Oh yeah, I know who you're talking about now! I read your first post and I, too, was like "Who's William Fitchner???" But now I know exactly who you're talking about. Yes, he was excellent in Contact. Haven't seen many of his other films though.
My favorite actor is Alan Rickman (possibly another one that will get a reaction of "Who the heck???"). His voice is like velvet and I would love nothing more than to have him sit in front of me and read me poetry. That voice is mesmerizing! He was fabulously funny in Dogma, and made me have a huge crush on Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies. And he was deliciously evil as the sheriff in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. *sigh*