Know these guys? I consider them both great actors. Both started acting later in life (both began acting in their 40s). While Thompson lived to age 73, which I consider to NOT be very old, Walsh died of a heart attack at age 54.
Both of these actors made films that I love. Both of them have lengthy filmographies (see their respective Wikis). Fred Thompson also had a long political career. Both have NUMEROUS films and TV shows I have not seen. No doubt, people will like other films of theirs than I do. But you know what they say, “opinions are like a-holes, everybody’s got one.”
Fred Thompson 8/19/1942 – 11/1/2015 (age 73)
Wiki: Fred Thompson – Wikipedia
Acting career 1985-2016, also had long career in politics
Film Roles: 33 (also had extensive television career)
Notable films: The Hunt for Red October, Die Hard 2
Fred Thompson made two films that I really like (your opinion may differ). I loved The Hunt for Red October. Thompson played a rear admiral in command of the Enterprise Carrier Group. He often played persons in positions of authority, or politicians, possibly because he was one (Thompson was a US State Senator, an attorney, and ran for President). In Die Hard 2, Thompson plays the Dulles International Airport air traffic director, believably. My love for this film is partly based on my greater love of the first Die Hard. This one has an inferior script and has Bruce Willis’ character uttering some pretty stupid one-liners, probably in an attempt to seem more like the first film. Someday maybe I’ll hunt for some of his other films on various streaming platforms, or not. Thompson was mostly a supporting actor who brought gravitas to the films he worked in. Many of his films are just not my thing. Interestingly, he played himself in a couple of films that are based on real events. He was even involved in the Watergate trials.
J.T. Walsh 9/28/1943 – 2/27/1998 (age 54)
Wiki: J. T. Walsh – Wikipedia
Acting career: 1983-1998
Films Roles: 52
Notable films: Good Morning Vietnam, Needful Things, Pleasantville
J.T. Walsh was always fun to watch. It’s Christmastime as I write this, and I recently re-watched the remake of Miracle of 34th Street in which he plays the state prosecuting attorney trying to get Santa committed to an asylum. He’s great in that role. One of my favorites of his films was Good Morning Vietnam. In it, Walsh plays Sergeant Major Phillip Dickerson, who supervises the activities of an Armed Forces Radio crew. He is hilariously stoic and occasionally terrifying in this role, especially in comparison to Robin Willams’ rapid fire, loose-cannon wit. Bruno Kirby is also excellent in this film as the straight-laced-to-a-fault Lieutenant Steven Hauk. Needful Things, based on a Stephen King novel, is overall a lesser film and was not very well reviewed, but if you like King’s stuff you’ll probably like it. Walsh is fun to watch in it. Pleasantville is another really good film Walsh was in. I encourage you to watch all of these movies if you haven’t seen them. These two actors packed a lot of work into their acting careers and there are some gems in there.
Wordsmithy 