Best Character Actors

gary oldham.

looks different in every role. a real cameleon. tremendous actor to boot.

 

How about Ed Harris? Aside from "Pollack," he most seems to stick to supporting roles ("Apollo 13," "Gone, Baby, Gone," etc.)

 

Still one of the greatest commercials, perhaps the greatest commercial, of all-time.

 

Gary Oldman
Steve Buscemi
Ed Harris

 

Warren Oates is an all-timer.

 

Janeane Garofalo.

 

Jesus Christ. I clicked on this thread to post "G.K. Simmons."

Oh, well. I can tell I'm going to need to be much more obscure.
How about Amy Aquino? She had a recurring role as the scary Girl Scout cookie mom on "Everybody Loves Raymond." She also was the rabbi Hank thried to hit on on "The Gary Shandling Show," and she was in one of my favorite episodes of "Murphy Brown."


Also, has anyone mentioned Harry Dean Stanton?

 

I saw the thread title and that's exactly who popped into my mind.

 

Chris Cooper
David Paymer

 

He got a few of his own shows as the lead character, but does anyone think Dabney Coleman fits the bill?

 

I would define a character actor as the glue guy to a movie/show. You watch a show like Friday Night Lights, and as important as Taylor is, I'm always more impressed by Smash's mom and Landry's dad. Just fantastic acting — makes you not even imagine someone else in that role.

1) JT Walsh
2) Glenn Morshower (Pierce on 24/Mr. Clarke on Friday Night Lights)
3) Paul Giammatti before 2003.
4) PS Hoffman before 2005.
5) John C. Reilly
6) William Devane
7) Ron Eldard
8) Ned Beatty
9) Powers Boothe
10) Chris Cooper
11) Philip Baker Hall
12) Ian Holm
13) Michael Ironside
14) Michaet Jeter
15) David Paymer

And the ULTIMATE character actor
...
John Cazale

 

William H. Macy