"That Guy" Hall of Fame Presents: Xander Berkeley

Hey, isn't that Eddie Furlong's adoptive father from T2? Or, hey, isn't that the doctor from Gattaca? Or, hey isn't that other bad guy from Air Force One? Yes, yes it is. Xander Berkeley is one of the great prick character actors of the last 20 years and with a list of 146 roles (according to imdb.com) there is a reason why this guy keeps showing up in the places you least expect. His typical role is the insensitive bureaucrat or sniveling weasel type. Only rarely does he play an outright villain as in Air Force One. Usually poor Xander is stuck playing the loser, like in Heat when Al Pacino emasculates him upon discovering his wife's infidelities. He does manage to make his insensitive prick/bureaucratic type character elicit some sympathy like in season 2 of 24 as George Mason. George Mason, terminally stricken with radiation poisoning, heroically flies a terrorist armed nuclear bomb away from Los Angeles and also saves Jack Bauer in the process. His sad departure from CTU even earned him the poignant "silent clock" treatment. Xander Berkeley is married to Sarah Clarke, aka Nina Meyers to you 24 fans. Whenever you need a character who tirelessly follows the rules, always plays by the book, or just plain ol' gets in the hero's way, Xander Berkeley will be there.

http://imdb.com/name/nm0075359