It’s That Guy: A Tribute to Male Celebrities Who Everyone Recognizes but No One Remembers Their Name (December 2012)

This issue is dedicated to Kurt Fuller, James Frain, and Harry Groener.


That Guy: Kurt Fuller

Where He’s Been:  Alias, Better with You, Big Day, Boston Legal, Capitol News, Carnivàle, Desperate Housewives, Dharma & Greg, Glee, The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy, Laurie Hill, Monk, Parenthood, Psych, Quantum Leap, Supernatural, That's My Bush!, The Tick, Timecop, Wildside

Most Memorable Role: Although he may have been more popular as Zachariah on Supernatural, I ultimately went with Woody from Psych because that is the first character who comes to mind when I think of Kurt Fuller. One of my favorite scenes was in the Hangover-style episode, Last Night Gus (Season 6, Episode 2). After Shawn explains that the two men at the bar are gay, Woody leans in with a knowing look and tells them "Just so you know...me and this guy..." (gesturing to Lassiter) "...we spooned last night".

Whether he’s playing a morally ambiguous angel on Supernatural or a morally questionable coroner on Psych, Kurt Fuller is incredibly entertaining. A seasoned actor from the mid-eighties, Kurt has starred and guest starred in over 150 movies/television shows.



That Guy: James Frain

Where He's Been: 24, The Buccaneers, Burn Notice, Californication, The Cape, The Closer, FlashForward, Fringe, Grey's Anatomy, Grimm, In Plain Sight, Invasion, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Leverage, Lie to Me, Medium, The Mentalist, Numb3rs, Tales from the Crypt, True Blood, The Tudors

Most Memorable Role: Although James first captured my attention as Forney Hull in Where the Heart Is, he was most memorable as Franklin Mott, the adorably child-like, psychotic, and often melodramatic, vampire in True Blood. While I loved almost every second of watching him, with the notable exception of his untimely demise, my absolute favorite scene was in Trouble (Season 3, Episode 5), after Tara had tried to escape.

*Franklin screams*
Franklin: Why?! Tara, why?!
Tara: I...I was afraid.
Franklin: Of me-e-e?! You were afraid of me? That's insane!
Tara: But you tied me up!
Franklin: To keep you safe. Oh my god, what other reason could there be?
*Franklin bursts into tears*
Franklin: You have no idea how much you've hurt me.
Franklin: *sobbing* I feel like I've been staked!



That Guy: Harry Groener

Where He's Been: Bones, Breaking Bad, Bones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, Dear John, Dr. Vegas, The Drew Carey Show, How I Met Your Mother, Las Vegas, Less Than Perfect, Judging Amy, Just Shoot Me, Mad About You, Medium, Mercy Point, Monk, The Middle, Once Upon a Time, Quantum Leap, Sleepwalkers, Star Trek: Enterprise, Supernatural, The West Wing

Most Memorable Role: Mayor Richard Wilkins from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The Mayor was easily one of the most captivating villains in the series, likely because of his seemingly contradictory behavior. Wilkins was polite, cheerful, and even wholesome (in his own way). The Mayor was a proponent of good hygiene and he abhorred profanity. I found it incredibly fitting that his last words were “Well, gosh.”

In addition to his numerous television and movie roles, Harry Groener is also a veteran of the stage. His works include Cats, Crazy for You, and Oklahoma!, each of which earned him a Tony nomination.



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