Ron Perlman has been a force in television and film for three decades. He’s no stranger to fans, especially those he won as Hellboy and as Clay Morrow on Sons of Anarchy, and he’s appeared in a handful of movies every year since 1993 (with 1996 and 1999 being the only years he appeared in only one). You know him. You love him.
Now, we’re ready to pronounce 2011 The Year of The Perlman because while he’s worked steadily in movies small and big alike for a long time, this was the year that he really ate his spinach and showed his face in an almost absurd amount of flicks. What’s more, his performances spanned the quality spectrum enough to earn him the Shyamalan Award For Bizarrely Up and Down Work. It’s important to note that his acting was rock steady throughout, but even with (and with the addition of his talents), he was in some terrible (and some amazing) movies. From prestige films, to independent action, to summer epics, to that one thing with Nic Cage, Ron Perlman was everywhere doing everything.
He played the ruthless Jewish mobster Nino in Drive (the good); he was the wise-cracking sidekick in Season of the Witch (the bad); and he played Conan’s father in Conan the Barbarian (the ugly). And those are only three of the eight projects he worked on during the year (some which saw release, that hit festivals, and that will be out soon) in addition to his hit television show. He’s also the narrator for 1,000 Ways to Die and did guest work on three animated shows.
It’s time to bow down (especially considering he was the voice of God for the animated The Littlest Angel) and appreciate this achievement. It’s shocking that the entire entertainment world isn’t buzzing with this momentous milestone, but we’re more than happy to shout it from the rooftops on our own.
Mr. Perlman, we salute you.