FunnymanSeth Greenhas been dominating both the big and small screen for decades, having first rose to prominence in Woody Allen’s filmRadio Days.A talented actor, comedian, writer, and director, Green has appeared in countless hit projects since his career began in the 1980s, starring in popular flicks likeIdle Hands, Can’t Hardly Wait,andWithout a Paddlewhile also famously being a part of the pop culture juggernautshowsBuffy the Vampire SlayerandFamily Guy.
Green has also memorably played the angst-ridden Scott Evil in theAustin Powersfranchise and co-created the acclaimed stop-motion animated adult sitcomRobot Chicken, and has numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy and Annie Awards. Here are Seth Green’s ten greatest roles, ranked.
10Duane Cody — Rat Race
With a large ensemble cast including Jon Lovitz, Whoopi Goldberg, Rowan Atkinson, and John Cleese, the 2001 comedyRat Racechronicles the uproarious competition six vastly different people engage in, to track down and locate a life-changing $2 million after an eccentric Las Vegas tycoon concocts the high stakes race for the amusement of his wealthiest patrons. Seth Green and Vince Vieluf star as con artists brothers Duane and Blaine Cody, who will stop at nothing to find the cash prize first.
The Con Artist Brothers Duane and Blaine
Green and Vieluf have side-splitting chemistry as the dimwitted siblings, and the former star was able to embrace his devious and deplorable side in the entertaining flick as he sabotaged his fellow competitors. Though it was ultimately a box office success,Rat Racegarnered a mixed response from critics upon initial release, but nonetheless has gone on to attract a cult following, with the comedy remaining anunderrated 2000s gem.Stream on Paramount+.
9Lyle — The Italian Job
A remake of the ’60s classic British caper, the 2003 action heist extravaganzaThe Italian Jobcenters on a misfit group of thieves who devise a dangerous plan to get back at a double-crossing former crew member while also pulling their biggest job and stealing $35 million in gold. Mark Wahlberg stars as the gang’s ringleader and professional fixer Charlie Croker, sharing the screen with famous faces like Charlize Theron, Mos Def, Edward Norton, and Jason Statham, with Green appearing as the team’s expert computer hacker Lyle.
Comedic Relief in a Heist Film
Green’s effortless charisma and humor were on full display in the exciting picture, as his keyboard-savvy character Lyle helped aid the team on the technical side of the heist while offering some comedic relief in the process. Lyle holds a passionate grudge against the developer of Napster, whom he swears stole the idea for the music sharing site, and he makes sure to remind his pals of this fact frequently in the film. Green plays off the other actors well inthis excellent heist movie,and brings a lightheartedness to every scene he’s in.Stream on Paramount+.
8Mick — Idle Hands
In the criminally underrated 1999 teen horror comedyIdle Hands, ultimate high school slacker Anton Tobias (Devon Sawa) wakes up on Halloween morning in a marijuana-fueled haze to find his parents murdered and that his right hand is now possessed by a nefarious demonic force that compels him to go on a bloody killing spree. Anton ends up brutally murdering his two best pals, Mick (Seth Green) and Pnub (Elden Henson), who transform into his zombie sidekicks as he continues to wreak havoc on his small town.
A Wise-Cracking Zombie
An amusing blend of comedy and horror with an offbeat premise to boot,Idle Handsfeatures a zombified Green in all his wise-cracking glory, and though both critics and audiences weren’t too sure what to make of the film when it first hit theaters, it is now a bonafide cult classic.TheLos Angeles Timeswrote in a positive review: “whatIdle Handslacks in originality, it makes up for in energy and insolence. It takes guts for a movie to indulge as much as this one does in proto-hippie humor and you find yourself tickled, in spite of yourself, by the movie’s nerve, if not its jokes.“Rent on Prime Video.
7Dan Mott — Without a Paddle
Three childhood pals reunite after losing one of their own, and embark on a wild and unforgettable quest for lost treasure in the 2004 adventure comedyWithout a Paddle, following the thrill-seeking trio as they try to escape the stress of their everyday lives and fulflill their decades-long dream to locate D.B. Cooper’s fabled fortune. The restless Jerry (Matthew Lillard) wrangles the free-spirited Tom (Dax Shepard) and uptight Dan (Green) on a much-needed camping trip to honor their late friend, with chaos and debauchery ensuing.
Uptight, Anxious, and Lost in the Woods
While each of the lead stars brings something unique and entertaining to the table, Green’s perpetually anxious and high-strung counterpart Dan serves up plenty of laughs throughout the farce and swiftly endeared himself to audiences.Without a Paddleincludes delightful over-the-top shenanigans, exhilarating action sequences, and a top-tier performance by thelate and great Burt Reynolds, and it also included a hilariously unforgettable scene where the trio are forced to cuddle in a cave while in the buff as “Bump n' Grind” plays.Stream on Paramount+.
6Young Joe — Radio Days
Woody Allen directedthe 1987 dramedyRadio Days, a tribute to both his childhood in Brooklyn and a glimpse at the golden age of radio that tells the story of the young adolescent Joe’s (Seth Green) upbringing in Rockaway Beach during the ’30s and ’40s in a Jewish-American family, depicting his memories with his offbeat relatives and experiences with various radio personalities. The engrossing picture utilizes vignettes featuring Joe’s interactions with his family and friends as they enjoy programs over the airways, with Allen himself narrating.
A Young Version of Woody Allen
Radio Daysmarked one of Seth Green’s earliest cinematic roles and it showcased his range as a performer at a young age, while also displaying his ability to act in a more dramatic project. While he would later become largely known for his comedy prowess, Green was brilliant as the younger version of Allen and showed he was able to handle any character given to him.Radio Daysearned two Academy Award nominations and served as a major stepping stone for Green’s enduring and eclectic Hollywood career.Stream on Prime Video.
5Kenny Fisher — Can’t Hardly Wait
Featuring a sensational cast of then up-and-comers including Jennifer Love Hewitt, Seth Green, Ethan Embry, and Peter Facinelli, the beloved 1998 teen romantic comedyCan’t Hardly Waitis set during an epic graduation party and depicts interconnected stories regarding high school seniors as they use the night to settle their own respective unfinished business. Outsider Preston (Embry) wants to profess his love to Amanda (Hewitt), the nerdy William plans to get back at his bully, and wannabe rapper Kenny (Green) is on a mission to lose his virginity.
A Virgin High School Rapper
All the members ofthe dynamic castwere stellar in their roles, and Green unsurprisingly stole every scene he was in with his lively one-liners and comical commentary. Kenny’s quest to not be a virgin by the end of the night led him to reconnect with his former friend Denise (Lauren Ambrose), and their memorable scenes together deliver both heart and humor.Can’t Hardly Waitlanded onEntertainment Weekly’slist of 50 Best High School Movies of All Time, and also touted a nostalgic soundtrack of ’90s gems fans thoroughly enjoyed.Rent on Prime Video.
4Scott Evil — The Austin Powers Trilogy
Being the son of one of the world’s most infamous criminal masterminds is no easy life, and Scott Evil had to witness his diabolical dad battle it out over and over again against the titular groovy spy in the fan-favoriteAustin Powerstrilogy. Chronicling the British spy’s (Mike Myers) noble crusade to take down his arch-nemesis Dr. Evil and prevent him from wreaking havoc on humanity, the series also showcases the villain’s complicated relationship with his angsty yet approval-seeking son Scott (Green).
Related:15 Funniest Quotes From the Austin Powers Trilogy
Just Not Evil Enough Scott
Green and Myers brilliantly play off one another all throughout thefun and zany franchise, and despite resenting his father for being absent in his life, Scott still wants to impress him and prove his overall evil-ness and worth. His rivalry with Mini-Me is wildly entertaining, as was his constant inner angst, and theactor toldVanity Fairthe films were some of his favorite projects:
“The fun behind the scenes of that movie is incomparable. I have had so few experiences that are as inclusive and supportive and just fun as making Austin Powers. And what I found was the more serious and more committed I was to the genuine pain of Scott Evil, the funnier any of those scenes became.”
Rent theAustin Powerstrilogy on Prime Video
3Robot Chicken — Robot Chicken
In 2005, Seth Green created, directed, produced, and starred in the stop-motion adult sketch comedy seriesRobot Chicken, portraying the eponymous cyborg chicken who is forced to watch countless TV sketches on monitors while being held hostage by the Mad Scientist. The off-the-wall program features uproarious skits that lampoon major pop culture moments, fads, and famous faces, and a plethora of celebrities have provided their vocals for episodes, like Zachary Levi, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seth McFarlane, and Mila Kunis.
The Stop-Motion Chicken Master
Robot Chickenran from 2005 to 2022 for a whopping 11 seasons and 240 episodes, and developed a passionate fan following for its unapologetic mocking of celebrities, movies, TV shows, and popular fads, as well as its unique use of stop-motion animation. The acclaimed series took home six Emmys and two Annie Awards during its television tenure and quickly became one of Adult Swim’s mostmust-see original hits, with the concept having been first introduced back in 2001 as an animated short forLate Night with Conan O’Brien.Stream on Max.
2Daniel “Oz” Osbourne — Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Undeniably one of Seth Green’s most famous and continuously buzzed-about performances was as the calm and cool werewolf Daniel “Oz” Osbourne in the 1997 universally beloved supernatural seriesBuffy the Vampire Slayer. The trailblazing television triumph famously followed the titular butt-kicking demon hunter as she took on enemies of all shapes and sizes on her epic quest to protect the town of Sunnydale from terrifying forces of evil, doing so with the help of her loyal Scooby Gang: Xander, Willow, Giles, and Oz.
Related:10 Scariest Episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ranked
The Werewolf With a Heart
The character of Oz was first introduced during the second season ofthe juggernaut hit, and he swiftly emerged as one of the show’s most prominent stars due to his endearing chemistry with his on-screen love interest Willow (Alyson Hannigan). Oz is a quiet and stoic musician who struggled with his werewolf tendencies. He was highly-intelligent and compassionate, and his profound love for Willow left viewers swooning week-after-week. Green appeared onBuffyfrom seasons two to four, and he remains extremely popular and instantly recognizable among the drama’s die-hard fans to this day.Stream on Hulu.
1Chris Griffin — Family Guy
While there is no denying that Seth Green has left his mark when it comes to physical acting roles in television and films, yet he is perhaps the most well-known for providing his vocals for over two decades as Chris Griffin in the 1999 adult animated sitcom wonderFamily Guy. Green plays the unintelligent and awkward middle sibling Chris, sharing the screen with a star-studded cast including Seth McFarlane, Mila Kunis, and Alex Borstein in the raunchy and risque television staple.
Why It’s Great
There’s a reason thatFamily Guyhas animpressive 22 seasonsunder its belt, and that’s because McFarlane assembled a talented cast and crew whose mission is to make audiences all across the world laugh while keeping them entertained. Chris is truly a mini-version of his dim-witted dad Peter, and despite not being the brightest crayon in the box, has nonetheless earned the love of viewers with his dim-witted hijinks. Greenrevealed to a Comic-Con panelthat the character’s voice was “originally a sort of play on Buffalo Bill fromSilence of the Lambs. And the original pitch was just so weird I guess everybody liked it.”
Series creatorMcFarlane was blown awayby Green’s unique approach to bringing Chris to life, noting that the seasoned star went against the grain in his audition: “Everyone was coming in, doing surfer dude voices based on the look of the design. Seth was the only one who came in and did something way off the rails.“Family Guyis still going strong after more than two decades and has been renewed for a 23rd season.Stream on Hulu.
