10 Best Tony Shalhoub Movies & TV Shows Ranked

Summary Starting with anonymous roles, Tony Shalhoub worked his way up to become a constant TV and movie presence.

Shalhoub's diverse characters, from meek to heroic, consistently add palpable energy and memorability to any screen.

In iconic roles like Luigi in Cars and Adrian Monk in Monk, Shalhoub's performances have earned critical acclaim and awards.

Over Tony Shalhoub's long career, the actor has worked in popular franchises, cult films, and hit TV shows, which have made him a cross-generational star. Shalhoub began acting on the stage in the early 1980s, primarily as a part of the American Repertory Theater. He did not get his first on-screen role until 1986 when he appeared in both the television show The Equalizer as an unnamed terrorist and the film Heartburn as an unnamed flight passenger. Despite the anonymous nature of these roles, they opened the door for Shalhoub to become a constant presence in TV and movies.

Shalhoub's characters run the gambit from being meek, eccentric men to capable, and even sometimes heroic characters who can surprise themselves and others with their courage and loyalty. Rarely has a year gone by where Shalhoub hasn't appeared as a guest on a TV show or in a small role in a movie. Even when he's playing the fourth lead in 1408 as Sam Farrell or has a small guest arc in Nurse Jackie as Dr. Bernard Prince, Shalhoub gives a fantastic effort and brings palpable energy to the screen that instantly makes any scene he's a part of memorable.

Related The 30 Best TV Shows On Amazon Prime Video (May 2024) Amazon Prime Video is one of the fastest-growing streaming services in the market, offering incredible original shows such as The Boys and Fleabag.

10 Cars Franchise (2006-2017)

Tony Shalhoub Voices Luigi

Cars Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director John Lasseter , Joe Ranft Release Date June 8, 2006 Cast Owen Wilson , Paul Newman , Bonnie Hunt , Larry the Cable Guy , Cheech Marin , Tony Shalhoub Runtime 116 minutes

Tony Shalhoub entered the Pixar family when he voiced Luigi, a yellow 1959 Fiat 500, in 2006's Cars, reappearing in Cars 2 (2011) and Cars 3 (2017). Luigi is one of the best characters from the Cars franchise and the owner of "Luigi's Casa Della Tires" in Radiator Springs.

An Italian immigrant, Luigi favors Italian cars, like Ferrari and Maserati, and has dreamed of fitting tires on them if they would ever come into his shop. Luigi and his partner Guido (Guido Quaroni) end up becoming the pit crew for Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and travel with him around the world in the next two movies.

A voice acting role in a Pixar film is a feather in many celebrated actors' caps and signals a recognizability by the industry and audiences alike. Shalhoub makes good use of his time in the Cars movies, affecting an accent that isn't insulting and allows him to convey a lot of motion with just a few lines.

9 Thirteen Ghosts (2001)

Tony Shalhoub Plays Arthur Kriticos

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Steve Beck Release Date October 26, 2001 Cast F. Murray Abraham , Embeth Davidtz , matthew lillard , Shannon Elizabeth , Tony Shalhoub Runtime 91 minutes

When Thirteen Ghosts first released in 2001, reviews were not particularly laudatory and the film still has a 19% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, in the intervening years, the haunted house story starring Tony Shalhoub as Arthur Kriticos has become something of a cult favorite. Often stylized as THIR13EN Ghosts, the film follows the Kriticos family, who inherit the mansion of their ghost-hunting uncle (Cyrus F. Murray Abraham) after he dies, only to discover he trapped the spirits he captured in the mansion.

The major issue with the film is that there is not much in the way of scares, but the incredible set design of the mansion, the surprising and creative gore, intricate lore that includes backstories for each of the 13 ghosts, and a fantastic cast led by Shalhoub all add up to a film that has aged quite well. Shalhoub grows from an unsure father into a heroic guardian of his kids, and his mix of comedy and fear works to keep the audience guessing whether he will survive the film or not.

Related What The Thirteen Ghosts Cast Has Done Since 2001 2001's hidden gem horror Thirteen Ghosts helped launch several actors to stardom. Here's what the cast of the film has done in the years since.

8 Spy Kids Franchise (2001-2003)

Tony Shalhoub Plays Mr. Alexander "Alex" Minion

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Tony Shalhoub dips his toes into a villainous role as Alexander Minion in Spy Kids, and returns for both Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. In the first film, Minion is the second-in-command behind Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming), who wants to help Mr. Lisp (Robert Patrick) takes over the world.

When Floop gets cold feet, Minion turns on his old boss, but he's defeated and transformed into a monstrous Fooglie by the Cortez spy family. After the first film, the four-headed Minion becomes a confidant of the Cortezs, having made up with them and Floop.

All movies in the Spy Kids franchise are available to stream on Paramount+.

The first three films of the Spy Kids franchise were largely successful thanks to the over-qualified cast in each of the films, and that goes for Shalhoub too. For those whose first experience of the actor was as the villainous Minion, his ability to play menacing and dangerous colored all his performances after.

7 Barton Fink (1991)

Tony Shalhoub Plays Ben Geisler

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Joel Coen , Ethan Coen Release Date August 1, 1991 Cast John Turturro , John Goodman , Judy Davis , Michael Lerner , John Mahoney , Tony Shalhoub Runtime 116 minutes

Tony Shalhoub has appeared in two Coen brothers movies, Barton Fink and The Man Who Wasn't There. It's generally agreed that Barton Fink is the more successful of those two Coen brothers' movies, which is just as well because Shalhoub's performance as producer Ben Geisler is better than his role as Freddy Riedenschneider. Barton Fink follows the titular character, played by John Turturro, who is hired by a film studio to write scripts, though it's a Coen film, so much more goes wrong.

Geisler is a frenetic, hyperactive, fast-talking producer who is both exhausted and excited by Fink. Shalhoub's physical acting in his scenes is fantastic. He bends his body down, leaning on his elbows and ticking his head like a maniacal clock hand, all the while yelling at Fink for issues that seem to change every sentence. Shalhoub more than fits into the wacky, darkly funny Coen brothers' world.

6 Men In Black Franchise (1997-2002)

Tony Shalhoub Plays Jack Jeebs

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Barry Sonnenfeld Release Date July 2, 1997 Cast Tommy Lee Jones , Rip Torn , Linda Fiorentino , Will Smith , Vincent D'Onofrio Runtime 98 minutes Budget $90 million

Men in Black (1997) and Men in Black II (2002) combined made over one billion dollars at the global box office (via Box Office Mojo) and led to a multimedia franchise including more sequels, spin-offs, TV shows, and plenty of toys. In both films, Tony Shalhoub plays Jack Jeebs, an alien posing as a human pawnstore owner. He also makes money on the side selling illegal alien artifacts, but the Men in Black don't hassle him too much, considering how often he has just the tech or weapon they need.

Jeebs' non-human, alien characteristics are revealed multiple times throughout the series in a running gag where a character either unintentionally or angrily vaporizes Jeebs' head. He doesn't die, and instead, his head grows back from a tiny pinhead until it's a normal size, all while he yells obscenities. It never fails to get a laugh, and it ensures that Shalhoub is one of the best aliens in the Men in Black franchise.

5 Galaxy Quest (1999)

Tony Shalhoub Plays Fred Kwan

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buy Not available Not available Not available An homage to classic science fiction and its fandom, Galaxy Quest follows a group of actors from a fictional cult classic sci-fi series who are unwittingly embroiled in a real space conflict when aliens who believe the series is real abduct them and ask for their help defeating a tyrant threatening their people. Starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Daryl Mitchell, and Sam Rockwell, the film features many references and parodies of classic sci-fi films and shows, mainly Star Trek. Director Dean Parisot Release Date December 25, 1999 Cast Daryl Mitchell , Sam Rockwell , Sigourney Weaver , Tim Allen , Tony Shalhoub , Alan Rickman Runtime 102 minutes Budget $45 million

Galaxy Quest is a science fiction comedy that follows the spoiled and bitter cast of the titular famous television show, a sci-fi spoof of Star Trek, Red Dwarf, and other similar series. The movie's cast, which includes Fred Qwan (Tony Shalhoub) as Tech Sergeant Chen, is drafted into a real-life alien conflict when the aliens assume their show is a documentary.

In space, they are all forced to actually get along instead of faking it for the camera. Galaxy Quest predicted that fandom would begin to look like in the 2000s and 2010s as fans on the internet began to blur the lens between their favorite shows and real life. Shalhoub plays a much different sort of character than he usually does.

Qwan is deadpan in all his dealings and the only castmate who has no problem with the others. He's the most adept at dealing with space as well, and his journey from meek engineer to hero who gets the girl at the end is a satisfying side story.

4 Big Night (1996)

Tony Shalhoub Plays Primo

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Big Night is an underseen and underrated comedy-drama with an all-star cast that includes Stanley Tucci, Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, Allison Janney, and Tony Shalhoub. Shaloub plays Primo, an Italian immigrant and owner of a restaurant. Primo and his brother Secondo (Tucci) plan a free evening at their restaurant in hopes of drumming up business in 1950s New Jersey.

Coming well before The Bear, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and even something more comparable like Julie & Julia, Big Night is a modern food film, with gorgeous dishes to match.

A tightly written script with funny and heartfelt dialogue, Big Night is bolstered by impressive performances, including a winning one from Shalhoub. Primo is a hyper-serious chef who only wants to make the food he views as palatable and refuses to budge on his vision. He goes from funny to enraged to pitiful throughout the film, showcasing a broad range.

Watch on Paramount+

3 Wings (1990-1997)

Tony Shalhoub Plays Antonio Scarpacci (144 Episodes, 1991-1997)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Release Date April 19, 1990 Cast Tim Daly , Steven Weber , Crystal Bernard , Thomas Haden Church , David Schramm , Rebecca Schull , Tony Shalhoub , Farrah Forke , Amy Yasbeck Seasons 8 Creator(s) David Angell , Peter Casey , David Lee

Tony Shalhoub's first major role came on the sitcom Wings, where he plays Antonio Scarpacci, an Italian immigrant taxi driver who operates a service that takes people to and from the airport, ensuring he's ingrained in the lives of every pilot on the show. Wings premiered in April 1990 and lasted for eight seasons. Shalhoub came to the series in season 2, episode 17, "Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places", but he didn't become a series regular until season 3.

Tony Shalhoub on Wings First Appearance Season 2, Episode 17, "Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places" Last Appearance Season 8, Episode 24, "Final Approach: Part 2" # of Appearances 144

Scarpacci is mild-mannered but a completely hopeless romantic who often falls for the wrong girl over and over again. Created by the same team who produced and directed Cheers and Frasier, Wings was a beloved continuation of the universe and Shalhoub created an indelible character as Scarpacci. He's a quick-witted, down-on-his-luck, and ultimately, lovable cab driver who adds something special to the cast.

2 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023)

Tony Shalhoub Plays Abe Weissman (43 Episodes, 2017-2023)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Miriam “Midge” Maisel is a 1958 New York City woman who has everything she’s ever wanted—the perfect husband, two kids, and an elegant Upper West Side apartment perfect for hosting Yom Kippur dinner. But her perfect life suddenly takes an unexpected turn and Midge discovers a previously unknown talent for stand-up comedy—a talent that changes her life forever. Release Date March 17, 2017 Cast Rachel Brosnahan , Kevin Pollak , Caroline Aaron , Jane Lynch , Marin Hinkle , Michael Zegen , Tony Shalhoub , Alex Borstein Seasons 5 Showrunner Rachel Brosnahan

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a five-season period comedy created by Gilmore Girls' Amy Sherman-Pallandino and starring, Rachel Brosnahan as Miriam "Midge" Maisel, the titular housewife turned stand-up comic. Tony Shalhoub co-stars in the series as Abe Weissman, Midge's father, an erudite mathematics professor at Columbia University. His journey on the show mirrors his daughter as he eventually quits academia and becomes a theater critic for The Village Voice.

Though he is generally no-nonsense, Abe is a loving and supportive father who only wants what's best for his daughter. As a testament to his performance, Shalhoub earned four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, winning once in 2019, and he went two for two at the SAGs for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series in 2018 and 2019. Shalhoub's portrayal of a man thawing from a stereotypical 1950s chauvinistic type to an accepting father is touching to watch.

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1 Monk (2002-2023)

Tony Shalhoub Plays Adrian Monk (124 Episodes, 2002-2023)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Starring Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, Monk follows the titular detective, a private investigator with OCD who helps solve crimes with the San Francisco Police. On the side, he also investigates the death of his wife, who was killed by a car bomb. Bitty Schram, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford also star. Release Date July 12, 2002 Cast Tony Shalhoub Seasons 8

Tony Shalhoub's most enduring role is as Adrian Monk, a police detective who experiences a nervous breakdown after the murder of his wife and takes a leave from the force. After her death, Monk's OCD and phobias intensify and get to the point where he is said to have over 300 phobias.

Premiering in July 2002, and lasting eight seasons, Monk earned Shalhoub seven Golden Globe nominations with one win, eight Emmy nominations with three wins, and eight SAG nominations with two wins if the 2023 TV movie Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie is included. It's the defining role of Shalhoub's career and his most well-rounded performance.

Monk is part Sherlock Holmes, part House, and part Mr. Bean as he gets into all kinds of conundrums thanks to his many phobias, but also has the attention to detail that makes him an excellent crime solver. It's a careful and nuanced performance by Tony Shalhoub and the perfect fit between actor and character.