Even as busy as I am, I can’t resist taking a moment to wish happy birthday to one of the coolest actors out there, in my humble opinion: Bill Nighy!

Nighy has been acting since the late 1970s, though he really caught my attention around the turn of the century, when he took on a number of great and unique roles: obnoxious aging rock star Billy Mack in Love Actually, Shaun’s barely-alive stepfather in Shaun of the Dead, Slartibartfast in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, squidly Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean:  Dead Man’s Chest, and the smug Chief Inspector in Hot Fuzz.

Nighy is one of those actors who really livens up any movie he’s in, even making otherwise annoying films enjoyable, such as Dead Man’s Chest and the very silly Underworld.

I see via IMDB that he’ll have a role as Rufus Scrimgeour in the two final Harry Potter films, and is a perfect choice for a role in that series!

For me, though, I think I love his turn as Billy Mack the most.  Even if you’re not a fan of romantic comedies, Love Actually is worth watching just for the fun Nighy has as a rock star past his prime and willing to say and do anything to regain the spotlight!

Happy birthday to Bill Nighy!