Bill Buell

Bill Buell, born September 21, 1952, is one of those actors you’ve seen a hundred times, even if you never quite knew his name. He’s got this knack for popping up in movies and TV shows and just nailing the part, whether he’s playing a cranky neighbor, some eccentric bureaucrat, or the guy who awkwardly interrupts a tense moment. His filmography is, honestly, all over the place in the best possible way. In "God’s Pocket," he fits right into the gritty, blue-collar vibe, while in "Across the Universe," he’s just as at home in the wild swirl of Beatles-inspired chaos. You’ll also catch him in "Spy Game" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse." Both totally different moods, but somehow, Bill slips in without breaking a sweat. Remember "The Love Letter"? He’s there, too. And "Requiem for a Dream"—yeah, he pops up in that fever dream of a movie. "Quiz Show" and "Kinsey" are on his resume, too, showing the guy’s got range. TV? Oh, he’s been everywhere. "Elementary," "Blue Bloods," "The Bronx Is Burning," "John Adams," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Law & Order," and "Boardwalk Empire"—the man’s practically a living Easter egg for sharp-eyed viewers. He’s not flashy, but that’s kind of the point. Bill Buell’s the character actor who makes a scene feel real, the sort of actor who quietly glues a story together while the leads chew the scenery. Basically, if you see him in the credits, you know there’s at least one scene worth watching.