5 Best Roles of Walton Goggins Aside from The White Lotus Season 3

Walton Goggins is one of those rare actors who can effortlessly slip into any role and give it the level of complexity and depth it deserves. It's hard to say that he fits into any of the existing norms that Hollywood has created over the years to categorize its stars, because the man is simply a unique figure.

Known for his rugged charm and ability to play both sinister and sympathetic characters, Goggins has built an impressive career in television and cinema. And his role as Rick in The White Lotus season 3 proves it once again.

But there's so much more to his career, and here we picked 5 of his best roles that highlight his range as an actor.

1. Boyd Crowder in Justified ( 2010-2015)

Perhaps one of Goggins' most iconic roles. Boyd Crowder is a character that perfectly showcases the actor's ability to balance charm and menace. A former coal miner and lifelong criminal, Boyd is an antagonist who becomes both a foil and a complex ally for Timothy Olyphant's titular character, Raylan Givens.

Throughout the show's six seasons, Goggins portrays Boyd as a cunning, resourceful, and at times surprisingly philosophical character, making him one of the most memorable villains on television.

2. Sheriff Chris Mannix in The Hateful Eight (2015)

In Tarantino's The Hateful Eight, Walton Goggins plays Sheriff Chris Mannix, who is introduced as a sheriff who claims to be on his way to assume his new post in a small town, but it is soon revealed that his loyalties and motivations are far more complex.

Mannix starts out as a seemingly innocent character, but as the movie progresses, his true nature and past come to light. Goggins portrays him with a mix of bravado and vulnerability, making him both an unpredictable and entertaining presence in Quentin Tarantino 's epic.

“The Hateful Eight is where I first really watched Walton Goggins (I forgot he was in Django Unchained at that point) and while watching it in the theater, Goggins probably garnered the most laughter. Especially when Joe Gage says he's the one that poisoned the coffee,” Redditor Startug said.

3. Shane Vendrell in The Shield (2002-2008)

In The Shield, Goggins plays Shane Vendrell, a corrupt cop who becomes deeply entangled in a web of moral compromise, violence and betrayal. His performance in this groundbreaking series is nothing short of mesmerizing. Shane starts off as a loyal, if somewhat morally ambiguous, member of the Strike Team. However, his character later falls into a spiral of guilt, desperation, and dangerous choices.

“The Most Underrated TV Character - Shane Vendrell. Over the past few weeks I rewatched the entire series again. I enjoyed it even more the second time but was amazed at how much I didn't appreciate Shane the first time. I also completely underestimated the utter devastation of the end of that character's arc. Goggins is an all-time favorite of mine, but he'll always be Shane Vendrell,” Redditor chisslerr said.

4. Lee Russell in Vice Principals (2016-2017)

Vice Principals stars Walton Goggins as Lee Russell, a manipulative, self-serving high school vice principal who will stop at nothing to climb the educational hierarchy. The show, created by Danny McBride and Jody Hill, follows Goggins' character as he teams up with Neal Gamby, played by McBride, to seize control of the school.

Goggins is at his comedic best here, playing a character who is really despicable yet oddly charming. Lee's exaggerated emotional instability is played to hilarious effect, with Goggins adding layers of complexity to what could have been a purely villainous role.

5. Baby Billy Freeman in The Righteous Gemstones (2019-)

Another role that cemented Goggins' talents as an actor is that of Baby Billy Freeman in The Righteous Gemstones. Baby Billy is a former child star and the estranged brother of the Gemstones' late mother. He returns to the family with his own agenda, causing havoc and pushing for his share of the family fortune.

His character is, as always, a mix of charm, bitterness, and deeply flawed ambition. Goggins brings a remarkable level of depth and humor to Baby Billy, portraying him as a washed-up figure clinging to his past glory while still trying to claim his relevance in a world that has long since moved on.