Actors You Recognize, But Don't Know Their Name: Carol Kane

Previously I thought that most folks would know this great actress’ name, but some recent conversations with younger folks told me I was wrong (damn millennials!). From Kane’s first film role in Mike Nichols’ CARNAL KNOWLEDGE to other parts in such crucial ‘70s movies as THE LAST DETAIL, HESTER STREET (for which she got an Oscar nomination), DOG DAY AFTERNOON, ANNIE HALL, and even THE MUPPET MOVIE, she was a very memorable presence.

Since then she’s been a reliably wacky persona in movies such as SCROOGED, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, and ISHTAR as well as countless other appearances (this isn’t true - you can indeed count them). 

Her hilarious role on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt aside, there are way too many TV turns to mention here, but her role as Simka, the wife of foreign mechanic Latka (Andy Kaufman) on the classic sitcom Taxi has to be her crowning achievement as she won two Emmys for it - this is notable as it’s two more Emmys than Kaufman ever won.

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Actors You Recognize, But Don't Know Their Names: William Fichtner

Now, I know you recognize William Fichtner. He was in the films HEAT, ARMAGEDDON, CONTACT, GO, CRASH, BLADES OF GLORY, and, holy shit, THE DARK KNIGHT alongside a bunch of other movies that didn’t make as much money. 

TV-wise, he started out in a soap (unsurprisingly), As the World Turns, in the ‘80s, then showed up in a crazy range of shows from Baywatch to Grace Under Fire to The West Wing to Invasion to Prison Break to Crossing Lines to Mom to Veep and on and on. Get it? The man is mad ver-sat-ile.

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Actors You Recognize, But Don't Know Their Names: Giancarlo Esposito

Giancarlo Esposito may be best known for his role as Gus Fring on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, but he first came under my radar as Buggin’ Out in the 1989 Spike Lee classic DO THE RIGHT THING (he also was in three other Spike Lee joints). He also portrayed the similarly named John Alijah “Bugs” Raplin in BOB ROBERTS, and appeared in TRADING PLACES, KING OF NEW YORK, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, and dozens of other films. 

Esposito’s television work is much more extensive with turns on Sesame Street, Miami Vice, Homicide, Law & Order, CSI, Community, and The Mandalorian among, yep, dozens of other shows. He’s been nominated twice for Emmys (for Gus Fring) but lost so here’s hoping that them there Academies of Television Arts & Sciences will get their shit together next time.

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