. He is an accomplished stage actor and has appeared in a number of musicals on Broadway including "Sweeney Todd".

But my favorite role to date has been as Agent Jack Bristow on "Alias". The show (among others) is the brainchild of J.J. Abrams ("Lost") and helped launch Jennifer Garner's career. Victor Garber played a man that had spent so much of his life controlling his emotions, it was hard to tell what was going on inside this man - and yet, his voice and his actions would let you in to take a peek. I was riveted by this show for five seasons when it began in 2001. The story and characters were so complex. And yet, the show's writers never let down the viewing audience - the stories were always tight and tied together nicely. Sign-up for netflix.com to catch all five seasons or buy it now at amazon.com.

To view a musical number from "Eli Stone" featuring Victor Garber, please scroll to the bottom of my blog.

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