Here's Why 'The Diplomat' Star Bradley Whitford Looks *So* Familiar

Whitford is probably best known for playing Josh Lyman in another political show that also starred Janney, The West Wing. The long-running series from Aaron Sorkin followed the inner workings of the President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) administration. Whitford's character is the Deputy Chief of Staff and later Chief of Staff.

Whitford also played Danny Tripp in the gone-too-soon Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, opposite Amanda Peet, Matthew Perry and Sarah Paulson.

It's equally possible you recognize Whitford for his villanous roles in Get Out or The Cabin in the Woods (his demise in the latter is particularly incredible). He also had large, memorable roles in The Handmaid's Tale, Transparent and the short-lived Perfect Harmony.

But his work goes back wayyyyy further than that...

Whitford's acting credits on IMDb date back to 1980. Early on in his career, he appeared in huge films like Presumed Innocent, Awakenings, Scent of a Woman and Philadelphia.

He even made an uncredited 1999 appearance on the hit show Felicity which, if you'll recall, also starred The Diplomat's Russell.

My personal first memory of seeing Whitford on screen? That has to be in the ridiculous Adam Sandler comedy Billy Madison. Sandler played a rich kid forced to go back to elementary school in order to inherit his father's fortunes. Whitford played his nemesis, who tried to stop Billy from succeeding at all costs.

While these examples are only the tip of the iceberg, it should be clear by now that there's a very good reason Whitford looks so familiar. It's because he's been in nearly everything. And at the age of 67, it seems that his career likely still has a long way to go.