For over three decades now, Titus Welliver has thrilled audiences with his tough yet unforgettable portrayals of complex characters. Hailing from a family of artists, he got his start with minor roles in shows like Beverly Hills, 90210 and Tales from the Crypt. However, it was his role as the Man in Black in the final season of Lost that first put him on the map. He also played the multidimensional Silas Adams in Deadwood around the same time.
Since then, Titus has gone on to appear in several movies and TV shows, bringing authenticity and believability to every role. Whether playing detectives or mobsters, Titus immerses himself entirely into each character, picking up on expressions and emotions and dialect to ensure the audiences feel like they know what goes on inside the heads of his characters.
Of course, Welliver is best known currently for his role as Harry Bosch. Fans love how he captures the dedication of Bosch as an iconic LAPD detective and the humanity hidden beneath his tough exterior. That said, Titus Welliver has proved himself a master of his craft through a variety of roles, both supporting and leading. This list highlights some of his very best performances across movies and TV shows.
15 Man on a Ledge (2012)
In Man on a Ledge, a bunch of NYPD cops get pulled into a unique situation involving former cop Nick Cassidy. Apparently, Nick was falsely accused of stealing the Monarch Diamond from businessman David Englander. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, but he escaped. In a bold attempt to clear his name, Nick climbs out on a narrow ledge of a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper, threatening to jump, which sends the city into chaos.
Titus Brings Layered Complexity
Although underappreciated, Man on a Ledge is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that demands to be revisited with fresh eyes. It stars Sam Worthington, Ed Harris, Elizabeth Banks, and Anthony Mackie in the lead roles.
Titus Welliver is a supporting character; he plays Dante Marcus, who tries to control the situation at first but is eventually revealed to be one of the corrupt cops who helped him frame Nick. His layered, complex, and unsympathetic performance kept viewers guessing his real intentions until the very end.
14 Shaft (2019)
Directed by Tim Story, this action comedy flick is the fifth and latest installment of the iconic Shaft franchise. A reboot of the 2000 film of the same name directed by John Singleton, it introduces a new generation to JJ Shaft, a rooke cybersecurity expert and the son of the legendary private eye John Shaft. When his best friend dies under mysterious circumstances, JJ teams up with his old man to investigate, but Shaft has his own motives.
Entertaining Addition to the Franchise
Despite being somewhat entertaining to loyal fans of the franchise, Shaft failed to win the hearts of critics. The movie had everything – impressive action scenes, natural charm, flawless comedic timing, and memorable performances from Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, and Regina Hall. And yet, it fell back on leveraging the best aspects of the original movies.
Even among the proven talents of Jackson and Usher, Welliver stood out as JJ’s FBI boss, who showed authority when he fired JJ. And then hired him back.
13 Brooklyn South (1997 – 1998)
Speaking of forgotten media, Brooklyn South is an ensemble police procedural drama that aired on CBS back in the 1990s. Unlike other detective shows, it tried to portray a realistic picture of the NYPD by focusing more on the uniformed police officers as they patrolled and took on morning shift assignments. Against the backdrop of a crime-ridden New York, it was interesting to see the officers bring their fierce work ethic and rebellious spirit to fighting for justice.
Showing His Potential for Playing a Cop
Each of the cast members of Brooklyn South threw themselves completely into the complicated and compelling drama. For two seasons, they were committed to the gritty authenticity of the show, helping elevate it from a typical cop drama to a rich character piece.
Titus Welliver, who had already had a recurring role in a similar kind of cop show, NYPD Blue, starred in Brooklyn South as David Lowery, a tough street cop coping with personal demons. Beyond being a fully realized character, he had an on-again-off-again relationship with his colleague, Nona Valentine, played by Klea Scott.
12 Twisted (2004)
Twisted
- Release Date
- February 27, 2004
- Director
- Philip Kaufman
Twisted is a psychological thriller from the minds of Philip Kaufman. It centers around Jessica Shepard, an officer promoted and transferred to the homicide division of the San Francisco Police Department. Her first case is the murder of a man who she’d had a one-night stand with. When more of her former lovers are reported dead, Jessica begins to fear herself and her tendency to blackout after getting drunk.
Titus Portrays a Dedicated Officer
Kaufman is a master at creating suspense, and for a movie as chilling and ambiguous as Twisted, it’s obvious that he’d pick actors willing to deliver the full range of their talents. Ashley Judd is brilliant as the impulsive, violent nymphomaniac trying to get a grasp on her psychological complexity. Samuel L. Jackson and Andy García are equally enigmatic.
Welliver plays the role of Dale Becker, a fellow officer who handles Shepard’s case himself, ensuring audiences understood if not sympathized with his character’s decisions.
11 Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
The fourth installment in the Transformers film series takes up where the previous movie left off. After the battle of Chicago, humanity has begun to harbor hate and fear towards the Transformers. All they want is to eliminate the giant robots and have the world go back to normal. And elite CIA black ops are on it. However, when inventor Cade Yeager ends up saving an injured Optimus, he decides to form an alliance with his daughter Tessa and tries to save the future of Transformers on Earth.
Welliver Plays Against Type
Transformers: Age of Extinction is filled with explosive CGI action, scene-stealing performances from Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, and Nicola Peltz. In their respective roles, they display slick charm, intelligence, and sympathy. Welliver is a potential villain in the movie. As James Savoy, a ruthless and corrupt field commanding operative to Grammer’s Harold Attinger, he brings out an unpredictable sneer and dynamism. Even in the brief role, he was memorable.
10 The Town (2010)
The Town
- Release Date
- September 15, 2010
Adapted deftly from Chuck Hogan's 2004 novel Prince of Thieves by writer/director Ben Affleck, The Town is a Boston-set crime thriller that follows four lifelong friends turned business partners as they maintain their careers as mask-wearing bank robbers. Douglas McRay, the self-appointed leader of the gang, falls in love with Claire Keesey, a bank manager they briefly took hostage once. Their relationship threatens to expose their entire operation and endanger everyone involved.
One of the Most Ambitious Heist Films
Still celebrated for its opening heist, The Town is one of the most smartly written crime thrillers of all time. It is heavy on action, tense when it needs to be, and it casts an outstanding ensemble, which includes Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, and Titus Welliver.
Welliver plays Det. Dino Ciampa, the good cop heading occasional raids, showing up on crime sites to note down clues, and working alongside Jon Hamm’s Agent Frawley to fearlessly capture Doug and his associates.
9 Live by Night (2016)
Set against the backdrop of a balmy Florida during the Prohibition era, Live by Night follows Joe Coughlin, a former war veteran-turned criminal, who rises from a small-time thief to the head of a powerful crime syndicate. With several others working under him, Joe begins to live the high life himself and his actions start to have unforeseen consequences. More when he faces competition, authorities, and the Ku Klux Klan.
Ben Affleck’s Ensemble Thriller
According to critics, “Live by Night is solid enough entertainment, but it lacks the nasty edge or narrative muscularity to make it memorable.” Which is to say that Affleck’s unoriginal take on the genre is still worth watching because of a few solid points, which include fast-paced storytelling, exploration of themes like corruption and declining moral codes, and the ambiguity that drives its narrative forward.
Along with Affleck, the movie stars Elle Fanning, Brendan Gleeson, Chris Messina, Titus Welliver, and Zoe Saldaña.
8 Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Another one of the four Ben Affleck movies starring Titus Welliver in some kind of supporting role is Gone Baby Gone. The premise centers around private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro, who are hired to look into the case of a four-year-old girl named Amanda, who was abducted in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. As Patrick and Angie dive deeper into the investigation, they unearth the city’s most sinister secrets.
Welliver Plays an Unforgettable Villain
A critically acclaimed thriller, Gone Baby Gone won Ben Affleck a bunch of awards, including a National Board of Review Award for Best Directorial Debut. Amy Ryan also took home a series of awards for her supporting role as Angie. The movie, as a whole, is a gripping and mesmerizing drama that moves at a relentless pace. As for Welliver, he plays Lionel, Amanda’s uncle who was responsible for the kidnapping and was arrested by the end of the movie.
7 The Good Wife (2009 – 2016)
Created by Robert and Michelle King, The Good Wife is one of television’s most acclaimed dramas. It follows Alicia Florrick, whose life is turned upside down after a very public sex scandal sends her politician husband's career down the drain. To support her family and her children, Alicia decides to leave her marriage behind and she goes back to work as a litigator at a top law firm in Chicago, where she balances motherhood, office politics, and her ever-changing personal life.
A Character-Driven Drama
Across seven seasons, Julianna Margulies stole the spotlight of this incredibly driven, tightly-plotted, and intriguing drama. The Good Wife had a bunch of stylish and nefarious characters, each of whom brought their signature traits to their respective roles.
Titus Welliver was a recurring character in The Good Wife. He played Glenn Childs, Peter's arch-rival who succeeded Peter as State's Attorney after the scandal. From trying to keep him in prison to having to step down from the race, he was a delightfully insidious addition.
6 Lost (2004 – 2010)
Lost
- Release Date
- September 22, 2004
- Seasons
- 6
Beloved by fans for its ingenious storytelling and emotionally charged character arcs, Lost is an epic supernatural thriller series that tells the story of the survivors of a commercial jetliner that was flying between Sydney and Los Angeles but crashed midway, leaving the passengers stranded on a mysterious island somewhere in the South Pacific. Initially thinking they're alone, the characters soon face dilemmas when strange threats emerge.
Titus Welliver’s Breakthrough Role
From the very first season, Lost pulled its audience into an overarching mystery. The show's fantastical elements and heady concepts became more complicated as the narrative moved forward, urging viewers to decrypt clues that lead to a broader view of humanity.
As a supporting character, Titus Welliver showed up in Lost in the season five finale. He played the “Man in Black,” a middle-aged man with the ability to scan the minds and memories of people. He continued portraying the character in seasons six and seven, lending understated gravitas to the show.
5 Argo (2012)
Argo
- Release Date
- March 22, 2012
Winner of an Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, Argo is probably Ben Affleck’s most acclaimed films till date. It tells the true story of the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Iran during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.
Affleck plays the role of Tony Mendez, a CIA operative who uses a fake Hollywood science fiction movie project to smuggle the diplomats safely out of the country by posing as a producer scouting for locations in Iraq. But making the scheme look convincing is a dangerous task.
An Award-Winning Adaptation
Affleck’s masterful direction ensures that the based-on-a-true-story drama never loses its urgency, propulsion into a tense and compelling climax, and element of humanity amid geopolitical stakes. He marks himself as an empathetic leading man synonymous with complex characters and heroes who shape history.
The movie’s supporting cast included a bunch of well-known actors like Alan Arkin, Chris Messina, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, and Titus Welliver.
4 Sons of Anarchy (2008 – 2014)
Sons of Anarchy is a gritty drama that originally aired on FX from 2008 to 2014. It tells the story of Jackson “Jax” Teller, an esteemed member of the close-knit titular outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in California's Central Valley. After Jax finds a manifesto written by his father, he begins to question the club and their way of life. Jax not only handles being a father to a newborn, but also tries to navigate the gray area between legality and morality.
Worth Rewatching for Bosch Fans
It took Sons of Anarchy a season to establish its footing, but when it did, the show garnered praise for its compelling narrative and incredible character relationships. Across seven seasons, it throws the most devastatingly remarkable cliffhangers at you. While Charlie Hunnam and Katey Sagal’s performances are worth showering accolades upon, the series also featured memorable turns from Taylor Sheridan, Adam Arkin, and Titus Welliver.
Welliver was introduced midway through season 2, and he played the role of an Irish gun kingpin named Jimmy O'Phelan.
3 Bosch: Legacy (2022 – Present)
Bosch: Legacy
Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch has retired from the LAPD and works as a private investigator. Defense attorney Honey "Money" Chandler has him work on some cases for her. His daughter, Maddie, navigates her first days as a patrol officer with the LAPD, working from Hollywood Station, where her father used to be assigned. Bosch investigates businessman Carl Rogers, who previously hired a hitman to kill Chandler.
- Release Date
- May 6, 2022
- Seasons
- 2
A sequel to the Amazon Prime Video series Bosch, this one continues Harry Bosch’s story as the newly retired LAPD detective as he starts a new chapter of his life working as a private investigator. His daughter, Maddie, is seen navigating her career as a rookie patrol officer with the LAPD. The show’s episodic murder mysteries are a contrast from the parent series, but they work brilliantly in portraying Bosch as a man with his own personal demons.
Titus Reprises His Best TV Role Once Again
By reprising his signature role from the hit predecessor, Titus Welliver yet again sinks his teeth into a character he’s become most synonymous with over the years. He brings the same grit, moral code, and haunted contradictions to Bosch, but this new chapter ensures nuance and expansion of the lead’s biography. Of course, that does not mean Bosch: Legacy charts away from the true crime-solving essence that fans have come to adore.
2 Deadwood (2004 – 2006)
Deadwood
- Release Date
- March 21, 2004
- Seasons
- 4
An HBO Western series set in the late 1800s, Deadwood depicts the early days of the Dakota gold rush. It transports viewers to the lawless titular town, where fortunes are made and lost overtime and anyone has a chance to start over as many times as they want. By focusing on the real-life characters of the town like lawman Seth Bullock and saloon owner Al Swearengen, respectively, the show churns up themes of chaos and moral decay in the most astounding fashion.
Welliver Emerges as an Iconic Character
Deadwood received massive acclaim for David Milch’s writing, as well as for Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane’s breathtaking turn as the two leads. Marked as “an outstanding series that ranks among the best the genre has to offer,” by critics, the series captures the un-sanitized frontier town in a way that’s ruthless and vulnerable at the same time.
An actor that holds his own against acting giants like McShane and Olyphant is Titus Welliver. As Silas Adams, one of the town’s most captivating characters turned Swearengen’s ally, he demonstrated his chameleonic talents and magnetic screen presence.
1 Bosch (2014 – 2021)
Bosch
- Release Date
- February 6, 2014
- Seasons
- 7
Finally, the show that needs no introduction, Bosch is a police procedural drama series that revolves around Los Angeles police detective Harry Bosch. It is based on a bunch of novels written by acclaimed author Michael Connelly. And over seven fantastic seasons, we see Bosch following leads wherever they take them, navigating the politics of the police force, and constantly dealing with confrontations with criminals.
Titus Becomes Bosch
In the role of a lifetime across nearly a decade, Welliver not only brought Harry Bosch to an unforgettable life but wholly became him. Always seeking justice yet never losing his flawed sense of self, he infused the character with authenticity, soul, and subtle humor. The show ended back in 2021, but Titus is still praised for his embodiment. Beyond his performance, the series is also considered captivating because of its plotting and pacing and signature pulpiness.
Comments
Post a Comment