You know, I had no idea that was him in ST:Nemesis! Of course, now that you point it out, it's obvious and I can't believe I didn't make the connection.

I'm not sure I'd call him under-rated. Maybe more like under-stated.

Number Two, I agree that genre fans already love Perlman. But I think mainstream audiences probably have no idea who he even is. When people think superstar actors, they think of Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, etc. Ron Perlman works hard and lets the characters speak for themselves.

Agreed. He's one of those people who, even in a small role, raises up the material by his presence. I think 'presence' is key with Perlman.

OK, Nick, when you put it like that, I guess I agree.

I sometimes forget I live in a little genre bubble. :-D

Hellboy!!!

I really love this guy.

You absolutely must watch "City of Lost Children" He is great in it! xx A

He was great in Quest for Fire. Way back then I knew he was going to be a star!

As Akopsa pointed out, the French "City of Lost Children" is a great movie.

also great as Salvatore in The Name of the Rose.

Absolutely! Check out del Toro's "Chronos" - the film that got Hollywood paying attention to de Toro.

And "Quest for Fire" is one of my favorite movies of all time.

BTW, that's a great picture of Mr. P. Talk about Charisma!

I love Ron Perlman. Especially in Desperation. "TAK!"

Unfortunately every time I look at him I see The Beast.

Nice choice. I only know him from Hellboy but he seems to have great range from your post.

The casting of Beauty and the Beast is what made the show work. Ron Perlman was superb as was Linda Hamilton. The range of emotion, the things that were never said but were known...two lesser actors would have made that show campy and awkward.

First of all, "Beauty and the Beast" was not Perlman's first claim to fame. He played one of the trio of heroes in "Quest for Fire", the wonderfully loony 1979 tale of cavemen on a journey to save their tribe. His comic touch lightened what would have been way too pretentious an attempt at simulating unknown history. (Which it didn't, not at all. Luckily, we've learned a lot more about ancient man since then.)

My favorite performance of Perlman's is from "The Last Supper", an underappreciated gem from 1992, about a group of grad student housemates who decide to go on a genteel killing spree, inviting right-wing nutcases over for dinner and poisoning them in order to "make the world a better place". Perlman played a roman-a-clef on Rush Limbaugh, here called Roy Arbuthbut, whose television faux-populist rants put the liberal kids in a froth, but who winds up outsmarting them. He was a real hoot in what was already a brilliant send-up of both left- and right-wing morality and ethics.

I caught sight of Ron at the Century City Shopping Mall one summer day a few years ago. I was just sitting on a bench noshing on some chips when he came out of the parking elevator with a friend. He was VERY tall, and surprisingly much more handsome in person than he comes off on film. I know that's not saying a whole lot, but with his confident, cool air and beautifully tailored suit, I found him quite attractive.

Here's hoping his career is long and varied, and he keeps giving us those wonderful, witty performances.

I've been a fan of Perlman ever since the moment he made his memorable entrance in "The Name of the Rose", the first movie were I really noticed him. Over the years, I've come to the conclusion that he is an excellent actor. He seems to get his most interesting parts from European directors, though. It's a pity he has the kind of face that makes Hollywood see him as fit only to play monsters and bad guys. I bet he could be excellent in a low-key drama as well.

I too thought Perlman was great in "The Last Supper". He had a bit part in "Enemy at the Gates" as a Russian sniper and was the only actor who actually sounded remotely Russian.

Completely love him!

Thanks, all, for your great comments. Sorry I left out some of his other great performances like Quest for Fire and The Name of the Rose. Even in some really crappy movies, his appearance is usually great and makes watching junk like Mutant Chronicles and In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale not a complete waste of time.

Thank you for this article. Perlman is one of my favorite actors. Two films I did not see photos for where Perlman is great ... Enemy At the Gates (as a grizzled Russian sniper on WWII teaching Jude Law the ropes), and Name of the Rose (as a slightly mad hunchback named Salvatore). Great stuff.

Great post, Nick. You make your case well here.

Wonderful actor to write about. He is so versatile and delicious...

well I like Ron Perlman -- have been following his career for some time. But no, I wouldn't compare him to Lon Chaney. Except for his turn in "Star Trek: Nemesis" I ALWAYS know it's Ron Perlman, not only because of his physical presence but because there is a sameness to his performances. From what I remember seeing and hearing about Lon Chaney, he totally disappeared into his roles. Perlman is fun to watch and amusingly laconic but not, in my view, all that versatile.

another vote for "City of Lost Children" to be included! it's the first film i think of whenever i see his face - and i've seen most all the things you mention.

Perlman is great- especially remember him in City of Lost Children, and had completely forgotten he was in The Name of the Rose- he was excellent in both, and I love Hellboy :D