MovieChat Forums > Brian Thompson Discussion > Wasted career?

Wasted career?

posted 2 years ago by kuatorises (7467)
12 replies | jump to latest

Lionheart was on TV last night and I remember the first time I saw it, I felt, "What a waste." That bad dude from Cobra - who was terrifying in that movie - does nothing here. He wears a suit. That's it. How do you hire the scary guy from Cobra and not have him DO anything?!

Then as time went on, that started to become the norm for him. Aside from brief but memorable appearances in X-Files and Buffy, this guy was relegated to background roles. How does that happen? He was born to play a villain. He has the look and the voice, but NOTHING in the grand scheme of things.

[–] TandyMan (11096) 2 years ago

No way. The dude who's "hey, it's that guy!" in everything? I love seeing him pop up in stuff. Just watched him play a baddie in Star Trek Enterprise last night.

[–] mechajutaro (2788) 2 years ago

Exactly. Most actors never come anywhere close to the sort of prolificness that BT has enjoyed. It's just regrettable that he's never had a lead role. If Titus Welliver finally got one in Bosch, there may be hope for Thompson yet

[–] TandyMan (11096) 2 years ago

For sure. Sometimes the big part comes very late in a career.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 2 years ago

"It's just regrettable that he's never had a lead role."

You're proving my point. This guy was considered worthy to play Stallone's nemesis. He was the lead (antagonist). He never reached that level again. It's easily his most well-know role.

Playing a background character in Star Trek ain't it, bro.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

Not born to a play only an antagonist. Your knowledge of his body of work is limited, not a big surprise. He played a Peace Officer on the hit CBS TV series, Northern Exposure, and he is was a standout in that role as a post-hippie law enforcement officer whose goal was peace and not punishment. I think the guy has more acting range than most realize.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 2 years ago

Oh wow, one good guy role. You showed me.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (17730) 2 years ago

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) did him no favors. He could had been one of the great go-to villain actors. Last thing I saw him in was a guest spot on 9-1-1.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 2 years ago

You think that one movie did him in? Not that it's a good movie, just that you think that alone was it? I always found it sooo strange he played a non-physical henchman in Lionheart. Dude could have been one of the bad guys Van Damme was fighting.

"He could had been one of the great go-to villain actors."

Now, that's what I'm talking about. This dude had the look.

[–] TheSpaceGaucho (65) 2 years ago

He was more aggressive there than in the awful Mortal Kombat 2 aka Mortal Kombat Annihilation.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 2 years ago

In Lionheart? Aggressive?

[–] TheSpaceGaucho (65) 2 years ago

Less of a goofball, better now?

[–] AmericaILoveU (972) 2 years ago

I have met Brian Thompson a few times. Hes a nice guy.
His take on his career is that hes done OK! However he feel he was misguided by his manger in the 80s as he was urged to continue doing TV when his movie career was about to take off. In the 80s & 90s breaking out from TV to features was almost impossible he claims. He had offers but was "stuck" doing Falcon Crest.