What do directors and casting agents look for in an actor? Obviously, resume and experience. Suitability to the role. But what is also marketable is distinctiveness. Memorableness in appearance or voice.
It's not always the handsome actors who stay employed. Often it's the reverse. Actors unusually marked or homely may find roles not available to others. For example:
Ron Perlman. One of my favorite actors, beginning with his role on the TV series "Beauty and the Beast." Liked him in "City of Lost Children" too. Haven't seen the "Hellboy" series.
Richard Lynch, burn victim, who found himself more in demand after his accident than before. Arch villain of the B movies.
Tommy Flanagan, the recipient of a "glasgow smile" as gangsters slashed his mouth; you will remember from "Gladiator." "300," and "Braveheart," among others. I don't know if plastic surgery could hide his scars but if so, he'd probably have more trouble finding work.
Billy Drago, who is almost handsome in an eerie psychotic bent way. Like Lynch, he has made a comfortable living playing psychotic, homicidal bad guys. Remember him as the hitman in "The Untouchables"?
Dyrk Ashton, who has a hell of a resume in the theater and movie business and sometimes, thanks partly to his unique appearance, acts. Check out his myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/dyrkkhan
We might also mention Danny DeVito, John Malkovich, Richard Kiel, and Christopher Walken. Many others. I'll try to add them as I think of them.
ADDED--
Point being that what keeps you employed as an actor is not so much a pretty face which are a dollar a dozen with inflation, but a distinctive memorable face that fits in with the characters being played.
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