If you're a LOST fanatic like me, you were likely as glued to the television screen as I was last Tuesday night when the final season of this magnificent sci-fi show premiered. Like many of you, I was scratching my head as to what the hell the writers are up to for this season, and was rabidly speculating theories with my friends.
Amidst the brain melting scrutinizing, however, I found the time to geek out over two guest stars I love: the always likable John Hawkes (Deadwood, Eastbound & Down) and Japanese badass Hiroyuki Sanada (Ring, The Twilight Samurai, Sunshine).
Over the years, many recognizable actors have stopped by to do guest spots on the show, to compliment the already spectacular regular cast. While revisiting all five previous seasons of LOST in anticipation of the sixth and last season, I made a point to note all the known guest stars I spotted. Just to limit the list, though, I'm only counting those who appear in 3 episodes or less as guest stars, so don't be asking where The Wire's Lance Reddick is!
Here it is in alphabetical order. Naturally, spoilers ahead. Wade with caution.
• • •
Andrea Roth
Harper Stanhope
Best known for: Rescue Me
Appeared in 1 episode (“The Other Woman”)
As Denis Leary’s ex-wife in Rescue Me, Roth was always the scorned and frustrated, having to deal with the other woman. When she joined LOST, she maintained a roughly similar role as the mysteriously antagonistic wife of Goodwin, whom she drove to an affair with Juliet.
Bai Ling
Achara
Best known for: The Crow
Appeared in 1 episode (“Stranger in a Strange Land”)
The episode where Jack got his tattoo is infamously known as one of the worst LOST episodes ever. Bai Ling plays a tattoo artist who claims to have the gift of seeing people for who they are, so naturally Jack insisted on getting one. For some unknown reason, this angered Achara's brother and his cronies, who all gang up on Jack. Of all the LOST mysteries, I hope this one is never addressed. Better to just forget the whole thing.
Bill Duke
Warden Harris
Best known for: Commando, Predator, Menace II Society
Appeared in 1 episode ("Every Man for Himself")
A recognizable face with decades of memorable appearances, Bill Duke is always the go-to guy for playing menacing figures. In his appearance, he played a warden during Sawyer's brief stint in prison. As a show with a lot of red herrings and twists, LOST made use of Mr. Duke's reputation by presenting Warden Harris as a corrupt, sadistic figure at first—which of course is not as it seemed.
Billy Dee Williams
Himself
Best known for: Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Batman
Appeared in 1 episode ("Exposé")
Williams had the distinct honor of being the only guest star on LOST to have portrayed himself. In the flashback of reviled characters Nikki and Paulo, Nikki starred on the fictional show-within-a-show, Exposé, which Williams apparently plays a big part of as a slick character named Mr. LaShade (according to uberfan Hurley). His appearance on LOST was sadly brief, but a funny and memorable one.
Bruce Davison
Dr. Brooks
Best known for: Longtime Companion, Runaway Jury, X-Men
Appeared in 1 episode ("Dave")
The pleasant-with-something-to-hide-authority-figure thing that Academy Award nominee Bruce Davison has going on is perfect for Dr. Brooks, Hurley's psychiatrist at the mental institution he was in, who tried to help Hurley get over his guilt of causing a deck accident that put him in there in the first place—as well as convince him that his best friend was imaginary. With LOST's appetite for conspiracies, one could reasonably assume he was lying to Hurley at first, but he was eventually proven to be right.
Carrie Preston
Emily Linus
Best known for: True Blood
Appeared in 1 episode ("The Man Behind the Curtain")
Wouldn't you know it, the actor who played Ben Linus' mother is actually his wife in real life. Emily Linus died giving birth somewhere outside Portland, which was the source of her husband Roger's resentment toward their son Ben. Years later on the island, young Ben started seeing the ghost of Emily and expressed how much he wanted to be with her. Carrie Preston is doing some amazing work as fussy waitress Arlene on True Blood right now, and Michael Emerson has indicated interest in reciprocating his wife by guest starring on her show. Make it happen!
Cheech Marin
David Reyes
Best known for: Cheech and Chong movies
Appeared in 3 episodes ("Tricia Tanaka is Dead", "There's No Place LIke Home", "The Lie")
We're used to Cheech in more comedic roles, and he appeared to be doing one at first when he's revealed as Hurley's dad in "Tricia Tanaka is Dead," who we suspected only showed up again after a 17 year absence to take advantage of Hurley's newfound wealth. It was refreshing to see that his role went deeper than that, forging a new sincere bond with his abandoned son. Don't be surprised if we see Cheech again before the final season is over.
Clancy Brown
Kelvin Inman
Best known for: Highlander, Carnivale, Superman: TAS
Appeared in 2 episodes ("One of Them", "Live Together, Die Alone")
Anyone who's a fan of Clancy Brown's extensive work as a voice actor—particularly his work as the definitive Lex Luthor on every WB project since the 90's—would be able to recognize his voice in his live-action roles. On LOST, it's particularly handy for noticing that his character, who pushed Sayid into becoming a torturer during the Gulf War, was the same one who duped Desmond into pushing the buttons in the Swan hatch.
Diana Scarwid
Isabel
Best known for: Mommy Dearest, Wonderfalls
Appeared in 1 episode ("Stranger in a Strange Land")
Isabel is a LOST character who was set up to be someone important, but came and went without another appearance. Designated as the Others' Sheriff, Scarwid portrayed Isabel as a tough woman with a knack for interrogation. Scarwid never appeared again, and the writers killed Isabel off-screen in the Season 3 finale.
