Keith David

The Cat in Coraline (2009) has Keith David's bass voice, and that is a substantial part of the pleasure. Henry Selick's fantasy gives us a useful way to appreciate David: listen to what he brings when the imposing figure is no longer there. We were frightened by the button-eyed parents; the care Selick takes with a child's dissatisfaction gives us a reason to worry. David is one reason to return, although we recommend this film for the care of the whole thing rather than a single supporting turn.

John Carpenter made good use of his bearing in The Thing (1982), casting him as Childs, and returned to him for Frank in They Live (1988). Between those films came King in Platoon (1986), the part that established him in major studio films. Soldiers, rogues and authority figures recur in his work, but he gives them enough humanity to make the imposing manner interesting.

There's Something About Mary (1998) gives us David as Charlie Jensen and a welcome change of company. The Farrellys' comedy earns its bad manners through its performances, and he fits a cast that can be funny without making everyone contemptible. Cameron Diaz supplies much of the warmth, so an appreciation of David need not pretend he is the centre of this one. The film runs too long and gives Mary less attention than she deserves. We would happily watch him in more comedy, though a tighter film would serve everyone better.

Animation also puts that bass to work as Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog (2009), while his narration includes Ken Burns's The War (2007). It is a substantial second line of work, and one that makes clear how much of his appeal survives without the stately bearing. The risk is that such a recognisable voice can become a casting shortcut; we would like more parts that give him time to do something beyond sounding authoritative. Start with Coraline, provided the button eyes are unlikely to trouble anyone's sleep.