November 3, 2009 - 10:45am

The 10 best actors on TV

These 10 pros could teach a master class in the art of acting for TV. Charismatic, complex, and infinitely more skilled than many of their big screen counterparts (Ben Affleck, we’re talking about you) they keep us tuning in week after week. 

10. January Jones (Mad Men)
As ‘60s housewife Betty Draper, Jones’ emotional temperature changes with the weather—she loves her kids, she hates her kids, loves Don, hates Don. For a standard-issue TV cupcake—we won’t even get into her ridiculous beauty—she’s remarkably real.

9. Brian F. O’Byrne (Brotherhood, FlashForward)
If you missed the Showtime series Brotherhood, I have good news and bad news. The good news: all three seasons are available on DVD. The bad news: your indifference to one of cable TV’s best shows put a number of great actors out on the street. Brian F. O’Byrne was one of them. Fortunately, the Tony award-winning actor has bounced back with a role as workingman Aaron Stark on ABC’s new sci-fi drama FlashForward. My only complaint: too little O'Byrne. Here’s hoping the series makes better use of the actor in future episodes.

8. David Costabile (Damages)
You won’t recognize his name, but his face should be familiar. The versatile actor’s C.V. includes stints on The Wire and a recurring role as superfan Mel’s hapless husband on the HBO comedy Flight of the Conchords. His role as creepy detective Rick Messer on Damages, however, gave the character actor an opportunity to let his evil flag fly. Costabile is a human GPS: the actor has range for miles and miles.