Best Character Actors

[PCLoadLetter]

Harry Dean Stanton

John Turturro

Wayne Knight

 

[Babyjay]

David Strathairn

 

[RossLT]

David Strathairn

Good call, he is always good.

 

[dooley_womack1]

--Vincent Schiavelli
--William Schallert
--Barbara Bosson

 

[Wenders]

Larry Miller. He's the father in 10 Things I Hate About You, one of the FBI agents in For Richer or Poor, a CIA agent in Get Smart and owned a boutique in Pretty Woman. He also steals almost any scene that he's in.

 

[dooley_womack1]

And before TBF kicks my ass...
--Lee Ermey

 

[MartinEnigmatica]

Are we talking all-time, or just best character actors right now? Because some really good character actors eventually hit the big time. I'm thinking along the lines of Kevin Spacey, who has done some very diverse roles. Heck, in 1995 he played Verbal Kint, a military dude in Outbreak and John Doe in Se7en. Among other prominant actors, I'd also nominate Hugh Laurie.

This brings up one thing about character actors I never understood. Why do character actors have to play small/bit roles? Laurie is the lead in House, but is easily the best actor and fleshes out that character to an astonishing degree. His American accent is flawness, near as I can tell, and if I met him on the street, I'd expect him to act like House.

 

[dooley_womack1]

I think we're meaning people who have spent their whole careers or the vast majority of them playing supporting roles. "Character actor" means precisely that in Hollywood.

 

[Diabeetus]

Does Phillip Seymour Hoffman count, or has he gotten too big?

He was one of the first people to pop into my mind. Love him.

 

[MartinEnigmatica]

I think we're meaning people who have spent their whole careers or the vast majority of them playing supporting roles. "Character actor" means precisely that in Hollywood.

So, wouldn't it just be Best Supporting Actor? I'm not trying to be a ****, just understand.

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

James Cromwell
Dylan Baker
Joe Flaherty

 

[dooley_womack1]

--Bonnie Bedelia
--Ben Stein
--Jennifer Coolidge

 

[Jeremy Goodwin]

Clint Howard

 

[Boognish]

It seems hard not to consider guys like Paul Giamatti or Bill Macy or Phil Hoffman character actors, but since all three have played leading roles, I guess they're out on this thread.

I don't know if he's the best, but I'll vote for Brendan Gleeson.

 

[tonysoprano]

My three favs.....


1. Steve Buscemi

2. Feech Lamana, er, Robert Loggia

3. Luis Guzman

 

[dargan]

Brian Cox ...

<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/brian%20cox/OrcasPest/cox-sm.jpg?o=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/OrcasPest/cox-sm.jpg"></a>

... not to be confused with ... Bryan Cox ....

<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/bryan%20cox/TheENDZONE/FB%20Rookies/1990s/1991/2131.jpg?o=16" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i191/TheENDZONE/FB%20Rookies/1990s/1991/2131.jpg"></a>

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Richard Jenkins and Fred Willard

 

[dargan]

Richard Jenkins and Fred Willard

Willard rules. "And to think that in some countries these dogs are eaten."

 

[Jeremy Goodwin]

Daniel von Bargen

From his IMDB bio:

A character actor who seems to pop up everywhere as the sterotypical cop, military officer and/or tough guy, Von Bargen can nevertheless turn in performances of stunning complexity when given the chance.

Brian Cox made me think of Super Troopers.

 

[dargan]

Daniel von Bargen

From his IMDB bio:

A character actor who seems to pop up everywhere as the sterotypical cop, military officer and/or tough guy, Von Bargen can nevertheless turn in performances of stunning complexity when given the chance.

Brian Cox made me think of Super Troopers.

Cox makes me think of Super Troopers, too. "I'm naked!?

Von Bargen and Turturro are both great in my favorite movie, O Brother Where Art Thou?

Von Bargen is also absolute gold as Kruger on Seinfeld.