Friday, December 21, 2012

Margaret Avery

Unlike many of her talented peers, Margaret Avery survived the fallout of the Blaxploitation era and has continued to do quality work in movies and television ever since. Though not well known to the general public, she is one of the more talented actresses working today and deserves the recognition and limelight that she most likely will never get.

This seems to happen a lot to really talented people, but her body of work speaks for itself. From young and sexy in Cool Breeze to Martin Lawrence's mother in Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins, Margaret Avery seems to be the piece that makes every movie complete.


And this couldn't be more true than in her Oscar nominated role as Shug Avery, the troubled Blues singer in The Color Purple. It's probably her most memorable role and celluloid proof that she is underused and over looked. And although she stole the focus in other roles like Which Way is Up and the made-for-television movie, The Lathe of Heaven, Margaret Avery always seems to be better than the material she is given.

Without knowing her, one can only speculate as to why better opportunities didn't follow after The Color Purple, but my guess is that she just got lost among the sea of talent that never makes it into the mainstream blockbusters. And it's your loss, Hollywood.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

William Hickey

William Hickey was an overlooked, unappreciated and an absolutely wonderful character actor that never seemed to get the praise and glory that he so well deserved.

Late in his career he was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the aging crime boss, Don Corrado Prizzi, in the gangster comedy Prizzi's Honor, but that didn't seem to help the movie going public remember his name, as he was known mostly as Oh, that guy, he's good.


With roles that were often smaller than the supporting ones, William Hickey managed to upstage the stars in just about everything he did with his realistic and often creepy portrayals. These roles ranged from a pervert who stole woman's purses in The Boston Strangler  to Carlton Blanchard, the old guy with all the strange questions on Wings, as well as numerous drunks, bums and old quirky characters.

And while the public rarely knew his name, Hollywood did, as he was more famous as a respected acting teacher then he was as an actor. But whether he was in front of a classroom or a camera, William Hickey was always noticed, which makes him my pick of the day for Not Very Famous...but should be.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Nat Faxon

Nat Faxon has had many breaks in Hollywood, including winning an Oscar for adapting the screenplay for The Descendents. However, his big opportunity to make him a household name has yet to happen and may never will.

That's because Nat Faxon is a member of an elite group known as working actors. And although name recognition may someday land him meatier roles, it's more likely that he'll continue working under the radar with quality work in television, movies and commercials for a long, long time.


He's been in quite a few films, like Beerfest, Walk Hard and Bad Teacher, but the roles on his film resume are very small and have gone unnoticed by the public eye.  It's his commercial work that has gotten him the most recognition with featured parts in spots for State Farm, Blockbuster and Holiday Inn, just to name a few. This guy seems to work all of the time as he always seems to be spotted in one commercial after another.

For now, Nat Faxon seems to have found his medium in television. He was a regular on the short-lived and under-appreciated series Grosse Point and got some recognition as Ben on another short-lived sitcom, Ben and Kate. His charm is that he doesn't look like an actor. In fact, he looks and acts just like one of the guys, which is why Nat Faxon will always work and will most likely always be Not Very Famous.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Vicki Frederick

Vicki Frederick's claim to fame is that she is memorable in a lot of forgettable movies. This is unfortunate because this one time Broadway performer is not only attractive, but can sing, dance and act as well.

Her first non-stage work was on television with guest starring roles in Happy Days, Mork and Mindy and Laverne and Shirley. In the early to mid-eighties she was on the path to better roles when she did three back-to-back movies that showcased all of her assets.


Unfortunately, those three projects, the women's wrestling film, All the Marbles, the break dance movie, Body Rock and the film version of A Chorus Line, were either box office or critical flops, which left the talents of Vicki Frederick nowhere to go but to lower budget movies like Chopper Chicks in Zombietown with a then unknown actor named Billy Bob Thornton. But there was no Sling Blade to bring her talents to the attention of the masses and she soon disappeared from the business.

Check out her wonderful dancing and singing as Sheila in A Chorus Line and then watch her perform her own stunts in All the Marbles and you will see for yourself why Vicki Frederick is Not Very Famous...but should be. Oh, and Ms. Frederick, if you happen to stumble on to this, let us know where you've been. We miss you.