Michael IronsideKnown as the tough guy in Hollywood, is one of the veteran actors who has left a mark on the lives of viewers with his cold-blooded looks. The go-to villain of the ’80s and ’90s has had a prolific career with a whopping 200-plus appearances to his credit. In addition to having such a great career, the actor who delivers the villainous character is still going strong on screens to this day. This Canadian bigshot actor, instead of just playing stern and scary roles, has also portrayed likeable characters.
For ten years everyone would be afraid to thwart him for fear of his unnervingly grim face. He is best known for his performances in Total Recall and Top gun. In an interview with Empire, the extremely charismatic actor said, “I knew I was never going to be Tom Cruise or the lead actor. I would be the guy who would try to kill him or catch him if he falls.” Fortunately for everyone, he has taken on the role of the perfect villain.
His meticulous acting has earned him the proper respect and fans over the years. He is one of the most famous faces in Hollywood. Most of his fans have been following him since the golden age of video stores and DVDs. To commemorate his unbeatable career, let’s take a look at Michael Ironside’s performances.
7/7 The Machinist (2004)
Palisades Tartan
filmax
Vapet Productions
CTV International
Directed by Brad Anderson, the driver is a dark psychological thriller on insomnia report Trevor (Christian Bale). A strange man follows him everywhere, but no one else can see him. Michael Ironside plays Miller, a colleague at the factory, and amputated because he recently lost his arm due to the incompetence of another employee. He offers an extraordinarily strong side character whose expressions are so confusing to viewers, they add the perfect layer of mystery. In the scene where Trevor confronts Miller at his house, viewers were pushed to the edge of their seats. It looks like Miller could burst at any moment, but in the end he laughs at Trevor, only to kick him out later.
6/7 Highlander 2: The Gear (1991)
Directed by Russell Mulcahy, Highlander 2: The Quickening is the most unfortunate sequel ever made. Over the years, it has built up a reputation for being one of the most poorly acted movies, with a confusing script and plot. However, an exception can be made for Michael Ironside. Michael Ironside as Katana gives a very enthusiastic performance, with his presence making the film watchable. Once he arrives on Earth, he goes all around and wreaks havoc everywhere and threatens the lives of everyone around him. His fashion choices make it hard to believe that this man can crash a subway for fun.
5/7 Spaceship Troopers (1997)
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Touchstone Photos
Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 science fiction film Spaceship Troopers follows the story of Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) who joins the army and soon finds himself in a war against insects. Michael Ironside plays high school teacher Jean Rasczak, who joins the military with the children he teaches. This hilarious satire of colonialism masked with an insect invasion is one of Michael Ironside’s most entertaining films. His role as leader of the squad shows his tyrannical side reflected by his hatred for insects.
4/7 Scanner (1981)
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Embassy Pictures
Manson International
Directed by David Cronenberg, Scanners is the horror sci-fi hit movie known as Michael Ironside’s Groundbreaking Achievement. Fans of the actor got to see him in a lead role of Darryl Revok, a dangerous scanner, after world domination. The shot of the white-eyed actor with bulging veins is permanently ingrained in the minds of the film’s viewers. Ironside perfectly shows his devilish charm, aided by many special effects. His go-to technique in the movie is to torture his victims is to consistently apply pressure until their heads burst. This is an image that no one can get out of their head.
3/7 Turbo Kid (2015)
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Directed by Anouk Whissel, Turbo Kid is a sci-fi action movie that will instantly attract 80s pop culture and post-apocalyptic cinema buffs. It follows the story of The Kid, who ends up in the ruined land of Zeus, played by Michael Ironside. The film crams many themes together, including action, humor and grit. Zeus shines throughout the film as the ultimate villain against a child in a very Mad Maxlike way. For an extremely dangerous tyrant, viewers can’t help but be charmed by his character. Additionally, Ironside got to deliver another iconic line in the film: “I like blades! I love fire! I love knives and fire!” Anyone cosplaying as Zeus at a Halloween party would be screaming this everywhere.
2/7 Top Gun (1986)
Directed by Tony Scott, Top Gun was the ultimate drama and action film of the 1980s. The film is completely centered around Tom Cruise’s character, Lt. Pete ‘Maverick’. Even though Michael Ironside played a tiny part in the film, he and all his fans can still applaud his amazing performance. Ironside’s character, “Jester”, was one to be feared throughout the film. He is shown as a blunt, untameable military instructor, who will do anything to straighten out the boys. However, his tactics and rigor fail to tame the wildcard Maverick. Viewers of the film would never want Ironside’s Jester to become their teacher or commander in any capacity. He perfectly portrayed the discipline and stubbornness required to be in the military.
1/7 Total Recall (1990)
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Paul Verhoeven’s 1990 sci-fi stunner with an adventure to Mars and altered identities, Total Recall was way ahead of its time. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside takes a back seat with Richter’s character, who slowly shows its true nature. Sidekick and accomplice to the main villain, Richter will stop at no one’s expense to destroy his target, Doug Quaid (Schwarzenegger). His motivation to kill Doug increases as his wife Lori (Sharon Stone) acts as Doug’s fake husband. His crewmen make hell for Doug and chase him across two planets. The iconic Ironside stares and clenched teeth are seen through this character, making him one of the best villains of the era.