Article By: Dan Clark

What makes a hero? Typically when it comes to action movies it revolves around the ability to punch things. Now we all know the names of people like Rambo and John McClane, but the truth is they wouldn’t be where they are with the hard work of many individuals. These individuals may not have the physique of a Schwarzenegger or the roundhouse kick ability of a Jean Claude Van Damme, but they lack in physical talents they make up for in heart, determination, and the gift of crack wise. In this article I hope to shine some light onto the underappreciated and explain why they are so essential.

Sgt. Al Powell

Actor: Reginald VelJohnson

Movie: Die Hard

Quick Take: He was the man that John McClane “Welcomed to the Party”. Sergeant Al Powell was the one cop that got it. While almost all others, including the FBI, seemed to celebrate their ineptitude he provided the voice of reason. Plus he formed a pretty solid bromance with McClane as he acted as his eyes on the ground. Reginald VelJohnson may also be the only person alive who helped take down terrorist, saved John McClane’s life, and had to put up with that annoying Urkel. He is a  true American hero.

Officer Anne Lewis

Actress: Nancy Allen

Movie: Robocop

Quick Take: The 1980’s were full of buddy cop films, but none quite like Robocop. Nancy Allen’s portrayal of Office Anne Lewis became a staple in its own right, and has been copied on countless times since then. Nancy Allen provided Robocop an anchor to his remaining humanity, yet avoided being a glorified damsel in distress. She was just as tough and capable as any other officer.

Cindy

Actress: Rae Dawn Chong

Movie: Commando

Quick Take: Sure Rae Dawn Chong’s character in Commando is nothing more than a plot device and shoehorned in love interest, but she makes up for that fact because  she fires a BAZOOKA! Twice! The character of Cindy is a perfect representation of women in action films of the 1980’s. Her character comes out of nowhere, she has little character development, she has a random skill (ability to fly a plane) that plays a key factor, and provides just a pinch femininity in an otherwise testosterone filled adventure.

Short Round

Actor: Jonathan Ke Quan

Movie: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Quick Take: Leave it up to the brilliant minds of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas to create an Asian boy side kick named Short Round. It’s kind of racist, creepy, and oddly charming. To be fair for a boy sidekick Short Round shows his worth. He’s one of the few people that can give Indiana Jones as much attitude as Jones puts out. Like most sidekicks he’s always willing to crackwise and provide classic lines like, “He no nuts, he’s crazy”. That he is Short Round. That..he..is.

Colonel Trautman

Actor: Richard Crenna

Movie: Rambo I-III

Quick Take: There is no one else on the planet that can get to the reclusive Rambo  like Colonel Trautman. He is the only person capable of talking sense into the one man army. I think it’s because of the impeccable way he wears his trademark beret. He’s a soldier in his own right who is still willing to fight for the right cause. If it wasn’t for Colonel Trautman Rambo will still be pounding rock behind bars.

Goose

Actor:Antohny Edwards

Movie: Top Gun

Quick Take: “She’s lost the loving feeling” “I hate it when she does that!” You could always count on Goose to provide the proper exclamation to finish a conversation. While Maverick provided the flash he gave us the sizzle. Goose was one of those guys that you couldn’t help but like. His trip to the danger zone proved to be a little too dangerous, but he still remains the ultimate wingman.

 Annie Porter

Actress: Sandra Bullock

Movie: Speed

Quick Take: This is the role that made Sandra Bullock into a star. Who knew then she would go from jumping buses to winning Oscars. Driving a bus is not the easiest task, especially when you have massive explosives strapped to the bottom of the bus waiting to explode. In a way Speed was her movie. Yes Keaunu Reeves was the ‘hero’, but her personality made Speed more than just a Die Hard on a bus rip off.

Mathilda 

Actress: Natalie Portman

Movie: Leon: The Professional

Quick Take:  A common trope in action films is when our grizzled hero becomes a reluctant father figure. Sometimes it lease to disaster. I’m looking at you Cop and ½. Leon: The Professional was largely a success due to Natalie Portman and her character Mathilda. She was wise beyond her years taking charge of every moment, but still preserved a portion of her childhood fragility. Her relationship with Leon is the key factor to why the film works so well.

Zeus Carver

Actor: Samuel L. Jackson

Movie: Die Hard: With a Vengeance

Quick Take: If it wasn’t sure Zeus Carver John Mcclain would probably be nothing more than a bloody stump on the side of a New York City street. Zeus was nothing more than a normal guy just trying to get by, until a crazy white guy with an apparent death wish came prowling around his neighborhood. Slowly but surely Zeus morphed into a pretty fine action star in his own right.

Pappas

Actor: Gary Busey

Movie: Point Break

Quick Take: Remember when Gary Busey only PlAYED crazy characters on the brink of a nervous breakdown? Oh how times change. I wouldn’t consider Pappas one of his crazy characters, but he is certainly off the wall. Listening to Pappas talk in surfer lingo is still one of the most unintentionally funny this I have ever heard. To be fair to Pappas if it wasn’t for his unconventional thinking the X Presidents would still be robbing banks today.

The Gyro Captain

Actor: Bruce Spence

Movie: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Quick Take: The Gyro Captain had an interesting journey throughout Mad Max 2. He went from a potential thief to a prisoner to Mad Max’s unlikely sidekick. The climatic chase at the end of the film is one of the most iconic moments in movie history. The Gyro Captain was certainty a contributor to that. His vehicle added an extra dimension to that moment, and you have to love someone who is resourceful enough to use snakes as weapons. Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts would certainly be proud.