KEEP IT SECRET: Dick was one of the most underrated comedies in recent memory, thanks in part to Hedaya, here with Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams. |
If there’s an extra hop in our step this week, it’s because we’re talking about Dan Hedaya, our top-tier, number-one, ultimate favorite character actor of all.Younger readers know our man Dan from Clueless and maybe The Addams Family. Older readers will recall his recurring role on Cheers. More still might remember him in Blood Simple, Mullholland Dr., or The Usual Suspects. And then there are those who know him best for his role in Commando, and we’ll raise a pint with those readers anytime.
Hedaya’s been typecast throughout his career as the dumpy Italian wiseguy. But get this: he’s not even Italian. Actually, Hedaya is Lebanese. He was born in Brooklyn, though, and he’s got the accent to prove it. And he’s going to do that accent, regardless of what part he’s been cast in. And we love him for it. Observe:
1. Richard M. Nixon
Dick (1999)
He plays Nixon the way Larry David played George Steinbrenner: equal parts bumbling fool and vulgar hot-head. All films about Nixon should call him first. This is a movie that’s gone under-appreciated ― it’s definitely worth watching if you haven’t seen it.
2. Mel Horowitz
Clueless (1995)
He’s Alicia Silverstone’s grouchy father and stepfather to Paul Rudd. And he’s proud that she talks her way into better grades.
3. Arius (El Presidente)
Commando (1985)
He plays the deposed leader of an unnamed South American country, who, with the assistance of a chain-mail-clad Australian, kidnaps Col. John Matrix’s daughter to force Matrix into assassinating the leader of his former country. What he doesn’t figure on is Matrix singlehandedly killing, like, 5,000 soldiers. Hedaya gives the South American accent his all, but, let’s get real, fails miserably. They couldn’t get a Latino actor to play this part?
4. Julian Marty
Blood Simple (1984)
As Abby’s husband, he hires Visser to spy on — then kill — her and Ray. He survives a couple of murder attempts, and in the end of the film, when Abby kills Visser, she thinks she’s killing him.
5. Nick Tortelli
Cheers (1984-1993)
He’s Carla’s asshole ex-husband, who briefly had his own spinoff, The Tortellis. Briefly, because the show didn’t fly in part due to its unflattering portrayal of Italian-Americans.
6. Tully Alford
The Addams Family (1993)
As the Addams’ lawyer, he’s the one trying to scheme to get their riches. Was it ever established how exactly the Addams Family was so rich to begin with? What could they have been doing for work?
7. John Riley
A Civil Action (1998)
He’s the guy who owns the industrial plant that’s dumping the toxic waste. What we remember most from this role was when he says “indigent” instead of “indigenous” during his testimony.
8. Vincenzo Castigliane
Mullholland Drive (2001)
You can be forgiven for not realizing Hedaya was in David Lynch’s surreal film; you were probably too busy trying to figure out what was going on. We’re not really sure what his character’s purpose was in the whole scheme of things, but then, that could be said about a lot of stuff in this movie. (Actually, we’ve got a theory about it, but this is hardly the time or place.)
9. Sgt. Jeff Rabin
The Usual Suspects (1995)
He plays one of the cops that the crew runs through while pulling off their big heist. He is not the guy who is interrogating Verbal Kint; that’s Chazz Palmintieri.
10. Gabriel
A Life Less Ordinary (1997)
He plays an angel, but not one of the ones responsible for bringing Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz together.
