Julius Harris

Julius Harris didn't start acting until the age of forty, but made up for his late start by appearing in memorable supporting roles in film and television for over thirty years. One might not recognize his name, but his face is familiar to many.

From the cult classics, Black Caesar and Super Fly  to critical favorites, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and Looking for Mister Goodbar, Julius Harris made wonderful contributions to many well known films.

He's probably most known as Tee Hee Johnson, the one-armed villain in the James Bond film, Live and Let Die, or as Idi Amin in the television movie Victory at Entebbe, but his work is just as strong in everything he did. In fact, one need not go further than his first film, 1964's Nothing But A Man to witness the raw talent this wonderful actor possessed.

Julius Harris had a great career and it's always fun to view his work. He should be more well-known, but it just wasn't in the cards. At least his work is still around for people to admire, respect, and enjoy.

Theresa Saldana

After landing roles in smaller films like the Robert Zemeckis ensemble, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Brian De Palma's, Home Movies and Defiance with Jan-Michael Vincent, Theresa Saldana was finally cast in her first real A-list movie, playing Joe Pesci's wife in the Martin Scorsese boxing classic, Raging Bull.

That movie should have put her at the front of the line of up-and-coming actresses. Instead, she caught the eye of a crazed fan who seriously wounded her in a vicious attack outside her home. She survived, but her career suddenly took a different path.

After a long recovery process, Theresa Saldana returned to acting, but mainly in forgettable episodes of television shows like T.J. Hooker and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. She eventually bounced back and became a series regular on the popular show, The Commish, where she received a Golden Globe nomination. More importantly, though, she became an advocate for victims of stalking and brought awareness and help to victims of these crimes.

Theresa Saldana was charming in I Wanna Hold Your Hand and showed real star potential in Raging Bull, but her path took a different turn. And while we'll never know what could have been, the challenges that she overcame should be an inspiration to anyone who takes each day for granted. And a wake up call to what is really important in life.

ADDENDUM

Sadly, Theresa Saldana died of pneumonia on June 6, 2016 at the young age of 61. While her talents may have been overlooked by the mainstream crowd, her strength and courage stood firmly front and center.

Charles Rocket

I first noticed Charles Rocket about the same time most of the world did, when he was one of the main actors in the infamously bad 1980-1981 season of Saturday Night Live. It seemed like he was in almost every skit and even though he and the new cast had a tough act to follow (they were the first replacements of the original group) I always enjoyed the work of Charles Rocket.

After he was fired along with most of the cast, he disappeared for a few years only to re-invent himself as a pretty good actor.

From Dances with Wolves to Dumb and Dumber, and many television guest starring roles in between, Charles Rocket quietly delivered solid comic and dramatic performances in whatever medium he was working in.

He must have had demons, though, as he was found dead in 2005 of an apparent suicide. When he was alive, I always believed that someday he would land a good supporting role that would make the industry take notice, but now we'll never know.

Louisa Moritz

Having appeared in films like The Man From O.R.G.Y., The Happy Hooker Goes To Washington, The Last American Virgin and the David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone drive-in classic, Death Race 2000, it's not a surprise that Louisa Moritz is not well known by mainstream audiences.

The masses have seen her work, though, in films like Cuba, with Sean Connery, Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke, True Confessions with Robert Duvall, and her most famous film, the Oscar winning One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, where she played the hooker with the heart of gold.

Louisa Moritz's specialty was playing quirky blondes and she did it as well, if not better than her famous counterparts, Marilyn Monroe and Goldie Hawn. Unlike those famous blondes, though, the majority of the films of Louisa Moritz had laughably small budgets. And yet she still managed to make herself noticed by landing roles in a handful of high profile movies and television shows.

In 2004, she earned her license to practice law. She now spends her days as a bankruptcy lawyer, proving to the world that all of those ditzy blonde roles were not because of type-casting, but rather because of her talent. And that makes Louisa Moritz my pick for today for Not Very Famous...but should be.

ADDENDUM 

Louisa Moritz passed away on January 4, 2019 at the age of 82. She was a fun actor to watch and thankfully her work will live on for future generations to discover.

Stephen Tobolowsky

Stephen Tobolowsky is a character actor that has shown up in everything from Ground Hogs Day to Memento, and from Deadwood  to Glee. Most people know the face, but not the name. I'm the other way around, because I had the privilege to see him on stage back in 1976 and I've never forgotten him.

The play was called Story Theatre and it was performed in an old train station, just off of the University of Illinois campus where he was a student. I remember it being a very physical production and his masterful control of his face and body were as graceful and clever as a top-notch center-stage clown.

I'm never surprised when seeing Stephen Tobolowsky cast in a supporting role, but I'm disappointed that he's always the second banana, knowing completely well that he has the talent to carry a movie or television show. Heaven forbid that Hollywood mix up their formula. It's a formula that has worked, though, and given a good actor a steady pay check. After all, a little Stephen Tobolowsky is better than none at all.

Michael Jeter

Michael Jeter won an Emmy Award for his work as Herman Styles in Evening Shade, a Tony Award for the Broadway production of Grand Hotel and his film work should have gotten him some Oscar nominations. And yet his name is often forgotten when talking about great actors.

This is a real shame as his film work, both comic and dramatic, is as good as they get.

 Michael Jeter's work in The Green Mile is beautifully heartbreaking and why Oscar voters didn't acknowledge his performance in that film makes me question the whole nomination system. And he wasn't a one movie actor either. His work is memorable in everything he did no matter how small the role was.

From The Fisher King  to Air Bud, and a score of other wonderful roles, Michael Jeter became his characters. His performances made people laugh. They made people cry. And they always made people notice. He is no longer with us, and his talents have yet to be replaced, creating a hole in the world of entertainment which has yet to be filled.

Andrew Robinson

Andrew Robinson will go down in film history as the recipient of the classic Dirty Harry  line, "Do you feel lucky? Well, do you, punk?" as he's staring down the barrel of a .44 Magnum, wondering if there is one bullet or none left in the chamber.

No one will argue his brilliant performance in Dirty Harry as the Scorpio Killer, but what will create conversation, is why Andrew Robinson didn't become more well known after that break out role in a huge Hollywood film.

What's even more puzzling is that he is equally good in everything he's done since then, from the movie Hellraiser,  to his role as Garak in the Star Trek television spin off, Deep Space Nine, to the made-for-television biography, Liberace, where he played the title role.

My guess is that after Dirty Harry, narrow-minded Hollywood thought he could only play "crazies" and closed the door on this enormous talent. Andrew Robinson never had the career that he should of had, but he has managed to work as an actor in both film and television. He's pretty easy to spot, as he's the one you can't keep your eyes off of.

Jaime Andrews

Jaime Andrews has been seen all over television in a variety of national commercials that range from Doritos to Stolichnaya Vodka. And although her film work so far as been more independent based than mainstream, she has the talent and experience to make a name for herself in the entertainment world.

Her most mainstream television work was as a commentator in Tru TV Presents: World's Dumbest..., but her real talent shines in her various roles in low budget independent movies and cable television appearances.

Sometimes you have to dig pretty deep to find her work, but it is well worth the time and effort. The movies Wretched or It's a Haunted Happenin' are good films that showcase her versatility and wonderful comic talent, as well as her work with Penn and Teller on several episodes of Showtime's Bullshit.

Once you see her face you'll then be able to spot her time and time again in her commercial work. So when Jaime Andrews lands that new hit television show or shines in a mainstream movie. Just remember, you read about her first, right here in Not Very Famous...but should be.

Brad Davis

Brad Davis had his fifteen minutes of fame in 1979 with his powerful performance in Midnight Express. Based on that movie alone, he should have been a super star and just might have been had his use of drugs and alcohol not triggered his downfall.

His wild reputation within the industry hurt his chances at good roles which forced him to spend a good portion of his career doing low budget made-for-television movies which were often beneath his talents.

By the time he became clean and sober, he was HIV positive which he kept hidden to keep working in the 1980's AIDS unfriendly Hollywood. His wife, Susan Bluestein wrote a wonderful book that goes into the full details of his struggles and triumphs in After Midnight: The Life and Death of Brad Davis, which is an eye opening look at a promising talent gone astray.

The story of Brad Davis is a tragic one. His work in Midnight Express is brilliant and should have set him up for a life filled with Oscar nominations and accolades. And had he overcome his demons earlier in his career, he most likely would not be featured today as Not Very Famous...but should be.

Wilford Brimley

Most people today know Wilford Brimley as the television spokesperson for diabetes, but in the late 1970's and early 1980's he did some wonderful work in several pretty good films.

I first noticed him in the Jack Lemon / Jan Fonda thriller, The China Syndrome, where his character finally caves into guilt and spills the beans on an unsafe nuclear power plant. He did equally impressive work a few years later in John Carpenter's incredibly scary remake of The Thing and Ron Howard's heartwarming film about the fountain of youth, Cocoon.

I think what makes Wilford Brimley's work stand out is the fact that you never feel like you're watching an actor. He looks and sounds just like a neighbor or relative. And while you watch him on the screen, you not only believe him, but feel that you know him as well.

Thanks to television shows like Family Guy, which pokes fun at Wilford Brimley's diabetes commercials, younger audiences are not aware of the talent that this man has contributed to the entertainment world. If you're one of those that think he's just the butt of jokes on that animated show, then I urge you to discover his films.

ADDENDUM

Wilfred Brimley passed away on August 1, 2020. He was a wonderful actor. Thankfully, his performances will live on in the many movies he appeared in.

Barbara Crampton

Most of Barbara Crampton's work has been in soap operas and horror films, which is probably why the mainstream world hasn't jumped on her bandwagon. Not that she doesn't have fans. The low-budget horror genre has been very kind to her. The reason. She's good.

Now if the rest of Hollywood would just take notice, many of these big-budget fiasco's that they love to churn out would be much better off.

What makes Barbara Crampton's work stand out is not only her talent, but also her lack of inhibition as she appears to have no qualms about diving into a role using everything she's got, no matter how lame or quirky the script may be. She is as dedicated to the material as they come and brings an energy an life to her roles that is rarely matched by some Hollywood superstar.

Fans of the soap opera The Young and the Restless may remember her fun portrayal of Leanna Love and followers of low budget horror films, especially the films of Stuart Gordon, may remember her from The Re-Animator, From Beyond or Castle Freak. Check out the work of Barbara Crampton and you will remember her as well.

Craig Wasson

From 1978 to 1984, Craig Wasson had major roles in many high profile films and then like so many promising actors before him, drifted off the radar.

He caught the eye of many in 1978 when he appeared in two popular Vietnam movies, The Boys in Company C and Go Tell the Spartans, but it was his role as Danilo, the Yugoslavian immigrant in the wonderful coming of age film, Four Friends that film audiences started to take notice. This was followed by Ghost Story where Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, John Hauseman and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. where his co-stars.

Craig Wasson is probably most remembered for his work in Brian DePalma's homage to Alfred Hitchcock in the equally loved and hated Body Double, which in the late 1980's was on television every time one turned on the TV.

He's still a working actor, doing some amazing voice-over work in a variety of current audio books. His most recent is the new Stephen King thriller, 11/22/63. With his early success in movies, one can only wonder as to why he never became a well known star. Check out some of his work and see for yourself. Then you will understand why Craig Wasson is today's pick for Not Very Famous...but should be.

Stephen Stucker

Stephen Stucker is best remembered as the crazy Johnny  in the classic comedy Airplane, where he upstaged every well-known actor in the movie. He later went on to an equally funny performance in Airplane II: The Sequel. Before Airplane, he was just as funny as a courtroom stenographer in the underground comedy, Kentucky Fried Movie.

The two Airplane films brought Stephen Stucker some well deserved attention, but the great comic roles he should have had never came his way.

He was a brave man, for he was one of the first actors to publicly announce that he was HIV positive, which in the 1980's was a bold move. I'm sure that played a part in his lack of better roles. This act alone gives me great respect and admiration for Stephen Stucker. Hollywood, of all places should be ashamed.

Steven Stucker died in 1986 from complications of AIDS at the young age of 38. One can only wonder what kind of laughter he would have brought to the entertainment world as a guest host on Saturday Night Live, as foil to Jim Carrey or Jerry Seinfeld, or appearing on a variety of television shows and movies that could have benefited from his presence.