Character actors are what makes Hollywood go round.
We've had hundreds of greats over the years.
One of mine is Agnes Moorehead.
Only knew her from Bewitched when I was younger.
Over time I've seen many of her films.
She is an incredible actress. Nominated 4 times for an Oscar but never won.
That is a shame.
Name your favorites!
Charles Coburn
shareRuth Gordon!
shareAlan Rickman
Paul Gimatti
Janeanne Garofolo
Mark Boone Jr.
Al Leong
The character actor is the rhythm guitarist of thespians. Most people have no idea what a rock rhythm guitarist is. S/he essentially plays harmony to the lead guitarist. Keith Richards at one point in his career with The Rolling Stones moved to Rhythim Guitar position because he said that it was “more challenging.” I agree with that. Character act/resesses may not have the looks/presence/press of leading thespians, but they, along with the script and the directing and the editing, are the support on which the leading players and the film finally depend for success.
Well put RK.
There are those times where the character actor can steal a scene from some of the greats.
Before official release of the urban crime thriller 'Out for Justice', a Steven Segal leading feature in which he also served as a producer, he influenced production to greatly cut and edit scenes of William Forsythe's role as the film's crazed drug antagonist, afraid he was going to be upstaged. This was at the peak of Segal's movie career, around the time of 'Under Siege' being in theaters, felt his image was in jeopardy if he was not the standout star.
Segal got what was coming to him though, being a muscle head. While on set in between takes, he wanted to prove his physical machismo in front of the crew by resisting and getting out of a professional choke hold from one of the behind the scenes workers legit in the maneuver. Once the technique was applied, Segal reportedly became unconscious, collapsed to the floor, and peed in his pants. To this day, members of the set have confirmed this except for Segal, who remains silent about the topic for some reason.
Couldn't have happened to better knucklehead.
I'm sure he's quiet because he was unconscious. He can actually say I don't remember peeing my pants.
He was right about one thing though. I'm sure Forsythe would have upstaged him.
Like many have.
Van Heflin
sharedan duryea had a good run in the 1940-50s
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