ONE DEGREE OF KEVIN BACON
There is a game called Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, in which you start with the actor and in six steps connect him with anyone in the world. He seems mildly amused to be famous for that silly game. I think he is one of the most underrated actors around.
Mr. Bacon was born in Philadelphia (not his fault) in 1958, and while comfortably middle-aged he still looks virtually ageless. He is able to play as young or old as the part requires, within reasonable limits. He has been in over 50 movies, and is usually the guy who simply cements the spaces between the big stars. 
But he is the main guy in The Woodsman (2004). Mr. Bacon not only carries this exceptional film on his back, he was so keen on it that he also produced it. It is a daring leap for a guy who doesn’t need to risk anything. The Woodsman is the up close and personal story of convicted child molester, beautifully underplayed by Mr. Bacon. The subject matter is squirmishly uncomfortable, but the payoff is big. The story is treated with tact but pulls no punches. And make no mistake about it, the main character is certainly not treated as a hero. This is a very good movie. 
Both Sean Penn and Tim Robbins deservedly won Oscars for Mystic River (2003). And yet, it is Mr. Bacon’s quietly competent performance as the third friend, who happens to be a cop, that really holds this movie together. Something terrible happened when all three were kids, and something terrible keeps happening now. Not for the squeamish, this film features strong performances and a tough, unrelenting screenplay.
Apollo 13 (1995) likewise features numerous fine performances. Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, and Ed Harris are all good. Kevin Bacon is there to quietly and competently fill the spaces that need filling. This is the most suspenseful movie in history where you already know the ending!
Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise and Demi Moore would tend to intimidate anyone, and all are good in A Few Good Men (1992). But Kevin Bacon is the grace note, providing once again the right touch in this splendid court-martial story.
Diner (1982) is Barry Levinson’s autobiographical love story to Baltimore. Mr. Bacon is joined by Steven Gutenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke and Ellen Barkin in a fine coming-of-age story. 
Though he doesn’t have many good movies after 2004, he still gets a lot of work.
And Kevin Bacon has come a long way since he was a frat boy in Animal House (1978)! 
All of the movies in this article are available on  DVD and for streaming.  All are for matures audiences.