Since the ’80s and up to now, we’ve always loved the amazing Clancy Brown. Whether he’s on the screen or lending his voice to an animated series or video game, Brown has always had an uncanny ability to make every role unique and incredibly memorable. To celebrate his work, let’s take a moment to look at ten of the very best roles from the legendary actor and voice over artist.
1The Kurgan, Highlander (1986)
Starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, the original Highlander film established early on in Clancy Brown’s career just how much the actor makes a fantastic antagonist. In the film, Brown played the immortal Kurgan – the greatest enemy of swordsman Connor MacLeod who wishes him dead. A particularly murderous and vile character, the Kurgan is one of the most memorable movie villains of the ’80s, thanks to Brown’s portrayal of the role.
2Gus, Pet Sematary Two (1992)
Pet Sematary Two is not quite as revered as the original film, though the cult classic sequel does have its bright spots. This includes Clancy Brown as Gus, the local sheriff who turns homicidal after he’s killed by a dog and reanimated by the titular cemetery. Certainly, anyone who’s seen the film can never forget the look on this guy’s face when Gus murders a bully with his own dirt bike. Opinions on the movie in general might vary with horror fans, but we should all be able to agree Brown is very highly entertaining in the role.
3Captain Byron Hadley, The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption is widely considered to be among the very best movies of all time, currently ranked as the highest-rated movie ever on IMDb. Adapted from a Stephen King novel by Frank Darabont, the film tells the story of the unjust imprisonment of an innocent man and his subsequent escape from behind bars. In prison, the inmates are shown to be routinely beaten by a team of guards led by Clancy Brown’s Captain Hadley. Willing to murder anyone just to keep them quiet, Hadley is the most dastardly of all the characters in the prison, including the prisoners.
4Lex Luthor, Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000)
A fantastic villain in live-action projects, Clancy Brown makes an excellent bad guy in animation as well. He would start playing one of his most well-known voice roles in 1996 as Lex Luthor on Superman: The Animated Series. He soon established himself as the voice of Lex Luthor, going on to reprise the role in many other animated films and TV shows, and video games. Brown also continues to voice the character in video games, which includes playing Lex in 2018’s Lego DC Super-Villains.
5Dr. Neo Cortex, Crash Bandicoot series (1997-2003)
Clancy Brown has brought many memorable villains to life in film and television, but some old-school gamers may not have realized the actor also voiced Crash Bandicoot’s arch-nemesis Dr. Neo Cortex for many years. He first lent his voice to the villain in 1997’s Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, later reprising the role for sequels and spin-offs like The Wrath of Cortex and Crash Team Racing. The characters Brown plays are typically rather menacing, and his fun take on Cortex shows how well he can do comical and cartoonish villains as well.
6Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-present)
In 1999, Brown took on what would certainly become his most popular voice role of all when he joined the cast of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants as Mr. Krabs. The manager of the Krusty Krab with an apparent obsession with money, Mr. Krabs’ often-imitated voice is so incredibly distinct that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else doing a better job. Now voicing the role for over 20 years, Brown continues to voice the character on the TV series and will also be heard in the upcoming film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.
7Brother Justin Crowe, Carnivàle (2003-2005)
Set during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Carnivàle originally aired on HBO for two seasons. Cancelled too soon, the series was a bit ahead of its time and has developed a bit of a cult following. Critics have particularly praised Clancy Brown’s performance as Brother Justin Crowe – a character seen as the antagonist by some viewers and as an “alternate protagonist” by others. Religious, conflicted, and boasting unearthly powers of persuasion, Crowe is expertly played by Brown.
8Dr. Albert Marconi, John Dies at the End (2012)
Based on a David Wong novel and directed by Don Coscarelli, 2012’s John Dies at the End is an underrated gem. To quickly summarize the insanity that is this movie is a challenge, but the gist of the story is that a miracle drug referred to as “Soy Sauce” brings about an otherwordly invasion and it’s up to a fellow named John and his pal David to put a stop to it. Clancy Brown co-stars in the film as celebrity psychic and exorcist Dr. Marconi, a role that’s both highly amusing and unforgettable.
9Surtur, Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
The fire demon Surtur from the superhero movie Thor: Ragnarok, has got to be one of the freakiest characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though director Taika Waititi provided the motion-capture for Surtur’s movements, the hellish character is voiced by Clancy Brown. Far from the first comic book character to be voiced by Brown, Surtur is certainly among the most memorable.
10Waylon “Jock” Jeffcoat, Billions (2018-2019)
Starring Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis, the Showtime series Billions follows the legal drama between a U.S. Attorney and a billionaire hedge fund manager. Clancy Brown joined the entertaining show in its third season as U.S. Attorney General Waylon “Jock” Jeffcoat, and though he’s surrounded by a strong cast, Brown still shines as one of the brightest spots of the ensemble. The fifth season premieres in Spring 2020.
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