Legendary actor Sam Raimi's underrated Western The Quick and the Dead, Pitch Black, Barbershop, and American Fiction.

David has also had a prolific career as a voice actor, lending his talents to a significant number of animated movies and shows over the years. Some of his voice acting roles include The Princess and the Frog, Princess Mononoke, Adventure Time, and Ricky and Morty. He has also appeared in a number of video game franchises, like Fallout and Halo.

10 The Quick And The Dead (1995)

Keith David as Sergeant Cantrell

The Quick and the Dead doesn't get as much love as it should, given how underrated it is compared to a lot of the other movies in Sam Raimi's filmography. Still, the movie is an immensely enjoyable time as it boasts all of Raimi's signature directorial quirks, this time within the Western genre. Not only is it one of the most underrated Raimi movies, but it is one of the most underrated Westerns ever made, with a stacked cast and intriguing premise.

Like every one of his roles, Keith David is predictably great in The Quick and the Dead, playing Sergeant Clay Cantrell, a professional gunfighter hired by the townspeople to kill Gene Hackman's John Herod. It isn't the most substantial role in the film, but David shines with the screen time that he is given, proving that he can excel in a variety of different genres.

9 American Fiction (2023)

Keith David as Willy the Wonker

Nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, American Fiction is a hilarious look at Thelonious "Monk" Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) an African American author who decides to write a "Black" novel in order to become more successful. Despite Monk thinking his book is terrible, readers view it as an incredibly important work of literature. American Fiction is a funny, poignant look at race and representation with some truly knockout performances from some of the best actors working in Hollywood.

American Fiction won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Keith David doesn't have a massive role in the film, but it is one of the funniest aspects of the entire story. He plays Willy the Wonker, an imaginary person that Monk pictures when trying to visualize the dialogue in his new novel, which is originally titled My Pafology before Monk changes it to simply F**k. The dialogue is pretty absurd, of course, and how David delivers it makes it incredibly entertaining.

8 The Princess And The Frog (2009)

Keith David as Dr. Facilier

The Princess and the Frog is one of the most underrated Disney animated movies of all time, and its 1920s New Orleans setting is perfect for the story it wants to tell. What makes The Princess and the Frog so special in Disney's filmography is that it was the first film to feature a Black Disney princess in Tiana. It was also one of the last Disney films to be 2-D animated, making it stand out against the more modern Disney films.

Keith David shines in The Princess and the Frog, playing Dr. Facilier, who is also known as Shadow Man. His character is a witch doctor who wants to rule New Orleans and is the main antagonist of the film. Most of the best Disney movies have fantastic villains, and David is no different as his immense talent makes his character quite menacing.

7 Adventure Time (2012-2017)

Keith David as Flame King, Balthus

Adventure Time is another incredible animated series in Keith David's filmography, as it follows the adventures of a boy named Finn alongside his best friend and adopted brother, Jake the Dog. The show toes the line between kid and adult themes, making it a fantastic series for anyone to enjoy, that is more often than not hilarious. It's one of the best animated series in a long time.

Keith David has been a prolific voice actor for decades, with some truly incredible characters to his name. His performance in Adventure Time is also incredible, as he plays both the Flame King and Balthus for a number of episodes over the course of the show's 10 seasons. David is so good in both of his roles, making them memorable characters every time they appear onscreen, fitting right in with the wacky world of Adventure Time.

6 They Live (1988)

Keith David as Frank

Keith David reunited with director John Carpenter following the success of The Thing, this time for They Live, another spectacular horror film by the legendary director. They Live follows a drifter who discovers that aliens have infiltrated the ruling class after wearing a pair of special sunglasses. It's a silly premise, but Carpenter turns it into something quite unsettling, with a lot to say about capitalism, class, and consumerism.

Keith David plays Frank Armitage in They Live, one of the main characters of the film, who becomes friends with Roddy Piper's Nada after they begin working together at a construction site. He is forced to wear Nada's glasses, which allows Frank to see the aliens that Nada has told him about, and the two go into hiding. David is once again phenomenal in his role, as Frank is one of the most compelling characters in the entire film, and David brings a lot of depth to the character.

5 Nope (2022)

Keith David as Otis Haywood Sr.

Following the success of his first two films, Get Out and Us, comedian turned horror director Jordan Peele returned for Nope, an unsettling look at an extra-terrestrial threat that plagues two siblings and their ranch in California. Featuring some incredible cinematography and sound design, Nope is effective in what it is trying to do and say, with some deceptively heady themes being explored over the course of the film, most notably on the nature of spectacle and exploitation.

Keith David doesn't have a massive role in the film, but his character Otis Haywood Sr., the father of Daniel Kaluuya's Otis Haywood Jr. and Keke Palmer's Emerald Haywood, is integral to the movie's narrative. He is the owner of Haywood's Hollywood Horses Ranch and his death towards the beginning of the film is a major driving catalyst for Otis Jr, with it greatly affecting him. Despite not having a lot of screen time, David is superb as always.

4 Rick And Morty (2015-Present)

Keith David as The President / Andre Curtis, Reverse Giraffe

Since it first premiered in 2013, Rick and Morty has consistently been one of the best animated series on television, following the adventures of mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty. The series heavily revolves around the concept of the multiverse and the wacky escapades the two main characters get up to remain relentlessly hilarious, making it must-watch TV. Despite how wacky and silly the show can get, Rick and Morty still has a lot of heart with the family dynamics often driving the story.

Keith David sporadically pops up as President of the United States, Andrew Curtis. Over the course of the series, the character has evolved into a president who sort of goes out of control with power. He often has a love-hate relationship with Rick Sanchez, calling upon him and Morty to protect America. David is hilarious in his role, and brings a lot to a character that is inherently silly, but also scarily prescient.

3 Platoon (1986)

Keith David as King

Seeing the Vietnam War through the eyes of a young U.S. Army soldier, Platoon is an incredible and often harrowing look at the effects of war and the discussion of morality about what it means to be a soldier and fight in Vietnam. Directed by Oliver Stone, Platoon takes the stance that war is seen as completely pointless in the eyes of a lot of people, always infusing the brutality of what happens with classic melodrama. It's a must-see film about a horrific time period in history.

Keith David's character is incredibly important in Platoon, as he plays King, a soldier who mostly acts as the moral center for the entire narrative. King acts as a mentor for Charlie Sheen's character and has some of the film's most memorable lines. With an actor like David delivering beautiful prose about war and humanity, they gain an even bigger sense of meaning. David is perfect in the role, which was quite early in his career.

2 Princess Mononoke (1999)

Keith David as Okkoto

Exploring the relationship between humans and nature and the rise of industrialism and the harm it inflicts on the natural world, Princess Mononoke is one of the most mature works by legendary anime director, Hayao Miyazaki. It is also one of the best animated films ever made, with breathtaking animation and score and some of Studio Ghibli's best characters. Princess Mononoke is a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

Exploring the relationship between humans and nature and the rise of industrialism and the harm it inflicts on the natural world, Princess Mononoke is one of the most mature works by legendary anime director, Hayao Miyazaki.

Keith David is part of the voice cast for the English dub of Princess Mononoke and does an incredible job as Okkoto, the new boar god who plays a significant role in the story as he and his warriors confront Ashitaka and Princess Mononoke. The role requires a certain gravitas, and David's fantastic voice is perfect for the part, making Okkoto feel regal and ancient, a true boar god and a spirit to be ired.

1 The Thing (1982)

Keith David as Childs

Not only is The Thing one of John Carpenter's greatest movies, but it is one of the best horror films of all time, and a staple of the genre. What makes The Thing so great is how oppressive the atmosphere is, with the icy setting really seeping into every inch of the movie. Combined with some truly incredible practical effects, The Thing has stood the test of time, while having a lot on its mind.

The Thing is one of the earliest films in Keith David's career, and also one of his most important, truly setting the stage for an incredible career to come. He plays Childs, the chief mechanic of the research facility. It's a tour de force performance from Keith David, giving Childs so much depth and making him feel like an authentic individual going through one of the most horrific things imaginable.