Add Poker Player to Kevin Pollak’s Resume – 5 Films to See Him In

One of the funniest stand up comedians in the business is also a fine actor who has been a part of 3 films that appears in some people's Best Films Ever list, and now you can add success in the world of professional poker this past weekend - this is Kevin Pollak!

Pollak took a pay cut (by his own admission jokingly) to play in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker this past week.  He was playing with other celebrities like Jason Alexander (who was sporting a full head of hair), Ray Romano, and Brad Garrett to name a few.  Past years has seen Don Chedale, Shannon Elizabeth, Ben Affleck, and Lou Diamond Phillips (again, just to name a few) take part in the $10,000 buy-in event.

Pollak got the poker bug when he was filming Casino in 1995 - lost of spare time and you are in a Vegas casino equaled Pollak's education.  Pollak showed his passion for poker when he was hosting Celebrity Poker Showdown for Bravo between 2003-2004.  His mission in Vegas this past week was to play and promote the new Hollywood Poker website.  By the weekend, Kevin Pollak had survived a minefield of over 6,800 poker players to finish 134th - good for over $52,000 (yes, a pay cut for Kevin!)

The 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event will soon be seen on ESPN, and you will see Pollak a good amount flexing his poker skills and his sense of humor.

Kevin Pollak does some of the best impressions in comedy today, and has for decades.  His impressions of William Shatner, Christopher Walker, and Alan Arkin are legendary - he was not afraid to break into those impressions while he played at the poker table.  No idea if ESPN caught him on camera doing that, but here are some moments to behold of Kevin doing his stand-up:

On top of his comedy, Kevin Pollak has a resume approaching 100 films to his credit.  He has run the gambit of characters, but his best have been in dramatic leaning roles.  These 5 films are worth your time and money - you know them well and may have forgotten Pollak's talents (shame on you!):

1) Casino (1995)

Surrounded by Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone, you may have forgotten that Kevin played casino owner Phillip Green (the man DeNiro's character served, but was also "the boss" while Green was away).  Encore is running this flick a great deal lately, no there is no excuse to check out a "New Classic".

2) The Usual Suspects (1995)

Rated one of the 30 Best Films of All Time by IMDB, this piece of work was the highlight of the careers of Gabriel Byrne and Steven Baldwin, the early start of Kevin Spacey and Chazz Palminteri, and why 1995 was a huge year for Pollak, who was brilliant as Todd Hockney.  Some may debate Pollak's best performance of his career because of his role in a film 3 years earlier.

3) A Few Good Men (1992)

4 Oscar nominations, and Jack Nicholson's memorable "You Can't Handle The Truth" line ........... fact it this was a Nicholson tour-de-force performance, but Tom Cruise held his own with the great Jack.  Pollak more than held his own with Tom and Demi Moore defending 2 marines in military court as Lt. Sam Weinberg.  His scene explaing why he did not like these marines that much showed his power opposite Hollywood heavyweights.

4) The Whole Nine Yards (2000)

Just for the accent he speaks with, Pollak was the funniest part of this flick that earned over $100 Million worldwide.  Bruce Willis as "Jimmy The Tulip" was cool, and Matthew Perry had one of his strongest film moments as "Oz", but Pollak's role as Janni Gogolak stole this comedy.

5) She's All That (1999)

Cute teen film of the era where Kevin played a dad to Rachael Leigh Cook.  You know this is a guilty pleasure film for you, but next time watch Kevin played a father with warmth and heart.