What Actors In Specific Roles Are A Joy To Watch for You?

[Ryujin]

The only one who immediately comes to mind, apart from relatively unknown people I know personally, would be Karl Urban in pretty much anything. Whether it's a Russian assassin in the "Bourne" movies, a CIA guy in "RED", Billy Butcher, or Judge Dredd, he just nails it.

Maybe Carey Elwes in "The Princess Bride" and the complete sleezebag he plays in "A Bit of Bad Luck"? Robin in "Men in Tights"?

 

[Meech17]

Maybe Carey Elwes in "The Princess Bride" and the complete sleezebag he plays in "A Bit of Bad Luck"? Robin in "Men in Tights"?

I love Carey Elwes.. I've found myself re-watching movies I'd seen in my youth and noticing that he's in them.

"Glory" is the recent example. I was visiting my parents a few weekends ago, and my dad had it on the TV and they were pointing out some of the big names in it like Denzel or Broderick. I on the other hand see Elwes pop in frame and go "Holy cow. That's the Dread Pirate Roberts!"

Another one is "Liar Liar". He's the step-dad. Watching as a kid I paid no mind to him, but I re-watched a few years ago, and couldn't help but wonder "What the heck did he do to deserve the way Jim Carey treats him? Man's out here just doing his best... And he's made out to be a villain."

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Two actors I am always overjoyed to see!

Willem Dafoe
Walton Goggins

ETA- and Carrie Coons.

 

[Dioltach]

Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries.
James Spader as Alan Shore in Boston Legal.
Sean Bean as Sharpe.
Timothy Oliphaunt as Raylan Givens in Justified. Actually, almost every single person in Justified (including Walton Goggins).

 

[payn]

Two actors I am always overjoyed to see!

Willem Dafoe
Walton Goggins

ETA- and Carrie Coons.

 

[ART!]

I would watch/listen to Ian McKellan as Gandalf the Grey reading from the Hobbiton phonebook.

 

[Ryujin]

Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries.
James Spader as Alan Shore in Boston Legal.
Sean Bean as Sharpe.
Timothy Oliphaunt as Raylan Givens in Justified. Actually, almost every single person in Justified (including Walton Goggins).

Hathaway is generally great in anything she does. I don't get the hate some seem to have for her. "Ella Enchanted" was a great movie.

 

[Reynard]

Chris Evans as Captain America* is about as perfect as I could imagine, second only to Christopher Reeve as Superman for "I will always judge other actors against that portrayal."

*Good, Mark Waid style Cap. Not the jerk from Brubaker or even worse Millar.

 

[Mad_Jack]

Willem Dafoe in anything, as mentioned. I'm particularly partial to Boondock Saints, though.
And I'll second Sean Bean as Sharpe. (I can't really think of anything I've seen him in that wasn't good.)
Ian McShane is just damn good in anything, as well.

I'll also put forth Timothy Hutton as Nate Ford in Leverage...

Edit: Both Holly Hunter and Leon Rippy were absolutely wonderful in Saving Grace...

 

[MarkB]

Most of the Phase I and II MCU actors were well chosen for their roles, but Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark is just so perfect that it's almost impossible to imagine anyone else playing the character.