Top 5: Powers Boothe Performances

This might sound odd, but I swear Powers Boothe career followed my cultural interests during my teenage years. He was the voice of villains in the Justice League cartoons, showed up in Sin City, and he popped up again when I dove into Deadwood. He went wherever the wind took me and I was always thrilled. Boothe was the definition of character actor. Distinctive features, a memorable villain, and a killer voice to match. In honor of the late actor, I've picked his five best movie roles.

#5 Wesley Doyle in Frailty

Though primarily known for playing straight upbad guys, or at least less charismatic fellas than our anti-heroes, Boothe gets to play the role of interrogator in this odd mixture of horror, drama, and the supernatural. Playing the straight-man against Matthew McConaughey, Boothe serves as the audience POV as his suspect's story gets stranger and stranger.

#4 Vince Johnson in Blue Sky

We all have that one coworker, the guy that's really buddy buddy with everyone, and seems to be the life of the party...and yet, there's something about him that rubs us the wrong way. Boothe plays that role to perfection in this period drama as Tommy Lee Jones superior officer. Whether it's dancing with his subordinate's alluring wife or trying to cover his ass by punishing someone doing the righ thing, Boothe performance lays the groundwork for the sleaziness to come.

#3 Lt. Col Tanner in Red Dawn

A rare good guy role in a movie that feels oddly prescient nowadays, Boothe serves as the father figure and commander of the teenage guerilla fighting force The Wolverines. As the only true soldier in the bunch, his guidance not only gives the emotionally stunted teens direction, but also the tactics they need to succeed.

#2 Senator Roark in Sin City

Boothe has a monologue in this movie, and not much else, and yet it's tuck in my mind for all time. As corruption personified, Boothes Roark arrives to threaten Bruce Willis' Hartigan and tell him what will happen if he tells the truth. "Power comes from lying and getting whole damn world to go along with you!" Chilling.

#1 Curly Bill in Tombstone

While the heroes are ultimately more interesting than the bad guys, anyone that requires the attention of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday is a worthy foe. Bill is everything a bad guy should be. Physically imposing, a hair-trigger temper, and immoral is every way imaginable. So easy to hate, and that's all thanks to Boothe. RIP Mr. Powers. You and your amazing screen presence will be missed.