Netflix has a knack for spotlighting familiar faces in unfamiliar settings. One moment, you are binge-watching a glossy thriller, and the next, you pause mid-episode, sensing something oddly recognizable. The Waterfront, the latest twist-heavy drama serving sun-drenched secrets and political intrigue, delivers just that. At its heart stands Dave Annable, a face viewers know but may not quite place. Until now. 

While The Waterfront puts Dave Annable in the middle of sunlit suspense, this is far from his first standout role. Here are five performances where you have definitely seen him before.

1. Justin Walker – Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011)

Before dueling dynasties and spy dramas, Dave Annable made his mark as Justin Walker, the emotional core of ABC’s family epic Brothers & Sisters. A war-scarred vet with a pharmacy’s worth of trauma, Justin spiraled and soared across five seasons. His transformation from broken addict to earnest healer was not just gripping television; it was a showcase of Annable’s raw, layered talent, soap, substance, and sibling drama all rolled into one.

While Justin found peace in family chaos, Annable’s next stop involved ranches, rifles, and a premature funeral that changed everything.

2. Lee Dutton – Yellowstone (2018)

Dave Annable arrived, cowboy hat first, as Lee Dutton, the calm-before-the-storm brother in Yellowstone’s explosive pilot, tucked into Netflix’s treasure trove for some time now. Though his screen time lasted less than an episode, his death fired the first bullet in the Dutton family war. Stoic and sharp, Lee was the dutiful heir viewers never got to know, on purpose. 

As Yellowstone galloped toward legacy and land feuds, Annable shifted from the wild west to a hospital ward filled with teen angst and heart.

3. Dr. Adam McAndrew – Red Band Society (2014–2015)

Trading stetsons for scrubs, Dave Annable played Dr. Adam McAndrew, a pediatric surgeon who spoke less like a TV doctor and more like a real one, with empathy as his scalpel. In a hospital filled with terminal teens and emotional landmines, McAndrew provided levity and solace, no miracle cures required. His warmth gave the series its quiet pulse, reminding viewers that sometimes hope wears a white coat and weary eyes.

While Dr. McAndrew offered comfort to teens in crisis, Annable’s next role turned toward biotech, betrayal, and some dangerous decisions.

4. Dr. Ian Evans – What/If (2019)

In What/If, Dave Annable shed his moral halo for something murkier. As Ian Evans, he played a biotech mogul lured into a morally gray maze by a deal with Renée Zellweger’s icy temptress. Ambition tangled with loyalty, and Annable’s performance danced between devoted husband and desperate schemer. This was no squeaky-clean doctor; it was Silicon Valley noir with emotional shrapnel. Every glance hinted at unraveling control, and Annable made unraveling look good.

While Ian spiraled into high-stakes chaos, Annable’s next chapter brought him home to family dinners, CIA secrets, and quiet heroism in a world of noise.

5. Neal McNamara – Special Ops: Lioness (2023–present and still locked in the mission)

Back in Taylor Sheridan’s world, Dave Annable plays Neal McNamara, a man whose superpower is staying steady while married to a spy. As a pediatric oncologist and husband to Zoe Saldaña’s CIA operative, Neal balances scalpels and secrets. He anchors Lioness with emotional weight, offering the kind of love story rarely seen in thrillers: loyal, vulnerable, and real. His role is proof that still waters, especially in espionage, can run deep.

What are your thoughts on Dave Annable’s most memorable roles before The Waterfront? Let us know in the comments below.