Finally Taking the Lead

AFTER 34 YEARS AS THAT GUY YOU KNOW FROM SOMETHING, THE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN IS READY FOR HOUSEHOLD NAME FAME 

- GILLIAN TELLING

Given the delightfully unusual name—plus a 34-year career that includes shows like The Shield, Justified and The Righteous Gemstones— you’d think everyone would already know who Walton Goggins is. “I get stopped on the street a lot, but it’s always, ‘Hey, you’re that guy!’” he says with a laugh, adding that his fans span generations. “I have the 30-year-olds that know me from Major League: Back to the Minors or Shanghai Noon, but even if they recognize me, they still get my name wrong. It’s usually ‘I love your work, Walter Scriggins!’”