Assuming The Blacklist has one or two seasons left before it goes into syndication (and I'm not sure what to make of recent reports about its stagnating ratings), and continues to draw on the deep pool of acting talent in New York where it's filmed (and other age-appropriate talent), do you know of any actresses and actors who are contemporaries of Red Reddington/James Spader to play Blacklisters, allies, adversaries, or other roles? Recurring  themes and mysteries of TBL involve repercussions of events and interactions that took place 25-30 years ago, making it ideal for casting semi-retired, veteran actors and actresses. *

Here are some of the candidates on my wish list, and the reasons why. (Your nominations invited..)

1. Mili Avital: NY-based semi-retired American-Israeli actress; has played four different roles on Law & Order  (SVU and Criminal Intent), including Russian mail order bride, panicked mother of kidnapped boy, and loopy  heiress); Sheherazade in "Arabian Nights"; and most notably, love interest of Dr. Jackson (James Spader) in "Stargate."  She's a chameleon: can play just about any ethnicity with any accent.
     Unless TBL plans to age up Lotte Verbeek to play KR in 2017, Mili Avital would be perfect (and a nice reunion of actors that'd please Stargate afficionados).

2. Roy Dotrice: He's in his 90's now, but still active. He's the man of a thousand voices who does all of the audiobooks for George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire books. Best remembered for playing "Father" in Beauty and the Beast TV series (w/ Ron Perlman aka Luther Braxton as Vincent "The Beast"), Mozart's father in "Amadeus", and more significantly, the Russian figure skating coach in "The Cutting Edge" ~ 25 years ago. Unrecognizable, but most recently appeared as pyromancer Hallayne (?) who provided the wildfire for Tyrion in the "Blackwater" episode of Game of Thrones. He'd be perfect for any elderly Russian character from KR's or Red's past. His accents are flawless.

3. Linda Fiorentino: Shot to stardom as the femme fatale in "The Last Seduction" ,  the coroner in "Men in Black",  foreign spy in "Gotcha!", and Paul Newman's co-star in "Where the Money Is" [I think that's the title]..., but then kind of vanished from the radar.

4. Laura Benanti: Now plays TV Supergirl's evil aunt and (twin of) deceased mother, and a few months ago appeared as "Melania Trump" in spoofs on Stephen Colbert's show, but she's a Tony Award-winning actress who'd be ideal as associate, foil, rival, or romantic interest for Red.

5. Ned Beatty: If he's still around, I'd love to see him in anything, after seeing his turn in "Hear My Song."

6. Debra Winger: I think she may have gotten fed up with ageism, but anyone who grew up with "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Urban Cowboy" would love to see her again.

7. Tim Curry: Dr. Frank N. Furter (?) in the original Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Pennywise the Clown in the miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's "It." Theatricality would be ideal for a flamboyant Blacklister -- or even a weirdo henchman a la DMV Glen and oxygen-tank interrogator guy (Brimley? Forgot his name...)

I'd nominate JS's co-stars in the guilty pleasure movie "Tuff Turf", but Robert Downey, Jr. is too big of a megastar now, and Kim Richards has devolved into an alcoholically-challenged Real Housewife of Beverly Hills.

Anybody have any thoughts or suggestions they'd be willing to share  ???


* It's easy to overlook the excellent job TBL casting department has done in attracting big-name talent. Of the top of my head, the cast has included: Dianne Wiest (Ruth Kipling aka "The Judge"),
Mary Louise-Parker (Carla/Naomi) Jennifer Ehle (Madeline Pratt), William Sadler (Sam), Fisher Stevens (Marvin Gerard), Alan Alda (Alan Fitch), Ron Perlman (Luther Braxton), Brian Dennehy (Dom), Isabella Rossellini (Floriane Campo), Ana de la Reguera (Vanessa Cruz), Andrew Dice Clay (Dr. Abraham Maltz), David Strathairn (Peter Kotslopulos aka "The Director"), Jane Alexander (Dianne Fowler), Lotte Verbeek (Katarina Rostova; KR's "ghost"), Paul Reubens (Mr. Vargas), Lance Henriksen ("The Major"), Leon Rippey (Hunter/Mr. Kaplan's rescuer/captor), Famke Janssen (Scottie? [forgot her name]), Tony Shalhoub (Alistair Pitt), Frank Whaley (Karl Hoffman aka "The Good Samaritan Killer"), Clifton Collins, Jr. (forgot character's name), Richie Coster (Anslo Garrick), Oded Fehr (Levi? Shur? -Mossad guy/Navabi's ex), Robert Sean Leonard (Dr. Frederick Barnes), Krysten Ritter (Rowan Mills), John Glover (Dr. Bruce Sanders - "Space Agent" virologist guy in looney bin), Peter Stormare (Berlin), Rachel Brosnahan (Lucy Brooks/Jolene), Amanda Plummer (Tracy Solobotkin aka "The Deer Hunter"), Peter Fonda (Geoff Perl), and a host of other veteran stars and character actors whose names and characters I haven't recollected.