Well, I Like Them

Several discussions in the romance blogosphere lately have gotten me thinking about the traditional romance hero. And I must admit, even though I drool over the Adrian Pauls and the Liam Neesons and Mel Gibsons of the world, there are other things I find fascinating about a hero. And the ones I get stuck on, really really fall for, are not necessarily tall, dark, and handsome.

I think about Oliver from Jayne Ann Krentz's Wildest Hearts. In fact, a lot of her heroes are not all that, at least in looks. Sam Stark from Trust Me is another that comes to mind. A lot of her heroes could be played by this guy.


Vincent D'Onofrio is one of those actors who can look like a frumpy dock worker or a complete hottie and I don't know why. His portrayal of Det. Bobby Goren on Law and Order: Criminal Intent keeps me riveted. He's a walking encyclopedia with enough behavioral tics to drive a saint to drink, but he could frisk me anytime.




Most romance heroes also have a surfeit of charm. Boyish smiles and witty banter abound. But I can't ignore the appeal of the Beauty and the Beast tales, which appear regularly in romances. But why, I ask you, are we all mad for this guy?

Hugh Laurie has made House, M.D. into a hit. He's a brilliant comic actor, but always played kind of nerdy good natured characters. (His turn as Bertie Wooster in Jeeves and Wooster was nothing short of stellar.) But House? Rude, crusty, insensitive, and women all over America are falling for him in droves. Maybe it's the whole "but MY love can change him" thing.

Git 'er done. There's just something about competence, I guess. I can't tell you how many times I've read a book where the hero started to pale next to his aide, who could flat do the job, know what I mean? And while I fully appreciate the heroism of Jack and the bad boyishness of Sawyer and the hotness of Sayid and Jin, there's really only one person I tune in to LOST for: this guy.

Yes, he's older. Yes, he's bald. But he's also, in another character's words, "God's friggin' gift to humanity." Locke, the man of faith who found his purpose for living on the island, who has embraced his destiny, is endlessly fascinating to me. I personally think, traditional romance aesthetics aside, Terry O'Quinn would make a great hero. He makes things happen; he gets things done.


Words. Women have fallen prey to the fitly spoken word of a man from the beginning of time. The non-traditional master romancer was, of course, Cyrano de Bergerac. Not the most handsome man, but full of wit and intensity, with a voice that could make angels weep. His father played the definitive Cyrano, so it shouldn't be surprising that I love tuning in to Crossing Jordan to listen to this guy:

Small picture, but no small actor. Miguel Ferrer plays a coroner, fer pity's sake. You always see him fiddling with dead people. As long as he's speaking, I'm listening in rapture. Talk to me some more. Tell me about those hemotomas and epithelials, Dr. Macy. Balding, larger than average nose, but WHO CARES? With those intense eyes and that powerful, deep velvet voice, just say anything.

Do you like heroes outside the norm?