Yahoo! TV Blog

'The Stepfather': Which TV Star Is the Best Bad Dad?

By Zach Oat, TWoP | Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 2:59 PM

Terry O’Quinn and Dylan Walsh

Shout Factory!/Carlton International Media Ltd.
Screen Gems, Inc.

Twenty-two years ago, the world discovered Terry O'Quinn in his first major role in "The Stepfather." Playing a serial marrier/killer of widows who takes the place at the head of each family until the illusion of perfection is inevitably shattered, at which point he slaughters them all and moves on, O'Quinn stood out in the role as a truly disturbed individual. This month, after two sequels (one without O'Quinn), the movie is being remade with Dylan Walsh in the lead role. Let's see how these veteran TV actors stack up against each other, stepfather to stepfather.

Most Famous Role

O'Quinn: John Locke, "Lost"
Locke rocks an awesome eye scar and messianic beatitude that stands in sharp contrast to his crummy life story pre-plane crash.

Walsh: Sean McNamara, "Nip/Tuck"
Originally the more grounded, boring member of a pair of flashy plastic surgeons, Sean has slowly descended to the level of his hedonistic partner Christian Troy.

Winner: O'Quinn

First Regular TV Gig

O'Quinn: "The Doctors"

O'Quinn played Dr. Jerry Dancy in this daytime soap, which saw a lot of big names go through its doors in its 20 years on the air, including Ellen Burstyn, Alec Baldwin and Kathleen Turner.

Walsh: "Kate & Allie"
At the age of 24, Walsh played the boyfriend of Allie's daughter, Jennie, which gives him only one degree of separation from Jane Curtin.

Winner: Walsh

Preferred Roles

O'Quinn: Military Men
He's been a colonel on "NCIS," an admiral on "JAG" and "Star Trek," a general on "West Wing" and "Harsh Realm" and the FBI assistant director on "Alias."

Walsh: Cops
He was a patrolman on the short-lived series "Brooklyn South," a detective in "Blood Work" and a cop-turned-robber in "The Almost Perfect Bank Robbery."

Winner: O'Quinn

After-School Special Experience

O'Quinn: "The Hand Me Down Kid"
This ABC Afterschool Special starred Tracey Gold as a girl who borrows her sister's bike when she gets tired of hand-me downs. O'Quinn played her dad.

Walsh: "Soldier Boys"
In this CBS Schoolbreak Special, Walsh played a teenager who engages in fantasy war games with his friends, until it spills over into real life.

Winner: Walsh

Film Debut

O'Quinn: "Heaven's Gate"
O'Quinn played an army captain in one of the costliest flops in movie history.

Walsh: "Loverboy"
Walsh played a jerk trying to steal Patrick Dempsey's girl in this movie about a pizza delivery boy and part-time gigolo.

Winner: Walsh

Historical Roles Played

O'Quinn: Howard Hughes in The Rocketeer
O'Quinn brought to life the aviation pioneer in this movie about a stolen prototype jetpack.

Walsh: Jim Shemwell in Lost Holiday: The Jim and Suzanne Shemwell Story
Walsh played one half of an estranged married couple who were trapped in a blizzard while on vacation.

Winner: O'Quinn

Breakout Movie

O'Quinn: "Stepfather"
Of the movie, Roger Ebert wrote: "[It] has one wonderful element: Terry O'Quinn's performance."

Walsh: "Congo"
As a scientist who taught a gorilla how to talk through a sign language-interpreting voice box, Walsh faced off with killer apes in the heart of Africa.

Winner: O'Quinn

WINNER: It's Terry O'Quinn by a nose!

Watch the trailer for Dylan Walsh's "The Stepfather" here:

Talk About It: Which TV veteran is the better "stepfather"?

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