Emmy-winning actor Stanley Tucci has been the backbone of so many of your favorite films, including Easy A and The Devil Wears Prada. Without his supporting turns as the rock-solid confidant, the supportive BFF, or the empathetic father, these quintessential coming-of-age or over-the-top films wouldn’t have nearly as much warmth and humor. And the few times that he’s gotten the chance to play the leading man, such as in his latest tearjerker Supernova, only remind the industry to give him more lead roles.
Tucci has been nominated for a Tony, a Grammy, and an Oscar, giving him EGOT potential in the future. He already won three Emmys for Winchell, Monk, and Park Bench with Steve Buscemi. But frankly, it’s a crime that Tucci hasn’t won an Oscar. These nine films and TV shows starring Tucci prove he deserves more recognition from award shows. Spoilers ahead.
The Devil Wears Prada
Andy (Anne Hathaway) wouldn’t have survived as the assistant of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) without Nigel (Tucci), the most loyal art director and confidant of them all. He knew Miranda in and out — even when she screwed him over on a new job — and took a chance on giving Andy a makeover, being the first to spot her potential at Runway.
Stream The Devil Wears Prada for free on Amazon Prime Video
The Lovely Bones
Tucci’s only Academy Award nomination to date was for his turn in 2009’s The Lovely Bones, in which he played the serial killer who cruelly murdered the central character Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan), going darker and more sinister than he ever had in his career to this point.
Stream The Lovely Bones on Netflix
Easy A
No offense to our actual parents, but we all want Stanley Tucci to be our dad. Emma Stone’s onscreen father in her breakout comedy is remarkably open, utterly embarrassing (in a loving dad way), a little bit gay, and perhaps the least judgmental person alive. He’s all dad jokes all the time — but you won’t be cringing over his punchlines.
Burlesque
Tucci excels at flamboyant films, and Burlesque fits the bill with sequins, feathers, and high notes galore. He plays Sean, the right-hand man and dearest friend of Tess Scala (Cher), who later becomes a trusty confidant for her burlesque club’s newest dancer Tess (Christina Aguilera).
The Hunger Games
As the flashy host of The Hunger Games, where literal children from the 12 districts of Panem kill each other until one victor is left standing, Caesar Flickerman should be the guy you love to hate. Instead, you hate that you love him. Tucci makes grim tragedies sound entertaining, and outdoes Ryan Seacrest when it comes to building suspense.
Stream The Hunger Games movies on YouTube
Spotlight
We’ll keep repeating it: Tucci deserves an Oscar. It’s unfair that he wasn’t even nominated for his role in Spotlight, which won Best Picture for crying out loud. As the attorney representing victims of sexual abuse in the infamous Boston Catholic Church scandal, Tucci shed light on their stories, brought truth to power, and fought for justice in a way only he could.
Feud: Bette and Joan
You can’t create something as flamboyant and fabulous as a series about Joan Crawford and Bette Davis’ iconic rivalry and not have Tucci in it. You just can’t. Luckily, Ryan Murphy knew this and cast him as Jack L. Warner, the head of Warner Bros. who had to deal with the ladies’ petty behavior as they were filming What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Stream Feud: Bette and Joan on Amazon Prime Video
The Witches
The Witches is notable in Tucci’s canon because its an over-the-top Halloween film about literal witches who destroy children by turning them into mice … and he plays the normal guy for once. Marking a reunion with Devil Wears Prada co-star Hathaway, hotel manager Mr. Stringer consistently remains suspicious of the Grand High Witch’s vindictive ways.
Supernova
For a straight man, Tucci is damn good at playing gay characters. In his most emotional role yet as a writer slowly succumbing to dementia, he takes a road trip, which just might be his last, with his pianist partner (Colin Firth) across England’s Lake District. The actors are beautiful as perhaps the most loving couple you’ll ever see, even as their relationship becomes all too real.
