Stanley Tucci, love him. I’ve appreciated his work for a while now.
He’s versatile and believable in every role I’ve seen him in, whether he’s playing a stylist, or a futuristic TV host, a serial killer/pedophile, a humble and loving father next door– he nails every role. And as I watch him, I begin to forget Stanley Tucci and think only of the character he portrays.
Paul Child in Julie and Julia, Emma Stone’s dad in Easy A, Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada,
George Harvey in The Lovely Bones,
Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games,
I even watched Burlesque with Cher and Christina Aguilera because he was in it. I will watch anything for Stanley Tucci! He’s an Actor, with a capital A and without the ego. And he’s handsome, too. I think so. He doesn’t usually play the leading man, but why not? He could. He could do anything.
In fact, he wrote a cookbook. How’s that for versatile? 
I’ve always loved Stanley Tucci, but he moved up in my esteem when he survived an embarrassing personal moment on TV. After he played young Susie Salmon’s killer in the Lovely Bones, Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View asked Stanley if his wife had seen his eerie portrayal. Stanley simply answered no, and changed the subject. But in fact, his wife Kate had died of breast cancer a few month’s earlier. My heart went out to him. 
But I was equally touched to hear that he recently became engaged to Devil Wears Prada co-star Emily Blunt’s sister, Felicity Blunt, a literary agent in London. Love! 
There’s a role for Stanley in any book of mine that ever becomes a movie. Eldridge in The Scoundrel’s Vow, Uncle Pat in Once Wicked, Hades in To Hell with Love and Naughty and Nice (leading man!), Mr. Bokorhurst in Jane Slayre (my favorite), and Matthew Pocket, Pip’s werewolf mentor, in Grave Expectations.
I also happen to think he would make an excellent Rand, Amy’s father, in Gone Girl. This idea is, in fact, what led me to blog about Stanley Tucci today. I can’t get that book off my mind. Reese Witherspoon is producing the movie. I can only guess she plans to star. I would cast Mark Ruffalo as Nick to Reese’s Amy. And Blythe Danner as Amy’s mother. If you’re looking for a taut summer thriller, and you’ve already read everything by Dee Davis, pick up Gone Girl.
Who is your favorite actor? An actor so good, you would watch anything he’s in? Do you ever dream cast your favorite books?
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I totally loved him as Emma Stone’s dad in Easy A!!
That was a fun movie. I love Patricia Clarkson, too.
Some of the best actors are the ones playing supporting roles- they are true actors and don’t get the “headlines” but once you start cataloging all the roles/movies they are in you realize how really talented they are .I have my favorite superstar actors like J.Depp, Robert Downey Jr, but often they have the same type of character oe energy to them – supporting actors have a lot more freedom like Colin Firth,William Macy,William deFoe etc…to create new characters /energy that the leading people can’t
And Philip Seymour Hoffman, I love him too.
I too have always been a HUGE fan of Stanley. He can act any character given to him and give it such a fab spin!!
Yes! I think he’s so fun to watch. I looked up the cookbook. It is for preorder now, comes out in October. Review quotes from Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain. And, it’s from my publisher, Gallery! Too cool. I wonder which lucky editor got to work with him on that.
Stanely Tucci is one good actor.. I loved him Julie and Julia and adored him Let’s Dance with RIchard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Jennifer Lopez..
There are so many wonderful actors out there today.. Geogre Clooney, Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Sean Connery, just to name a few of my favs.. There are a lot of young actors coming up the ranks, Ryan Golsing, Channing Tatum, Ryan Reynolds. I like all of these actors.. Then there are actors like Johnny Depp who I adore too.. so many good ones have past , Paul Newman, Cary Grant, William Holden just to name a few.. These were wonderful actors…gone but not forgotten..
Great actors will live forever. I loved Laurence Olivier. And Danny Kaye. And I probably think of them together because someone said they once had an affair.
I really love Colin Firth, too. And I love Matt Damon. And Ryan Reynolds. And Alan Rickman. I am sure there are more.
What about female actresses? Judy Dench, Meryl Streep, The one who played The Queen whose name escapes me. Sandy Bullock.
I was wondering how long it would take somebody to bring up Colin Firth. You’re thinking of Helen Mirren. I love all the women you mentioned, too. I’ve blogged on Meryl, so it was the guy’s turn. But so many great actresses, too. Kate Winslet. I love Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones. And Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet. But my love for them is role-specific.
Judy Dench was the primary reason I went to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It was wonderful!
I have heard such great things about that movie! I must see it.
Stanley is one of those hidden gems of a character. You see him in everything and you recognize the face but never truly know him.
Ralph Fiennes is another one of those people. Voldemort. Red Dragon. Schind lers List. The Duchess. Maid in Manhattan.
I must say I love Jeremy Irons. He has such a powerful voice.
Love Alan Richman.
But I guess my fave ‘must see his movies’ actor will always be Han Solo I mean Indiana Jones (sorry fantasy-type dreams kicking in) I mean Harry or Harrison Ford to all you other peoples. Yeah. He is suave and badass but in a subtle sexy way.
James Purefoy is another drools-session eye-candy.
‘happy sigh’
Jeremy Irons, another great voice. Harrison Ford is pretty awesome, too. I had to look up James Purefoy. When I looked him up, I realized that I do know who he is.
he is yummy….especially as Mark Anthony from ‘Rome’
I love Stanley Tucci too! He’s fabulous! And I, like you, watched Burlesque just to see him. Anyway, also agree with Jacquie about Alan Rickman. Definitely a must see actor. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones are two other must see actors for me. Duvall because he’s one of the greatest living actors. And Jones because although he’s made an art of playing more or less the same character, he does it so damn well.
Alan Rickman, yes. That voice!
He’s wonderful for all the reasons you cited : he’s an Actor, not a fame-hound, he’s humble, he’s a chameleon and tells a great story as a talk show guest. And his charm makes him so much more handsome than taller, more hirsute men.
I think maybe I’m tired of reading about the Johnny Depp-Brad Pitt-Sean Penn big personal drama sorts of actors. Give me a Stanley Tucci any day.
Great blog, Sherri! Like you, I adore Stanley, although he’s one of those actors that I sort of didn’t “notice” for a while if you know what I mean. I guess because he just plays every different role so seamlessly. He’s just “there” and perfect. I especially loved him in Julie/Julia. Didn’t know about the Hasselbeck gaffe–YIKES! Read about his engagement to Emily Blunt’s sister–how lovely for them both. Another actor who I think has that seamless quality is Alan Rickman.
I will watch any movie with Colin Firth in it. Also Matt Damon. As we say in our house–”Matt Damon is the MAN!”
Kathy Lee Gifford made a similar gaffe with Martin Short recently, and worse because she seemed to be claiming to be well acquainted with the couple when she flubbed. He also handled it with grace.