Kevin Corrigan

Corrigan is often the friend standing beside whoever has been given the story. He plays odd men, lowlifes and tough characters with a sensitive side, usually without insisting that we notice him. We value that restraint: an ensemble needs people who can hold our interest without interrupting everyone else. His limitation is familiar casting, which can leave us recognising the actor before we have distinguished the character.

The 1990s independent film boom gave that approach a home, including Rocky the Goon in Vincent Gallo’s Buffalo '66 (1998). Its abrasive comedy suits an actor comfortable with people who are difficult company. We laughed uneasily at the family visit, because the humour never makes being there comfortable. Christina Ricci is the main reason to see it, though, and the romance asks too much indulgence. The appeal of Corrigan in this company is that low-key manner; the film has ample abrasiveness already.

As slacker Eddie Finnerty in Grounded for Life (2001–2005), he found wider recognition before returning mainly to smaller films. Cousin Sean in Scorsese’s The Departed (2006) helped bring higher-profile supporting work, and offers a different setting for his unshowy presence. This is a tense, viciously funny thriller whose deceptions matter because DiCaprio and Damon make us care about them. Nicholson’s overplaying occasionally lets the tension slip. We prefer Corrigan’s quieter manner in an ensemble this busy, although the film’s principal achievement belongs to the two leads and their director.

Repeated collaborations with Steve Buscemi and Matthew Harrison sit alongside the familiar supporting assignments. Sal, the loyal but troubled friend in Big Fan (2009), is close to his usual territory; Danny in Results (2015) gives him comedy and drama within another ensemble. The recurring friend parts do impose limits, and the impression that he is playing variations of himself cannot simply be dismissed. We would like to see casting directors give that sensitivity more to do, rather than merely another lead actor to accompany. Start with The Departed or Buffalo '66, then give the friend a little more attention.