Peter James Mann
2022 was, like the last couple of years, a bit more turbulent than others. And there were some amazing artists and performers we lost this year. In honor of them, we here at Dork Daily have compiled a list of their greatest performances for you to celebrate their memory.
Bob Saget (May 17, 1956 – January 9, 2022)
Bob Saget was, for a time, America’s other Dad. Between ratings powerhouses like Full House and America’s Funniest Home Videos, Saget was in people’s homes every week, sometimes twice a week.
And it broke him. Eventually, he would leave all of that behind to return to stand-up comedy as a shock comedian. It was a move he did to dirty up his squeaky clean image. After cameos in Half Baked and appearing on Comedy Central Roasts, he was able to return back to what he loved in the end.
And to prove it, here’s a clip from 1986, early in his career and before his stint on ABC, aired on Comedy Central. I hope the colors give you as much nostalgia as the static.
Gilbert Gottfried (February 28th, 1955 – April 12th, 2022)
Gilbert Gottfried was one of the most unique performers in the stand-up comedy circuit for years even before he started acting in films and animation. His raspy, screaming tone was as infamous as it was iconic.
And while posting a clip of Iago from Aladdin or an Afflac commercial would be an easy thing to do, it’s this lesser known scene from earlier in his career in Beverly Hills Cop 2 that I find to be the best. He makes this scene for Eddie Murphy and company and, quite beautifully, plays off of Murphy in a way I think might have been a little improvisational.
Ray Liotta (December 18th, 1954 – May 26th, 2022)
Ray Liotta was one of the most prolific actors of the 1980s and early 90s, and had a pretty interesting filmography outside of crime films like Goodfellas. And honestly, this interview of him breaking down his most iconic characters is a great peak behind the curtain at one of my favorite actors.
I was surprised at the level of method acting he went through in the 1980s myself and it ends up being a little more candid than I anticipated.
That’s what makes it great.
Angela Lansbury (October 16th, 1925 – October 11th, 2022)
Dame Angela Lansbury was a national treasure in England (thus the knightly title) and was best known for not only being the most supportive teapot ever in Beauty and the Beast, but for a little show known as Murder, She Wrote.
In the same vein as Columbo and other who-dun-its, our central character found themselves in the middle of a murder only they can solve. It was Lansbury’s tough-but-kind demeanor that won over characters in the show and viewers at home. It’s no wonder when you think of her, you think of Murder, She Wrote.
And one of the more iconic episodes involves a little batch of chowder during a dinner party. There’s something fishy going on here!
Robbie Coltrane (March 30th, 1950 – October 14th, 2022)
Robbie Coltrane was already a veteran actor in the UK before becoming more internationally known during Pierce Brosnan’s mid-90s jaunt as 007 in films like Goldeneye, portraying Valentin Zukovsky. But it was his time as the loveable Rubeus Hagrid from the Harry Potter films that made him a global film star.
It was a role that he famously, tearfully quoted during the Harry Potter Reunion Special that would live on well after he was gone. It was a bittersweet goodbye.
But of all the scenes that include Hagrid, the one I remember the most is his explosive entrance into the lighthouse to finally tell Harry Potter the truth.
“You’re a wizard, Harry!”
Kevin Conroy (November 30th, 1955 – November 10th, 2022)
Kevin Conroy has the distinction of being the longest running Batman in history. Starting with Batman: The Animated Series back in 1992, Conroy quickly became THE voice of Batman, one that many have tried to either emulate or top, but none ever could truly nail. Which was why they never replaced him in any of the animated series content.
The influence of Conroy’s Batman was, finally, directly referenced in the most recent iteration on the Silver Screen, Matt Reeves’ The Batman. It is the only other time that Batman ever refers to himself as Vengeance, and it originated in this scene from the early years of Batman: The Animated Series.
This is the voice I’ll hear every time I read a Batman comic for the rest of my life.
Jason David Frank (September 4th, 1973 – November 20th, 2022)
Power Rangers: Super Ninja Steel’s series run coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise. In Episode 10, we got to see MAJOR cameos as Rangers from across the Multiverse came together to defeat a major threat.
And who better to have the best fight scene than the greatest ranger of all, Tommy. He has to fight an adversary only he can defeat: an evil version of himself. Luckily, our favorite ranger has a secret weapon up his sleeve: The Master Morpher.
Not only does Jason David Frank deliver (in my opinion) the most impassioned performance he’s done in the franchise, his choreography against himself is absolute gold.
