Many of us know Clancy Brown by voice, not by face.
He’s the actor bringing life to the cheapskate, money-crazy crustacean of Bikini Bottom, Mr. Krabs – a beloved icon to kids growing up in the 90’s and early 00’s.
Photo Credit: Nickelodeon
With a crazy, sea-faring laugh that any classic Nickelodeon kid could recognize, Clancy Brown has basically solidified himself as a legend to an entire generation.
Though Brown’s most popular roles have been off-screen, he’s been on-screen way more often than most of us would guess. When you look at a photo of Clancy Brown, he seems like a guy with one of those faces. You get the feeling you’ve seen him before – and there’s a good reason for that. Brown has been steadily employed since the mid-80’s in some of Hollywood and TV’s biggest hits – you just haven’t realized it.
Image Credit: YouTube/TeddyKGaming
Clancy Brown just has a way of blending into his roles while keeping that signature tough-as-nails energy. He’s that good of an actor.
Here’s just a few roles that make up Clancy Brown’s totally stacked film/tv career.
One of Clancy Brown’s biggest breaks was Highlander, where he played Kurgan – The Strongest and Most Ruthless of the Immortals.
Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox
That’s right, the guy who voices Mr. Krabs had a shaved head and fought Sean Connery with safety pins in his neck. Just your typical 80’s story.
The seasoned actor’s career took a real jump after starring in Frank Darabont’s academy award-nominated film The Shawshank Redemption. As Captain Byron Hadley, Brown won the respect of Hollywood for his unflinching portrayal of a truly sadistic, murderous prison guard.
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures
The subdued energy and reserved, unfeeling sadism of the character is totally opposite to the warmth and fun we’re used to seeing from Brown. This all makes his role in Shawshank all the more compelling – and a must see for any fan.
Recently, he showed off his vocal chops in Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok as Sutur, the giant fire demon pictured below that really wants to send Asgard up in – well, flames. Although he only appears in the movie for a few minutes, Brown is a total scene stealer here. It’s kind of hard not to be when you’re a gigantic flaming goblin.
Photo Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Brown’s voice acting career also spans way beyond Mr. Krabs and Lex Luthor.
After decades of being in the entertainment business, Clancy Brown has garnered a seriously impressive resume with his talent and creativity. It’s a real testament to his craft that he’s been able to achieve longevity that spans generations.
What’s your favorite Clancy Brown role? Share with us in the comments below!
