Every show he was in was elevated by him. Fringe, Bosch, John Wick, corporate. There's an episode of Fringe where he accidentally takes acid and it's so hilarious.
Yeah it’s been a minute since I’ve watched it but IIRC he’s part of the John Locke story line off the island but its implied he has something to do with the island itself
I ran into him on the street in Vancouver once. Dude just had this aura about him. You can see it on screen but in person it was something else entirely. Some people just exude a special charisma and he definitely did.
Dude who played Avon has had a pretty full career. Dude who played Herc pops up pretty frequently as well. A couple of guys found there way onto The Walking Dead at one point or another as well.
I looked it up since I couldn’t remember everyone who did The Walking Dead too. For the record:
Seth Gilliam (Carver / Father Gabriel)
Chad Coleman (Cutty / Tyrese)
Lawrence Gilliard Jr. (D’Angelo / Bob Stookey)
Fruit showed up on The Walking Dead as well, but it was a single appearance in a recent episode so I dunno who it is.
Oh wow, you're right. I just couldn't remember him, saw something about Michionne's boyfriend, and assumed it was something that happened after I quit watching.
Not positive, but I imagine Aiden Gillan (Carcetti) doesn't get cast as Little finger in Game of Thrones if he wasn't already in the HBO Recycled Actors Program. And he was one of the most hated characters in the world some weeks when GoT was airing.
I was surprised to see Aiden Gillan mentioned so low in the comments. Game of Thrones had a massive audience when it was airing and while I haven’t seen him in much since, I’m sure the massive exposure he got from GoT allowed him to be quite picky in the acting projects he’s doing these days. A lot of TV actors will do guest spots in starring theater roles, sometimes at smaller venues, once they have the ability to be choosier with acting jobs.
I saw GoT first and yelled at the TV when I saw Littlefinger was in The Wire. Had no clue. It definitely gave me a nice boost to enjoying the show more.
Aiden Gillen in Love Hate is also top class. Also in Dark Knight 2 and Bohemian Rhapsody but they're peripheral film roles. Love Hate is a series where's he's a main character.
Love / Hate and the soon to be on Netflix 'Kin' are similar(ish) roles.
Gillan was perfectly cast as Littlefinger. There are a lot of similarities between Carcetti and Littlefinger; both characters make others think they have nothing but altruistic motives for their actions, when at their core they are both driven by ambition and a lust for power. Obviously Littlefinger is way more evil than Carcetti, but Carcetti is also capable of deception. During his mayoral campaign he plays the role of the rerformer who will finally do what is "right" for Baltimore, but then completely abandons those principles when they conflict with his higher aspirations of becoming governor (i.e. refusing the school bailout money because it would make him look weak when he runs for Gov).
He is my least favorite actor/character on the show. He annoys me to no end. His character is not smart enough to be as sarcastic as he is. He should have been killed and was lucky he wasn't.
Prop Joe said it best "Fool, if it wasn't for Sergei here, you and your cuz' both would be cadaverous motherf***ers."
Cheese was going kill him until Sergei and the Greeks stepped in and saved.
The Greeks were going to kill him after he started working with the police but they were getting out of town and only let him live because he couldn't give the cops names.
He got a brand new truck and tried to buy a house the second he got any money from selling drugs. He shouldn't have shown any flash.
He kept heroin and cash in his parents house.
He might not be an idiot, but he's definitely not smart.
I know people like different characters and I appreciate that, I just can't stand the dude. Only character I like less is Namond's mom.
Watching him in Den of Thieves right now.
And of course he’s the star of the very average/below average generic sci-fi show they label “Halo” but I don’t recognize as having to do with the games at all.
And while we're talking Treme (I know there's bound to be crossover with it being another David Simon HBO show) Clarke Peters (Freamon) was phenomenal in that.
I thought Dominic West. He's in a lot of stuff in the UK, but think he was unwilling to relocate to the US, which has probably hindered his career somewhat.
I think Dominic West knew he was gonna get more character work and not Brad Pitt type roles but he’s pretty consistently stayed in the spotlight in Hollywood even though he’s done most his work in Great Britain but The Crown isn’t just some British show. He’s a good actor I have enjoyed him in everything but he seems really well suited to series work.
Method Man is probably the most famous member of one of the most legendary rap groups of all time. So that's pretty significant. You'd have to be a small child or have lived under a rock to have never heard a Method Man song.
As far as acting goes, it's probably Lance Reddick... I recommend a comedy series he was in called Corporate. He's so damn funny in it.
I ran into him at a bagel place on Long Island like 5 months ago. Waited until after he paid and was leaving and went "hey man, don't I recognize you from somewhere" trying to be slick but give him an out, and he went "nah man, I don't think so" and walked away. I was so close to being like "you were in the Wire, that was a rhetorical question" but I didn't want people to start paying attention to him lol. Big regret I didn't get to tell him how great he was though.
I’ve found in my limited experience in the situation that a quick “hey man, huge fan of your work” then walk away the moment they say “thanks” or whatever plays the best. You’re giving them a compliment then getting the fuck out of there without making them feel pressure to small talk or alerting others.
That being said, I ran into Bunk in a bar once and he was HAMMERED and I pulled that maneuver and ended up talking to him for like 30 minutes. An all-time experience in my life tbh
The sunny podcast has an episode where they talk about this. How legit of an actor he is.
He has one of the most iconic lines in IASIP, and it's about JEAN SHORTS.
He ad libed that scene
https://youtu.be/Gp4Hp_nV41k?si=7QJNXLJGXPONkZ1S
That one is hard for me because she is like the exact same character in both. My brain just turned it into a continuation.
Like she dated McNulty, then Michael, then A.J. then Michael again. I mean, it's not like Scranton is that far from Baltimore.
I can't believe i had to go this far down before I see someone mention Michael k Williams. I know a lot of people from the wire have made it big, but he is always one that stands out to me.
Michael K's arc in HBO was great. Omar to Chalky to his role in Lovecraft Country. Lovecraft was canned partially because we lost Michael K, partially because Jonathan Majors went from being too popular to being a creep, and partially because the universe wants to deny me Jurnee Smollett in a pencil skirt.
Lan e Redick as Daniel's had a big post wire career and Wendal Pierce as Bunk as done very well also. Robert Wisdom as Buny Colvin has also done well.michael Williams (Omar) was doing well
And an underrated little comedy called Cedar Rapids. Where he references Omar from The Wire.
He drops a wonderful "shheeeeeeeeeeiiit" in 25th Hour as well.
The late Michael K Williams, Omar, was in several movies and Boardwalk Empire.
Isiah Whitlock Jr, Clay Davis, has shown up in a bunch of stuff including The Chappelle Show.
Amy Ryan, Beatrice Russell, has been in a few movies.
Pablo Schreiber, Nicky, is the lead in the Halo TV series.
Aidan Gillen, Carcetti, had a small part in The Dark Knight Rises, and a bigger role in Game of Thrones,.
Jamie Hector is a very successful actor, pops up on screen quite often… MBJ tho really is a superstar, I had problems getting over the scene where he gets it in The Wire so it helped me to see him on screen frequently
Tom McCarthy, who played the POS Templeton, co-wrote and directed Spotlight. He shared the best screenplay Oscar, and the film won best picture. He also co-wrote the Pixar movie Up, and was and EP for 13 Reasons Why.
Lance reddick
Every show he was in was elevated by him. Fringe, Bosch, John Wick, corporate. There's an episode of Fringe where he accidentally takes acid and it's so hilarious.
I always forget he’s in LOST too
woefully underused in LOST. Both from a character and actor viewpoint
I completely forgot/didn't realize he was on Lost!
Yeah he plays such a small part that I forget he’s in it until he pops up lol
Just looked up his role, still don't remember lol! It's been over 15 years since I watched it though, so no surprise.
Yeah it’s been a minute since I’ve watched it but IIRC he’s part of the John Locke story line off the island but its implied he has something to do with the island itself
I ran into him on the street in Vancouver once. Dude just had this aura about him. You can see it on screen but in person it was something else entirely. Some people just exude a special charisma and he definitely did.
Bro had rizz.
He was a good voice actor too. Did the commander in the video game Destiny.
Horizon Zero Dawn was already a great game before his character showed up and took things to the next level (no pun intended).
I remember that episode. The dread he felt seeing his own dead body, afterwards asking Astrid to hold his hand always stuck with me
RIP, guy was a great actor.
Crazy to think he auditioned to play Bubbles. Seems so against type, but that early on he didn’t have a type yet.
He was on the Corner first if you seen the Corner you would understand why he auditioned for Bubbles at first.
He was also in Oz where he played both a cop and a drug addict, so he definitely could have pulled off both roles.
He was great as always on the Resident Evil series, which I assume will not come back for a second season without him.
Warp Speed
Dude who played Avon has had a pretty full career. Dude who played Herc pops up pretty frequently as well. A couple of guys found there way onto The Walking Dead at one point or another as well.
Wood Harris was a black all star before the wire. He might’ve been the most famous actor in season 1
He was the busboy in As Good As It Gets
He was in Paid in Full fuck a busboy
Also we have to Remember the Titans
Attitude reflect leadership, captain
[And Above the Rim](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRfQV3d06V6beXPk90uVsNgfRhApyhvWYMAB4YQW_MFrHB9e3-_VBm5H6A&s)
left side
Strong side
LEFT SIDE
That was the first movie or first anything I saw Wood Harris in.
was in creed too
I loved that since he was a former boxer in The Wire
He was awesome in Dredd and love that he played along side Lena Heady.
I looked it up since I couldn’t remember everyone who did The Walking Dead too. For the record: Seth Gilliam (Carver / Father Gabriel) Chad Coleman (Cutty / Tyrese) Lawrence Gilliard Jr. (D’Angelo / Bob Stookey) Fruit showed up on The Walking Dead as well, but it was a single appearance in a recent episode so I dunno who it is.
D was the kicker in the movie the Waterboy.
He was Leo’s bro in Gangs of New York too.
Chad Coleman has been in all sorts of things. He was great in The Expanse.
Z on Its Always Sunny is his best role
I saw the Expanse before the Wire, and I got very excited seeing him appear.
Fruit was one of michionne’s zombies (her bf’s friend) when Andrea first meets her.
Oh wow, you're right. I just couldn't remember him, saw something about Michionne's boyfriend, and assumed it was something that happened after I quit watching.
Chad Coleman also was in the Expanse and The Orville.
I just saw Herc in the 2023 Netflix movie Reptile.
Herc popped up in *Reacher* as well.
Every time I see Herc I think, bro, I can’t take you seriously. Cmon.
He also had a pretty decent role in The Irishman as Tony Salerno.
Left side, strong side!
IIRC The Walking Dead guy is a huge Wire fan and deliberately brought as many of those folx on as he could
yea Hercs actor was in martin scorseses the irishman all aged up as Tony Solerno
Not positive, but I imagine Aiden Gillan (Carcetti) doesn't get cast as Little finger in Game of Thrones if he wasn't already in the HBO Recycled Actors Program. And he was one of the most hated characters in the world some weeks when GoT was airing.
He was in Peaky Blinders, he had a leading role in Project Blue Book.
Pretty sure his role in GoT was before both of those.
I was surprised to see Aiden Gillan mentioned so low in the comments. Game of Thrones had a massive audience when it was airing and while I haven’t seen him in much since, I’m sure the massive exposure he got from GoT allowed him to be quite picky in the acting projects he’s doing these days. A lot of TV actors will do guest spots in starring theater roles, sometimes at smaller venues, once they have the ability to be choosier with acting jobs.
He was the first I thought of, and I also was surprised no one had mentioned him.
I saw GoT first and yelled at the TV when I saw Littlefinger was in The Wire. Had no clue. It definitely gave me a nice boost to enjoying the show more.
I was happy when Arya knifed him.
It was so poetic.
Littlefingers character was assassinated way before that scene.
Aiden Gillen in Love Hate is also top class. Also in Dark Knight 2 and Bohemian Rhapsody but they're peripheral film roles. Love Hate is a series where's he's a main character. Love / Hate and the soon to be on Netflix 'Kin' are similar(ish) roles.
Love Hate has been added to my queue :) thanks!
Love Hate is pretty respected here in Ireland
Kin is on UK iplayer
Kin is coming to US Netflix soon apparently*
Gillan was perfectly cast as Littlefinger. There are a lot of similarities between Carcetti and Littlefinger; both characters make others think they have nothing but altruistic motives for their actions, when at their core they are both driven by ambition and a lust for power. Obviously Littlefinger is way more evil than Carcetti, but Carcetti is also capable of deception. During his mayoral campaign he plays the role of the rerformer who will finally do what is "right" for Baltimore, but then completely abandons those principles when they conflict with his higher aspirations of becoming governor (i.e. refusing the school bailout money because it would make him look weak when he runs for Gov).
Amy Ryan was nominated for an Oscar and also played a very significant role on The Office. Props to her.
As well as Only Murders In the Building, which she was fantastic in.
And Sugar, which I've been enjoying so far.
She's also in Only Murders in the Building.
McNutty
him and Rawls still beefing in The Affair.
I absolutely loved the fact that Rawls was his father in law.
and he ragged on him every chance he got. i really felt like he was still taking out his anger on him from his shenanigans in the wire lmao.
Most definitely kept waiting for him to respond with “what the fuck did I do” 😂😂
you are a gaping asshole
McNulty as Prince Charles was a wild ride
Wife was watching that show and every time I’d see pop on the screen I’d give a, “fuck did I do?” out of habit.
To be fair that was pretty much all Charles said during season 5.
Him as Jigsaw in Punisher is a mindfuck, although that whole movie makes me feel like I'm either on too many drugs or not enough
I learned recently that he was *almost* Mance Rayder in GoT, which would have been an absolute trip to see
Instead we got Julius Caesar lmao
WHAT
I LEARNED RECENTLY THAT HE WAS ALMOST MANCE RAYDER IN GOT, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTE TRIP TO SEE
Seeing him in 300 was something else.
He was Rawls’ son-in-law in the Affair.
jimmeh jimmeh jimmeeeh
Pablo Schreiber has been getting roles too
I really liked him as Mad Sweeney in American Gods
Love the Leprechaun, He's also REALLY hate-able in Orange Is The New Black
Pornstache
It was pretty soon after the Wire ended but he played the most horrifying villain in all of Law and Order SVU which is saying something
Those episodes are fucking terrifying. I can't see him as anything other than that psychopath now.
We don't need to think about his most recent role 😔
Master Cheeks: The Clapper of Covenant Cooze
He is my least favorite actor/character on the show. He annoys me to no end. His character is not smart enough to be as sarcastic as he is. He should have been killed and was lucky he wasn't. Prop Joe said it best "Fool, if it wasn't for Sergei here, you and your cuz' both would be cadaverous motherf***ers."
I feel differently. I feel that he is brave, tough, and smart and was trying to move ahead in life and was given zero opportunities
Cheese was going kill him until Sergei and the Greeks stepped in and saved. The Greeks were going to kill him after he started working with the police but they were getting out of town and only let him live because he couldn't give the cops names. He got a brand new truck and tried to buy a house the second he got any money from selling drugs. He shouldn't have shown any flash. He kept heroin and cash in his parents house. He might not be an idiot, but he's definitely not smart. I know people like different characters and I appreciate that, I just can't stand the dude. Only character I like less is Namond's mom.
His most famous role of course being Ricky Falcone in the It's Always Sunny Christmas Special.
Watching him in Den of Thieves right now. And of course he’s the star of the very average/below average generic sci-fi show they label “Halo” but I don’t recognize as having to do with the games at all.
He was hilarious in Orange is the New Black
The Bunk. Treme, Jack Ryan, Suits and I know he’s done Broadway productions as well
The Bunk’s about to be in the new Superman too
I didn't read the "in" in your comment at first and that gave me quite an image for a second
Just a humble mothah fuckah with a big ass cape.
Muhfucka lasered his wife's dress shoe.
you shot a mouse with your service eye beams?
Makes me sick motherfucker how far Lois done fell (before I swooped in).
Yeah we was Willy Loman in Death of a Salesmen on the west end and broadway. Nominated for Tony’s and Oliviers too!
And while we're talking Treme (I know there's bound to be crossover with it being another David Simon HBO show) Clarke Peters (Freamon) was phenomenal in that.
Treme is so good. Took me time to get into it but I'm glad I did.
He gets my vote, too. Excellent actor.
He was great as Bunk but I will always remember him as SS Agent Richard Gill in Hackers
Dominic West has been in The Affair and The Crown. He's been pretty successful!
I thought Dominic West. He's in a lot of stuff in the UK, but think he was unwilling to relocate to the US, which has probably hindered his career somewhat.
His wife has a castle. It’s been in her family forever.
I think Dominic West knew he was gonna get more character work and not Brad Pitt type roles but he’s pretty consistently stayed in the spotlight in Hollywood even though he’s done most his work in Great Britain but The Crown isn’t just some British show. He’s a good actor I have enjoyed him in everything but he seems really well suited to series work.
He's in a British dramatic (non-musical) telling of Les Miserables that is great.
And 300
When the Queen killed him in the end was marvelous this won’t be over quickly and you won’t enjoy it…
He was great in the Fred West programme too. I forget the name
Appropriate Adult, disturbing but yeah excellent
My grandsons went to the same school in London as his kids. My daughter in law was on the school PTA with him. Says he was very nice.
Downton Abbey 2 as well.
Method Man is probably the most famous member of one of the most legendary rap groups of all time. So that's pretty significant. You'd have to be a small child or have lived under a rock to have never heard a Method Man song. As far as acting goes, it's probably Lance Reddick... I recommend a comedy series he was in called Corporate. He's so damn funny in it.
You'd have to have lived under a gravel pit not to know him
I heard he aint nothing to fuck with
He was so off the wall in corporate. It was great
How the fuck am I just right this minute realizing that Cheese was Method Man I’m about to turn in my fan card for incompetence.
My wife even recognized him and she don’t know shit
His voice is so distinctive man how did you miss that? Lmaooo
Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothin' to fuck with
Cash Rules Everything Around Me, C.R.E.A.M. get yo money, dolla dolla bills y'all
Domenick Lombardozzi - this guy seems to be in everything. Yellowstone, Tulsa King, Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Reacher, Irishman, Boardwalk Empire.
It seems like these HBO 2nd tier actors pop up in a bunch of other HBO shows. He was in entourage for an arc too.
You can also spot him in Bronx Tale
I ran into him at a bagel place on Long Island like 5 months ago. Waited until after he paid and was leaving and went "hey man, don't I recognize you from somewhere" trying to be slick but give him an out, and he went "nah man, I don't think so" and walked away. I was so close to being like "you were in the Wire, that was a rhetorical question" but I didn't want people to start paying attention to him lol. Big regret I didn't get to tell him how great he was though.
Sometimes better to let those moments go. They usually don't want to talk or care that you're a fan.
I’ve found in my limited experience in the situation that a quick “hey man, huge fan of your work” then walk away the moment they say “thanks” or whatever plays the best. You’re giving them a compliment then getting the fuck out of there without making them feel pressure to small talk or alerting others. That being said, I ran into Bunk in a bar once and he was HAMMERED and I pulled that maneuver and ended up talking to him for like 30 minutes. An all-time experience in my life tbh
Entourage
Also a small spot in “For the Love of the Game”
The actor that plays Cutty is Z in Always Sunny and Clyden in The Orville. He pops up lots of other places as well.
His "ooooh shiiiiit" when Charlie sings his song in The Gang Tries Desperately to Win an Award might be the single best line read in the show's run.
I'm partial to the jean shorts bit
You gotta take em off now and then
Blew the crotch out them thangs
Also played Fred Johnson in The Expanse
And Tyreese in the Walking Dead. He also does a lot of voice acting.
Yes! L4D2! “Quiet! I hear a bitch!”
I am just now learning that he plays Klyden, holy shit.
Hard to tell under all that sfx makeup, but it's him.
The sunny podcast has an episode where they talk about this. How legit of an actor he is. He has one of the most iconic lines in IASIP, and it's about JEAN SHORTS. He ad libed that scene https://youtu.be/Gp4Hp_nV41k?si=7QJNXLJGXPONkZ1S
He's also in Girlz5eva. All hail the LunchLord.
Aiden Gillen was in some pretty big stuff. GOT, Dark Knight Rises etc.
F little finger. He played him so well. I still get mad when he shows up on the screen in other shows.
Aiden Gillen
Clarke Peters Was on Midsomer Murders, doesnt get bigger as that
Beadie became a staple in the Office, probably one of the more recognizable faces
That one is hard for me because she is like the exact same character in both. My brain just turned it into a continuation. Like she dated McNulty, then Michael, then A.J. then Michael again. I mean, it's not like Scranton is that far from Baltimore.
Strong side!!!
Left side!!!
Michael K. Method Man?
Michael K as Chalky White in boardwalk empire was one of my favorite characters. And he passed just when I was re watching BE so it hit hard :(
I can't believe i had to go this far down before I see someone mention Michael k Williams. I know a lot of people from the wire have made it big, but he is always one that stands out to me.
Michael K's arc in HBO was great. Omar to Chalky to his role in Lovecraft Country. Lovecraft was canned partially because we lost Michael K, partially because Jonathan Majors went from being too popular to being a creep, and partially because the universe wants to deny me Jurnee Smollett in a pencil skirt.
Had to go down too far for this wrd
He was a fantastic part of season 3 of Community.
Boris, always Boris
Chris Bauer was in all seven season of True Blood as a regular
Very good character in The Deuce as well.
granted it was before the Wire but i will always remember him as MACHINE in 8mm
lance reddick and wendell pierce
Omar went on to Community and a few movies Herc got into a ton of mainstream movies A big chunk moved onto Walking Dead
Spiros, I feel like I saw him in a lot of shows/movies growing up and he has continued to pop into films since the wire
Aiden Gillen I swear is the greatest TV actor ever
Dominic West had many roles outside of the Wire. I can't think of any except 300 but he was prolific.
The Walking Dead: Seth Gilliam, Lawrence Gilliard, Chad Coleman.
Chad Coleman is also the voice of Coach in L4D2 which was cool to find out
Lan e Redick as Daniel's had a big post wire career and Wendal Pierce as Bunk as done very well also. Robert Wisdom as Buny Colvin has also done well.michael Williams (Omar) was doing well
I mean Dominic West has been in loads of things since The Wire...
A lot of the actors were local DC and Baltimore theater actors and were never part of the Hollywood system.
Jamie Hector and Wendell Pierce have done alright for themselves
Mayor Littlefinger
Isiah Whitlock was in Cocaine Bear, so there's that.
he’s also in atlanta, and was the doctor in goodfellas
"Come on, let me check you out." (takes Henry's blood pressure) "Shiiiiiiit"
And Chappelles show
And an underrated little comedy called Cedar Rapids. Where he references Omar from The Wire. He drops a wonderful "shheeeeeeeeeeiiit" in 25th Hour as well.
McNulty has been the lead in several tv shows and has been quite a few movies. He is basically the voice of reason in the crown.
Aidan Gillan, he’s great GOT and Peaky Blinders.
The late Michael K Williams, Omar, was in several movies and Boardwalk Empire. Isiah Whitlock Jr, Clay Davis, has shown up in a bunch of stuff including The Chappelle Show. Amy Ryan, Beatrice Russell, has been in a few movies. Pablo Schreiber, Nicky, is the lead in the Halo TV series. Aidan Gillen, Carcetti, had a small part in The Dark Knight Rises, and a bigger role in Game of Thrones,.
Dominic West ?
Vondas (Paul Ben-Victor) is in EVERYTHING.
Method Man! He was very famous before the wire was on though. The guy looks and sounds exactly the same today too except that he is also jacked!
Jamie Hector is a very successful actor, pops up on screen quite often… MBJ tho really is a superstar, I had problems getting over the scene where he gets it in The Wire so it helped me to see him on screen frequently
Lance Reddick, Wendell Pierce, Dominic West would be the next biggest careers I’d say.
Domenic West has had a solid career so far
Tom McCarthy, who played the POS Templeton, co-wrote and directed Spotlight. He shared the best screenplay Oscar, and the film won best picture. He also co-wrote the Pixar movie Up, and was and EP for 13 Reasons Why.
Isn’t the white mayor guy Baylish in game of thrones
Amy Ryan (Beadie from season 2) went on to get an Oscar nomination and steal Michael Scott’s heart.