With a career spanning over 30 years, has established himself as an actor who can disappear into any role. The size of the part never matters, because .

Possessing an effortless charm that adds layers to his and likability to his , . Whether it was as an , or as the President of the United States in , Rockwell steals every scene he’s in. The following films showcase Rockwell’s skills and serve as a reminder that he’s one of the most exciting actors working today.

In , Rockwell plays , the president of the Ku Klux Klan in 1970s Durham, North Carolina. When the local black school burns down, community organizer Ann Atwater () and C.P. are forced to work together to establish a peaceful transition into desegregation. Although the two first find it impossible to coexist, t.

Rockwell is no stranger to playing characters with deplorable beliefs, but at least in The Best of Enemies his character is allowed a redemptive journey. Based on the book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by , the film sheds light on a lesser-known true story about the lessons learned through desegregation. , who work off of one another’s energy in both moments of anger and understanding.

Rockwell took the highest office when he appeared as in the satire, Vice. Following the life and controversies of former Vice President Dick Cheney, () . The biographical depiction of Cheney shows his rise to power within the White House, made possible by Bush's invitation to be his running mate.

Rockwell might not be the obvious choice to play President Bush, but with the aid of only a little makeup, he transforms into the former Commander in Chief. The film’s core focus is on former Vice President Cheney, but that didn’t prevent Rockwell from catching critics’ attention with his affable portrayal of Bush. Vice would go on to receive multiple Academy Award nominations, including .

Earlier in his career, Rockwell played a part in another controversial politician’s career in the -directed The film, an adaptation of the stage play of the same name by , tells the story of a series of taped one-on-one interviews between British journalist David Frost () and disgraced president Richard Nixon ().

While the film is primarily carried on the strength of Langella and , Rockwell received strong critical praise for his supporting performance as the strong-willed As an investigator who assists Frost in his preparation for the interviews, and the crimes he feels the former President wasn’t held accountable for. Frost/Nixon gave Rockwell a chance to shine in a large production, and he didn’t waste the opportunity.

The offbeat satirical comedy follows a 10-year-old boy, Johannes “Jojo” Betzler (), who is a loyal member of a Hitler Youth group during the collapse of the Nazi forces. The lonely Jojo spends his time playing with his imaginary friend Hitler () and his mother Rosie (), who harbors secret resentment toward the Nazi party. As Jojo tries to prove himself to the local armed forces, he discovers Rosie is hiding a young woman, Elsa (), from the Nazis.

Rockwell is incredibly funny as the apathetic leader of the Nazi youth, Captain Klenzendorf. Rockwell’s embodiment of a soldier disillusioned with both the war and the side he’s fighting on is somehow as nuanced in its sorrow as it is broad in its comedy. , but as is usually the case with Rockwell, the time he’s on-screen is electric. as Klenzendorf makes his last moments ones to protect his young friend.

One of Rockwell’s earliest roles that drew acclaim was his performance in the . The gated community of Camelot Gardens may look pristine from the outside, but . When a member of the community, ten-year-old Devon (),befriends a groundskeeper, Trent (Rockwell), their innocent friendship sends the wrong message to the wrong people.

, and he delivers an understated performance in his interactions with the persistent attempts at friendship by the young Devon. The film approaches scenes within Camelot Gardens in a dreamlike presentation that carries an undertone of menace for every interaction Devon has. The surreal structure of Lawn Dogs might not be for everyone, but fans of Rockwell who haven’t seen it should make the time.

A coming-of-age story gives Rockwell one of his most charming roles in the dramedy . The film follows Duncan (), a 14-year-old boy who is forced into a summer vacation with his mother Pam () and her volatile boyfriend Trent (). With his mother wrapped up in her relationship, Duncan explores their vacation spot and meets Owen (Rockwell), a man who works at the local water park. .

Rockwell channels his best in while providing mentorship to a boy he can tell needs a friend. , and his natural comic timing makes it surprising that he didn’t do more traditional comedies. Everyone in the cast does a great job in this rewatchable gem, but Rockwell will be the reason viewers come back to The Way, Way Back for a second or third watch.

One of the movies Rockwell fans commonly point to as their favorite is the slow-burn sci-fi drama . Sam Bell (Rockwell) is close to finishing up his three-year contract as the sole operator of a space station, but he begins to suspect his situation may be more dire than he assumed. .

Without including any spoilers for Moon, the film is a wholly original mystery that continues to develop with satisfying reveals. A movie starring one person can be daunting to watch, but . Even if viewers guess some of the plot twists in advance, it doesn’t take away from Sam’s emotional fallout from the discoveries.

The lonely last stop before execution is the setting for the supernatural drama . Paul Edgecomb () oversees the normally mundane death row in a 1930s prison, but that all changes with the arrival of a kind and gentle inmate named John Coffey (). Coffey was convicted of the brutal murder of two young girls, but the crime doesn’t match the sweet-natured disposition of the man awaiting execution. .

Even though he has a small role inThe Green Mile, Wild Bill is the polar opposite of Coffey, continually disruptive and violent without any remorse for the crimes that landed him on death row. Even though Rockwell exudes charm naturally, he brings none to one of his most chaotic characters.

An the attention it deserves, was an early opportunity to show what Rockwell looked like as a leading man. Based on the autobiography of the same name, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind tells the life story of game show producer (Rockwell). According to Barris, he allegedly worked as a while creating some of television’s most popular shows, like and .

The part of Chuck Barris made its way around Hollywood with multiple names attached, but it was when took over as director that he lobbied for Rockwell to play the eccentric producer. Although the studio was skeptical of casting the then-unknown Rockwell, . This is an absolute must-watch for any fans of Rockwell.

A grieving mother will not be ignored in the award-winning drama, . The film follows Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand), a frustrated and heartbroken mother to a daughter who was raped and murdered by an unknown assailant. Fed up with the ineptitude of the local police, Mildred posts messages about her daughter’s case on billboards near town to demand attention. As the presence of the billboards brings negative attention to her, she relentlessly pursues the truth.

As one of the police officers opposing Mildred’s billboard, Jason Dixon is one of Rockwell’s crowning achievements. As the movie goes on, the boorish exterior of Dixon is continually pulled away in small pieces, revealing a man who is struggling to hide his own pain and disappointment until he has no choice but to look within. Rockwell’s role as the violent and stubborn Officer Dixon would win him his first and only (so far) Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

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