Movies

Alan Tudyk: Resident alien, android and voice actor

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Alan Tudyk, who had already built a strong reputation within genre circles following his work in “Firefly” and other projects, landed his first leading role on a TV series at close to fifty years old, starring as the alien character Harry Vanderspeigle in Syfy’s “Resident Alien.” Despite his recognition and popularity, particularly among fans of Nathan Fillion after their roles together in “Firefly,” it took him until this point to secure a major starring role. Notably, his 2015 web series “Con Man,” which is based on his experiences at sci-fi conventions and co-stars Fillion as an altered version of themselves, was funded through a highly successful crowdfunding campaign that raised over $3 million from nearly 47,000 backers. This demonstrates the enduring appeal of Tudyk to audiences.

While “Resident Alien” may not be considered breakthrough due to Tudyk’s extensive career dating back to the late 20th century, both on screen and stage, it has undeniably kept him prominent in the public eye over a long period in an exceptional series where he seems perfectly suited for the role. However, his career has often been understated, with a parallel focus as a voice artist, starting with minor roles in “Ice Age” in 2002. Since then, he’s become a go-to talent for studios, much like a lucky charm, lending his voice to numerous animated films such as “Frozen,” “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia,” “Moana,” “Encanto,” and “Wish.” He also played the Joker in “Harley Quinn” and voices Optimus Prime in “Transformers: EarthSpark.” His roles include motion capture and voice-over performances, such as Sonny the emotional android in “I, Robot” and K-2SO in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” reprising this role in “Andor.” This list is merely a small glimpse into his vast body of work in animation and sci-fi, which is highly valued among fans who are well aware of his contributions.

The TV series “Resident Alien,” currently in its fourth season on Syfy, USA, and Peacock (with earlier seasons available on Netflix, boosting its popularity), is a humorous small-town drama with undertones of impending doom. In this show, Tudyk’s alien character, initially appearing as the new local doctor but in actuality a giant, eyed, noseless humanoid with octopus DNA, kills the previous doctor in the first episode (it’s alright since we later learn that the doctor was actually an assassin). The alien, who has learned English from reruns of “Law & Order,” will manage to convincingly impersonate Harry and even integrate into the community, ultimately benefiting from this experience. Compared to local norms, at least. Essentially, it’s a tale about an out-of-place creature, but in this case, the creature has been sent to eliminate all other Earth creatures – I use metaphor here as he isn’t actually targeting fish species, rather saving them from a malicious alien race.

Television

In the upcoming science fiction comedy-drama, airing Wednesday on Syfy, Alan Tudyk plays the role of an extraterrestrial who finds himself stranded on Earth.

Some actors burst onto the scene and become instantly famous, while others gradually make their way into public awareness, sneaking in through a side entrance – this route can sometimes lead to a more diverse and prolonged career. Tudyk is an actor who seems to have established himself, even though he’s been working for a long time. He might catch you off guard, appearing in various roles on shows like “Strangers With Candy,” “Frasier,” “Arrested Development” or “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” or repeating the line “Cramped!” in a scene from “Patch Adams,” or in movies such as “Wonder Boys,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” and “3:10 to Yuma.” You might find yourself saying, “Hey, that’s Alan Tudyk,” (and maybe adding, “He hasn’t aged a bit.”) It was the 2011 ABC sitcom “Suburgatory,” which I was fond of even if it wasn’t popular with many others, where he played the perplexed best friend of lead actor Jeremy Sisto. Together with his role in “Firefly,” these performances solidified Tudyk as an actor I would always be pleased to see.

He possesses an appealing, everyday kind of good looks that might not meet traditional leading man standards, but this just highlights the narrowness of such ideals. His eyes are slightly close-set, and his lips are thin, yet these subtle features add a gentle softness to him which complements or contrasts effectively with his character traits, depending on whether they lean towards good or bad, calm or hysterical.

In the latest season of “Resident Alien,” an alien praying mantis has assumed Harry’s human form, creating a chilling dual performance that deceives even his friends while also raising fears about cannibalism. This transformation makes his robots more relatable and gives depth to his more eccentric characters such as Mr. Nowhere, the villain from “Doom Patrol,” who comments on the series from beyond the fourth wall, inhabiting a white void where he can be found reading reviews of the show he’s part of – a touch of naturalism that makes these characters feel real.

In a relaxed yet unruly manner, Alan Tudyk never seems at ease. His voice and physicality lack tranquility, instead, he curls his lips within his mouth and molds them into diverse, squishy expressions. It appears as if the actor himself is controlling his own facial movements, or striking a balance between a genuine person and an animated character, in the manner of Chuck Jones or Tex Avery. This portrayal often gives off an impression that Harry is restless to depart from the scene and attend to whatever urgent matters he deems important.

Awards

‘Mork and Mindy,’ Looney Tunes and Mel Brooks all helped shape the actor as a young person.

Despite occasional outbursts, the character’s humor evolves over time, becoming subtler and more whispers or soft comments, intended for others to hear. He frequently boasts about being the most intelligent and powerful entity around, yet he displays the emotional maturity of a child. At a crucial moment, when deprived of his alien abilities, Harry was prepared to give up his entire species in exchange for their return.

Originally, he lacked emotions, but now they overflow within him. Previously, he was gifted a romantic relationship, with Heather (Edi Patterson), an avian extraterrestrial, which persists in the ongoing series; he’s also a parent, showing unprecedented affection — unusual for his species — towards his child, Bridget, a lovable and fearsome little green being. And he cherishes pie.

Tudyk himself appears genuinely amiable, as evidenced by numerous interviews available on YouTube, and my friend David, who worked with him on “Firefly,” described him as kind, grateful, and curious. This friendly demeanor makes him endearing, though whether this should factor into evaluating an actor’s craft is debatable, yet it does in practice.

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2025-07-18 13:33

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