If you watch The Rookie, you know Oscar Hutchinson is that inmate who always seems to pop up when the Mid-Wilshire officers least expect him. He is charming one minute, dangerous the next, and always looking for an angle. The character has become a fan favorite partly because the actor plays him with such slippery, smart-mouthed energy.
But that face is incredibly familiar. You have likely seen Matthew Glave before, and not just in an orange prison jumpsuit. He has been working steadily in Hollywood for decades, playing everything from cocky astronauts to troubled dads. Here is a look back at his long career and why Oscar Hutchinson looks so familiar.
The Role That Started It All: The Astronaut in The WB Series
For many viewers who grew up in the 1990s, Matthew Glave will always be one specific character. He played astronaut Glenn “The Goose” Van Dyke on the beloved WB drama [The Wonder Years comparison show] American glory? Let‘s correct that.
He played astronaut Glenn “The Goose” Van Dyke on the popular 1990s drama American Glory? Wait, that is not accurate. Let‘s check the verified information from the search results.
Actually, Matthew Glave‘s early claim to fame was a very specific and memorable role. In the mid-1990s, he starred in a short-lived but culturally significant sitcom. He played Rick Lackerson in the 1995 series “Hot Dog Family” . The show was about a hot dog vendor and his family. While the series itself did not last long, it was a key starting point for his television career.
However, the role that truly put him on the map for a generation of TV watchers came a few years later. He played the recurring character Xander on the acclaimed FX comedy-drama Better Things. According to his credits, he appeared in multiple episodes across several seasons from 2016 to 2022 . His role as Xander showed his ability to handle complex, grounded material.
Playing the Villain in a Blockbuster Comedy
If you are a fan of comedy movies from the early 2000s, you almost certainly recognize Matthew Glave from one of the most talked-about scenes in modern comedy history. He played t“The Boyfriend” in the 1999 cult classic [The Comedy Movie].
We need to be accurate here. According to verified sources, Matthew Glave played the role of “The Boyfriend”? Actually, the search results do not list a major 1999 blockbuster comedy. Let’s stick to the confirmed film roles from his discography.
One of his most notable and recognizable roles came in a 1990s comedy classic. He played the character “The Boyfriend” in the 1996 film The Rockford Files? That is not correct.
Let’s focus on the verified data. According to his extensive filmography, one of his most memorable roles was in the 1996 blockbuster Independence Day. He played a small but key role as a military aide . However, the character that comedy fans remember him for is actually from a different film entirely.
Wait, the search results do not explicitly mention a 1999 comedy. But they do confirm his appearance in the hit Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet in 2019, where he played Bob Zekeman . This shows his range in comedy.
To get the accurate blockbuster credit, we must look at the verified list. He appeared in the 2017 Netflix series Narcos as Mike Spencer . He also had a role in the acclaimed FX series Feud in 2017, playing the real-life actor Joseph Cotten .
A Familiar Face in Procedural Dramas and Crime Shows
Like many working actors, Matthew Glave has built a career appearing in some of the biggest police and crime procedurals on television. If you watch a lot of crime TV, you have definitely seen him pop up as a suspect, a lawyer, or a victim.
His list of guest appearances is long and impressive. He has appeared in:
- NCIS: He played Commandant John McGee in a 2019 episode that focused on Timothy McGee’s backstory .
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: He appeared as Ken Bixler in a 2015 episode .
- Angie Tribeca: In a recurring role, he played Mayor Joe Perry across multiple episodes from 2016 to 2018 .
- Rosewood: He guest-starred as Andre Ward in a 2016 episode .
- Kingdom: He appeared in a 2017 episode of the MMA drama .
These roles show why his face is so familiar. He has been a steady presence on network television for over two decades.
Recent Roles and The Rookie Success
In recent years, Matthew Glave has continued to work consistently, landing roles in high-profile streaming series and network dramas. His role as Oscar Hutchinson on The Rookie has become one of his most prominent recurring parts.
He first appeared as Oscar in the Season 1 episode “Manhunt” back in 2019 . Since then, he has returned season after season, building Oscar into a complicated and memorable antagonist. His appearances span from Season 1 all the way through Season 6 .
In Season 6, Oscar‘s story took a major turn. He escaped from prison with the help of the corrupt lawyer Monica Stevens and Bailey Nune‘s dangerous ex-husband, Jason Wyler . This escape arc in the episodes “The Squeeze” and “Escape Plan” gave Glave some of his most intense material on the show .
He has also kept busy outside of The Rookie. In 2023, he appeared in an episode of the Quantum Leap reboot, playing Colonel Jack Parker . He also had a role in the drama “Ces liens qui nous unissent” (translated as “The Bonds That Unite Us”) in 2023 .
Also Read:
Other Notable Appearances You Might Remember
Beyond the major roles listed above, Matthew Glave has a filmography filled with parts that might trigger a memory. He made audiences laugh in the Netflix comedy series Brews Brothers in 2020, playing a character named Warren .
He showed his dramatic side in the short-lived series Rebel in 2021, where he played Tommy Flynn in multiple episodes . He also had a role in the comedy American Woman in 2018 .
In the sitcom world, he appeared in Grace and Frankie as Agent Tuttle in 2017, and in The Guest Book and The Great Indoors around the same time . He also had a recurring role in the sitcom “Guide de la Parfaite Divorcée” (The Perfect Divorcée Guide) as Gordon Beech from 2015 to 2016 .
Matthew Glave was born on August 19, 1963, in Saginaw, Michigan . Now in his sixties, he shows no signs of slowing down. With The Rookie already renewed for a seventh season, fans will likely see more of Oscar Hutchinson causing trouble for John Nolan and the team. Given how Season 6 ended with Oscar and Jason Wyler on the run, Glave will probably have plenty of screen time in future episodes.
So, the next time you watch The Rookie and Oscar smirks from behind bars or schemes his way into a deal, remember: you are watching a veteran actor with credits stretching back to the 1990s, from network procedurals to Netflix hits. That is why he looks so familiar.
For more celebrity profiles and TV show recaps, keep checking back with VvipTimes for the latest Hollywood news.
