MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > 🎬 Character actors 🎬

🎬 Character actors 🎬

posted 2 years ago by GlenEllyn (21659)
29 replies | jump to latest

Do you have a favorite character actor? Someone whose role in a movie or TV series somehow stuck with you and you looked for them in other roles?

Mine is Thelma Ritter (1902-1969). Her performances in Rear Window, Move Over Darling, How the West Was Won, All About Eve, and The Misfits have always stayed with me.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-47pbij1UdX4/V5xN_apivEI/AAAAAAAAAvY/ivOIYYPy9KwdHtj9jvodrBNEXHzyX1-3gCLcB/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/thelma%2Britter%2Bpillow%2Btalk.PNG

[–] db20db (17754) 2 years ago

Gene Hackman.

[–] GlenEllyn (21659) 2 years ago

Hmm. I guess I haven't considered him a character actor before. I suppose that's because he eventually had several leading roles such as The French Connection and Mississippi Burning. But I guess my thoughts on what makes a character actor are different. Please know that I'm not dissing or dismissing your choice. We all have our favorites! 🥂

[–] db20db (17754) 2 years ago

No problem, GE. I know you're not that type of poster here.🙂 We just have a different understanding of that expression. Wikipedia says it's "open to interpretation" and this article I happened to find supports my perception perfectly. It's precisely because of his range, versatility, that he immediately came to mind for me. "...he was that rare thing - a character actor who could lead a movie." https://hotcorn.com/en/movies/news/gene-hackman-character-actor-french-connection/#:~:text=In%20the%20latter%20part%20of,who%20could%20lead%20a%20movie.

[–] db20db (17754) 2 years ago

Got to pondering this and realized that Donald Sutherland is much like Hackman, having had a career with prolific both supportive and leading roles, and yes, he's considered to be a character actor.

[–] nyctc7 (44107) 2 years ago

A lot of Mission: Impossible guest stars like
Anthony Zerbe
William Windom
Fritz Weaver
John Vernon
Malachi Throne
Joseph Ruskin
Nehemiah Persoff
Albert Paulsen
Simon Oakland
Charles Napier

There are certainly others, appearing in shows from The Twilight Zone to Columbo. I don't know if I ever went out of my way to find a feature film they were in, though. I don't recall.

[–] Keelai (36157) 2 years ago

Charles Lane. You've seen him in many TV shows and movies playing the cranky or bad guy. He did his last role at age 101 and died at 102.
https://www.metv.com/stories/charles-lane-was-happy-playing-classic-tv-s-biggest-stinker-of-all-time

[–] nyctc7 (44107) 2 years ago

He was wonderful as a crusty old Admiral brought out of retirement in the 1988 miniseries War and Remembrance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cp6aMilb1E&t=4455s

[–] Keelai (36157) 2 years ago

That is wonderful acting! I've only seen him NOT play a bad/cranky guy twice. This video and St Elsewhere as a patient.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Thelma Ritter is a great choice, she was always memorable.

Charles Durning comes to mind for me.

[–] GolfnGuitars (3117) 2 years ago

I finally saw "All About Eve" for the first time earlier this year. What a great movie and Thelma Ritter was terrific in it. She passed away the year I was born.

I have a few that I'll mention. One was Lane Smith, who's probably best known for playing the prosecutor in "My Cousin Vinny." He was just great in everything he did, IMO. He played Grantland Rice in "The Legend Of Bagger Vance," which is probably my all-time favorite movie. I thought he was so talented.

I also like Bob Gunton a lot...probably best known for playing Warden Norton in "The Shawshank Redemption," but I remember him as Robin Williams' doctor nemesis in "Patch Adams." He has a real talent for playing SOBs...but he was also in an episode of "Monk" as Trudy's father and he was great in that as well. I really like him as an actor.

One more from "Bagger Vance" that I'll mention...Peter Gerety (He played Nescaloossa). He was in a couple of memorable "Law & Order" episodes as well...very talented actor, IMO.

[–] samoanjoes (58610) 2 years ago

Beth Grant:
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/vampirechroncles/images/1/19/Beth_Grant.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20220904000118

Lin Shaye:
https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Lin-Shaye-e1634217490212.jpg

William Fichtner
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mom-cbs/images/7/72/WilliamFichtner.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160828214509

Bruce McGill
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/rizzoliandisles/images/d/d2/Bruce.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121202092903

[–] GolfnGuitars (3117) 2 years ago

Lin Shaye and Bruce McGill are great! I almost mentioned McGill but didn't (He played Walter Hagen in "Bagger Vance")...glad you did!

[–] samoanjoes (58610) 2 years ago

I always forget where I've seen Bruce McGill. I just checked IMDb and I've seen him in 21 things, but he must be doing a good job if I always remember him being in so many movies.

[–] GolfnGuitars (3117) 2 years ago

Yes...I probably saw McGill first in "My Cousin Vinny," but didn't really take note of him back then. I had never seen "Animal House" until a few years ago..."Bagger Vance" was where I really took note of him. He's a fine actor for sure.

[–] beantown23 (1438) 2 years ago

Donald Meek, Edgar Buchanan

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 2 years ago

Linking two Indiana Jones actors I like: Denholm Elliott usually put in a good performances and John Rhys-Davies is always fun to watch.

_________________________________________
"Why did ANY of you assholes on IMDb think that signatures were a good idea? I’ve not seen a single one that was not pretentious."

[–] nyctc7 (44107) 2 years ago

Great picks.