The Rif and RhoD proteins belong to the Rho subfamily of small GTPases. Rif and RhoD have for too long remained in the shadows of the better known Rho GTPases Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA. With this review article, our aim is to provide the currently available information regarding Rif and RhoD. Taken together, the data available to date indicate that Rif and RhoD have unique roles in the regulation of actin dynamics, and that RhoD can link actin reorganisation to endosomal vesicle transport.