Flavorwire

On Sunday there were reports, first appearing in London’s Sunday Times, that the United Nation had appointed Mazlan Othman, a Malaysian astrophysicist, as head of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA… the sound an alien might make?). Unfortunately someone seems to have jumped the gun, as Othman has subsequently denied the appointment. To help cope with our disappointment, we thought we’d take a look at 10 Hollywood actors who’d also make fine ambassadors. You know, just in case.

Richard Dreyfuss

Main Qualifying Role: In Spielberg’s Close Encounter of the Third Kind, Roy Neary, played by Dreyfuss, is haunted by five musical notes after a “close encounter” of the first kind. Eventually an obsession with a mountain-like structure gets him through government red tape to have an encounter of the third kind: contact.

Pros: Overcomes crazed government agents and attempted cover-up in Encounter. Also has experience with fear of the unknown in Jaws. Finally, his roles in the seminal films such as American Graffiti and Mr. Holland’s Opus give him authority on the human experience.

Cons: Obviously goes a little batty in Encounters. Also his last on screen appearance was in Piranha 3D.