Michael Ironside

Immediately recognizable to film and television audiences for his piercing gaze and gravelly tones, Michael Ironside essayed powerful, often dangerous, figures on both sides of the law in countless films, including "Top Gun" (1986), "Total Recall" (1990) and "Terminator Salvation" (2009). He burst onto the international scene as a malevolent telepath in David Cronenberg's gory "Scanners" (1981) and bounced between heels and anti-heroes for the next decade. His ubiquitous presence in everything from low-budget thrillers to straight drama boosted him to Hollywood features in the late '80s and early '90s, as well as television series like "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009) and "Seaquest DSV" (NBC, 1993-96), and continued to divide his time between mainstream and indie product well into the next millennium. His vast body of work and undeniable screen presence made him a favorite among cult movie fans and tough guy aficionados for nearly four decades.