When the Eyes Say Everything
(for fun listen while reading)
In black-and-white movies, without dialogue, actors depend on their emotions and body language to convey what they’re feeling. And nothing is more important than the eyes.
Eyes are the windows to the soul — they show us how a person feels. Tears fall, eyes wrinkle and twinkle — the works!
Being good at acting with your eyes isn't exactly rare — all good actors do it. But there are some whom audiences regard as masters of it, where the eyes become their standout asset.
For many iconic actors, sometimes it's their voice, their charisma, or some other physical trait that makes them memorable. But when an actor has a striking pair of eyes and knows how to use them, that's when acting becomes magic.
I learned — or maybe I was reminded — just how important the eyes are when I enrolled in an acting course. Not all the students could do it. But there was one particular student with round bulging eyes, and for him, it came naturally. His eye expressions helped make his dialogue feel more authentic.
Now, I’m not saying that if you don’t have big eyes, you can’t act. Plenty of talented actors with beady or narrow eyes deliver powerful performances. (I have fox-like eyes myself, and I won’t let that stop me from acting!) No wonder Jeff Blim, a fellow beady-eyed actor, once joked that he wished he had his buddy Jon Matteson’s bulging eyes. But like I said — if you do have that natural advantage, you’re fortunate. The key is knowing how to use it.
I looked up some lists online and found several actors who are known for acting with their eyes. From silent film legend Buster Keaton to Tony Leung, a revered actor often nicknamed “Asia’s Favorite Eyes” and “The Man Who Can Speak with His Eyes,” these performers prove that spoken words aren’t always necessary. A single look can convey fear, desire, sadness, or even love — all without a line of dialogue.
A lot of people have their own answers to the question, "Who are the best actors who act with their eyes?" Some repeated answers like Tom Hardy, Al Pacino, Cillian Murphy... but let me throw in my longtime favorite actor who acts distinguishingly well with his peepers.
Which brings me to another famous Tony: Tony Hale.
If you’re a millennial and a comedy fan like me, you probably already know Buster Bluth. Hale’s performance in Arrested Development is both hilarious and quietly tragic — and so much of that comes through his eyes. Even when he’s not saying anything, his expressions are loud. His eyes do the talking, especially in those awkward silences or ridiculous overreactions that make Buster so iconic.
In several scenes, he wears dead, checked-out eyes while playing his first iconic TV role, Buster Bluth, lost in thought, which makes visual gags hit harder — like when he’s shown as a test subject (twice!!) in a sleep-deprivation experiment.
But what really stands out is the sudden switch — when his eyes go from innocently happy to maniacally intense. That rapid shift is what makes Tony Hale’s comedic timing so brilliant — and so delightfully unsettling.
Arrested Development earned critical acclaim and recognition for its cast. But before we get to the role that won Tony Hale his two Emmys (Veep), let’s rewind to 2010 and talk about a lesser-known gem: the indie comedy/romance Happythankyoumoreplease.
If you’ve seen that film, you probably already know which scene I’m about to bring up.
In the early scenes of Happythankyoumoreplease, Tony Hale’s character, Sam #2, comes across as a pushy, awkward suitor to Malin Åkerman’s character, Annie. (Fun fact: years later, the two would play husband and wife in the period drama To the Stars. Their dynamic in that one is completely different — the power balance is reversed, shaped by the 1960s era it was set.)
At first glance, you might think, “Oh, he’s a desperate creep who can’t take a hint,” especially based on Annie’s clear disinterest. (I mean, as a fellow superficial gal myself, I can’t blame her — he does kind of look like a guy who makes balloon animals for a living. For the record, Sam #2 is actually a lawyer who works in the same office as Annie.)
And yes — Tony Hale absolutely nails the role of a guy who seems hopelessly smitten and maybe a little too forward.
But in the scenes that follow, something shifts. We begin to see Sam #2 differently — and like Annie, we start to feel a little guilty for judging him too quickly. Beneath that awkward first impression is someone thoughtful, kind, and emotionally intelligent. He turns out to be a sensible, grounded romantic — someone worth paying attention to.
Then comes the scene: the dinner scene. 👉 Watch it here
I don’t think I even need to describe what’s happening in that moment.
You can see it — in his eyes.
But if I have to, the scene relies heavily on mid-close-ups and close-ups, showing just how much the director and editor trusted the actors’ faces — especially their eyes — to carry the emotional weight. And Tony Hale delivers. At first, there are tears welling in his eyes, filled with worry and longing, as if he’s afraid that opening up might lead to nothing. But then, as Annie listens — really listens — something changes. His expression shifts into quiet satisfaction. His eyes reflect joy, the kind that comes from finally getting through to someone. No dramatic outburst — just an honest moment, told entirely through a gaze.
You can also read in the Rotten Tomatoes reviews that Tony Hale helped save the film, which critics said was an otherwise average one.
Now, on to Veep.
There really isn’t much difference between Gary Walsh and Buster Bluth — both are anxious, co-dependent, and constantly caught up in absurd situations. That’s been a common critique of Tony Hale’s career: that he’s often pigeonholed into playing the same type — nervous, quirky, eccentric, and the butt of the joke.
But Hale knows how to showcase vulnerability with intense passion. That’s his asset. And no other supporting actor did it better in 2013 and 2015 among the nominees.
If you ever get tired of seeing him play that typecast role, know this — he has played quite different characters.
He’s also played roles with — believe it or not — a spine. From career- and family-devoted dads (both good and abusive), to outgoing men confident in their quirky selves, to independent-minded, manipulative, bloodthirsty killers, to men of expertise, and even unlikely romantic leads.
There’s even the romantic dramedy, Not That Funny (2012), where the camera closes up to his eyes multiple times.
During the pandemic, I kind of stopped keeping up with Tony Hale’s projects or what he was doing. The last new thing I saw him in before my five-year break was Eat Wheaties! — where, yes, he plays the humble guy who embarrasses himself plenty, but this time he turns things around without losing his wholesome self. It’s actually aspirational and relatable.
Fast forward to 2025 — and he had already won his first Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a mixed-gender category for Children's and Family programming. He actually beat some child actors! It was hilarious — there was noticeably more applause when his name was announced compared to the others. I guess people really wanted him to win, and it’s because of a Disney show he was on.
Let me tell you — if you’d told me we’d one day be met with an eye fuck from Tony Hale in a kids’ show, I’d probably say, “Huh?” But it’s true.
In Disney’s The Mysterious Benedict Society, Tony Hale plays the always intensely-eyed Mr. Nathaniel Curtain — the hottie — ahem — the always-coiffed and well-dressed villain. He plays the role with menacing calmness and manipulates people and children into trusting him. He knows exactly what he’s doing with his eyes — from a slow blink to a teasing squint — it’s all calculated. The kind of gaze that says, "Yes, I'm evil, and yes, you're into it." It was villainous, yes — but also suave, sharp, and absurdly attractive. So sometimes it feels less like a stare and more like a full-on eye fuck — and I think (imagine my voice getting higher while you read this) maybe it's for the moms and gay dads that watch the show with their kids? I don't know, but I'm a grown-up woman who only watched the show for that, replaying those eye candy stares. Respectfully, Tony Hale gave us looks that could melt steel beams — and maybe a few parents' inhibitions — making you wonder if you’re still watching a kids' show.
But anyway (let’s fan ourselves), that’s not all. He also plays Mr. Curtain’s twin, Mr. Benedict — his complete opposite. Mr. Benedict is a much older-looking twin, with shaggy hair, bad posture, and worn-out clothes. His constant worry and intense joy are written all over his face — especially in his eyes. And through both of these roles, Tony expresses a full range of emotions: vulnerability, anger, frustration, delight… you name it. Two contrasting characters, side by side — and he nails them both.
Then there’s Sirisco, his role in The Decameron. At first, he’s just a steward — serving his dead master's guests and falling for the fiancée — only to be mistreated and tossed aside by her. But Sirisco isn’t Gary Walsh. After being romantically scorned, he actually defended himself. He pushed back. He held his ground.
And once again, the eyes do a lot of the talking. From the desperation to satisfy demanding guests while keeping a managerial eye on the servants, to the fury and emotional collapse (yes, that lake scene), to the manic rage of a man set on ruining the woman who broke his heart — it’s a whole buffet of eye-acting, and Tony serves it up hot.
Tony Hale isn’t a perfect actor. Even though his eyes are expressive, there are some projects where his role is so upset he would have cried but there are no tears. And he’s not exactly a chameleon. He’ll probably always have that signature quirks — the mannerisms, the laugh, the “hmmmmm” he does when listening to someone. But after three Emmys and a steady push to go beyond the box casting directors originally put him in, I’d say he’s still one of the actors we should always keep an eye on.
Because clearly, he’s got quite a pair of expressive ones.
