4GAASF: Never Ignore the Person with the Largest Guns

As promised, here are my first male and female selections for great actors of scify. This category is dedicated to all the gunslingers, the millitary men, the shoot-em-up and let the scientists deal with it later characters that so often take the lead. They charge into danger that would terrify the rest of us, and whether their characters do it for king and country or for the money and fun of it all, at the end of the day these actors sell it.

Winners: Richard Dean Anderson and Gina Torres

Richard Dean Anderson


SciF here's a guy with some serious science fiction credentials. He's most famous for two roles, both lead characters; first as Angus MacGuyver on, you guessed it, MacGuyver. I know what you're thinking, not science fiction, right? But any spy who hates guns and gets out of trouble through the power of science (or at least clever engineering) gets a nod from me.

What's that? This post is about people with guns? Well, guess you'll need to look at his most famous character, Lieutenant General Jack O'Neill (initially Colonel) of the US Air Force and the Stargate TV franchise. Initially just the man with the plan and the quickest to bring a semi-automatic rifle to a Jaffa staff weapon fight, his character evolved to reveal a clever, strategic, and thoroughly noble man. Ready to do his duty to protect his country, he resorts to violence only when absolutely necessary...which is unfortunately often. When he left the show, the Cameron Mitchell character never came close to taking his spot.


...is for Lovers: First off, it's tough being the Captain Kirk of the Stargate team, and therefore the desire of hot nubile alien women everywhere. He's rather in demand. Plus the Asgard named a ship after him, but since they're a clone race of little grey guys, I'm pretty sure that was just in honor of him saving their asses. Beyond all this, until his departure from Stargate SG1 in the 8th season, Anderson pulled off one of the most inactive-yet-adored-by-fans forbidden romance between O'Neill and fellow teammate Samantha Carter. As her commanding officer, their relationship was against military code, and instead of scandalously defying their responsibilities, they worked together as only teammates and friends even after their feelings became rather apparent. And Anderson sold the character without ever defying the military man role or showing him as pining or sappy.

Any episode of Stargate can show you what a bad-ass O'Neill is, but for a humorous episode, check out "Window of Opportunity", and for a dramatic O'Neill/Carter episode, check out "Divide and Conquer."

Gina Torres 


SciFy: In contrast with Anderson's solid time as iconic characters, Gina Torres has dabbled without fail in a ton of different roles. Among these, her most notable sci-fy roles include playing the fiendish Anna Espinosa in Alias, the benevolent Jasmine in Angel, various roles in Xena and Hercules, and most famously, as Zoe Washburne in Firefly and Serenity. And boy does she like her guns and her martial arts. Between Anna and Zoe, Torres has covered good and evil, well supplied and barely scrapping by, cool headed strategist and ...well, other cool headed strategist. And as long as Jennifer Garner isn't there, she's totally unstoppable. Plus she's got some really cool guns.

...is for Lovers: Our first sighting of Anna was assassination and theft via seduction. Jasmine charmed the entire world into being under her thrall. And Zoe was the center of the most uncomfortable love triangle of all time - by which I mean her totally sexless, military friendship with Captain Malcolm Reynolds and her loving, if somewhat shaky relationship with endearing but suspicious husband Wash. Torres has played a variety of roles not just within the science fiction and fantasy genres, but also everything from cavalier seductress to devoted wife.

Honorable Mentions: Of course, not everyone can make the cut. I did only choose one of each gender. But those who quickly come to mind as also deserving of this category -

Men: Adam Baldwin (Firefly/Chuck), John Sheppard (Stargate Atlantis), Pierce Brosnan/Daniel Craig/Timothy Dalton/Sean Connery/Roger Moore (James Bond Franchise)

Women: Eliza Dushku (Buffy/Angel/Dollhouse/Tru Calling), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy/Angel), Jennifer Garner (Alias)

[Images courtesy of here and here]