Uncredited film roles

[jhart999]

Can anyone tell me why actors sometimes go uncredited in a film? For example, in 'Mission: Impossible' Emilio Estevez's turn as Jack (the guy who got skewered in the lift shaft) goes uncredited as does Peter Greene's pivotal part as Redfoot in 'The Usual Suspects'. I can understand why ever person appearing in a film isn't credited. But I don't understand why roles that play a part in the actual plot go unmentioned after the film fades to black. Surely the actor wants their work to be recognised?

[LeMarchand]

I'm sure there are other reasons, but three I know of are: because an "A list" star may take a minor/ish part and if s/he was advertised as "starring" people may expect them to play a bigger part; the element of surprise; and (perhaps the biggest one) because they don't want to be associated with a dog of a movie!

[jhart999]

Thnaks for replying LeMarchand :) But I'm talking about actors not being credited at the end of the film - not being billed at the start or on the trailers. And it's not like "Mission: Impossible" and "The Usual Suspects" are poor films. And Peter Greene is the sort of actor who could do with more roles on his resum�. Any other ideas?

[froggequene]

http://us.imdb.com/Credits?0120660, if you look at this particular cast list for Enemy of the State you'll see that the actor Tom Sizemore plays an uncredited part. Rumour has it that Tom Sizemore asked not to be credited even though he has a prominent role (I think, I can't remember but it's fairly important), he thought that the whole thing would be a Will Smith project and no one else would get any kudos, however, when the film was edited, he realised that the film wasn't going to be yet another advertisement for Will Smith Inc and asked to have his name put into the credits, the producers told him it was too late. There are other actors like Steve Buscemi who do uncredited cameos and minor roles simply because they're doing their mate (Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller etc) a favour.

[firefly]

Why should they be credited if they're not the stars of the film? It causes more debate ("That was wotsiface!" "No, it wasn't, his name wasn't in the credits") if you leave it out.

[jhart999]

That's one of my thoughts, too, firefly: surely the audience deserves to know who played all the parts so that they can find the same actor in other films (if they liked their acting (-: ). And why would a regular bit-player like Tom Sizemore be bothered about being associated with Will Smith (who is more than just his own personality machine, if you ask me) when he normally works on generally shameless big-budget blockbusters anyway e.g. Pearl Harbor, which he DID put his name to (and which I like, incidently 'cos Bruckheimer's a legend - can't wait for "Bad Boys II")? Sorry people, but I think there's got to be a better answer out there :)

[froggequene]

Try calling Equity, the Actors Union maybe they can help you. Not every actor measures their worth by the number of films on their CV, there is more to an acting career then movies. The films you've named by the way are post Enemy of the State, great publicity coup that don't you think?