# Bit Part Players...whose yer fave? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099 "2003-07-03T19:03:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TigoleBitties](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TigoleBitties](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TigoleBitties)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/1 "2003-07-03T19:03:01Z")
I just wanted to give a shout out to the Bit Player God among Men out there…Richie Cunningham’s brother, Clint Howard. I love Clint, he seems to be a total professional and I think he is trying his hardest to not be in his bro’s shadow with a huge list of acting gigs on his own -though he never turns down a role in his brothers productions and does surprising well. When I saw him get a Lifetime Achievement Award at the MTV Movie Awards and he was naturally touched to be recognized (I think they wanted to make it a joke), he made me a fan for life. Plus you can’t go wrong with a kid who tangled with Captain Kirk on the original Star Trek! Go Clint Howard! Anybody else want to throw in with a favorite bit player? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/2 "2003-07-03T19:28:50Z")
Strother Martin ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/3 "2003-07-03T23:22:46Z")
Frustrated by [imdb.com](http://imdb.com)’s lack of photos when looking up minor actor’s? I know I was, until I discovered [http://www.what-a-character.com/](http://www.what-a-character.com/) Now you too can readily identify those champions at the bit, such as Whit Bissell or Olan Soule. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/4 "2003-07-03T23:40:24Z")
I have two from the 1930s, who can’t even be called “character actors,” as they rarely had roles over a few lines. But always stole their scenes: [Theresa Harris](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Harris,+Theresa), a lovely black actress who, sadly, played mostly maids. But she also had some great non-maid roles, and was a beautiful, snappy, clever actress. [Polly Walters](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Walters,%20Polly), a Harlow-esque platinum blonde who made a handful of films in the early '30sm then vanished. She specialized in droning-voiced receptionists and switchboard girls: you’d remember her if you saw her. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/5 "2003-07-04T00:42:57Z")
[Shane Rimmer](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Rimmer,+Shane). “Dr. Strangelove”, three James Bond movies and an uncredited role in “Star Wars”; how cool is that? ---
**Author:** ![TridCloudwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TridCloudwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TridCloudwalker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/6 "2003-07-04T01:06:59Z")
I was always a Brion James fan, and let us not forget the man himself, Bruce Campbell. Some definite runners up would be Clint Howard, Brian Cox, Ted Raimi, and these next few are kind of stretches because they’ve become bigger actors, but i’ve also always liked John C. Reilly, David Morse, and Willaim H. Macy. ---
**Author:** ![TridCloudwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TridCloudwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TridCloudwalker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/7 "2003-07-04T01:09:00Z")
Oh yeah, I forgot Graham Greene. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/8 "2003-07-04T01:19:25Z")
Dick Miller - a book I read called him “the arcetypal smart-ass”. He was the truck driver in “Gremlins”, the diner owner in “Twilight Zone - the Movie” and the bookstore owner in “the Howling”. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/9 "2003-07-04T01:29:27Z")
There was this elderly man named Lou…I can’t think of this last name…He was slight of build and balding and his ears stuck out…I think he was on “Friends” as well as many other sitcoms. I also think he might have been one of the judges on “Ally Mc Beal”.He was always the crotchety, tell it like it is, old man… I got a kick out of him, because he reminded me of my dad. Anybody remember his last name? I think he passed away fairly recently. Also…I always liked Bert Mustin, another “old man character actor” from various 60’s TV shows and William Schallert who I always refer to as “Patty Duke’s Father”. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/10 "2003-07-04T01:29:57Z")
More of a supporting role than bit player, but Chris Tucker’s portrayal of Ruby Rod in **The Fifth Element** was simply outstanding. I feel he should have at least received an Oscar nomination for his work. His character was fully three dimensional and his acting was in place and consistent throughout the movie. He put Bruce Willis to absolute shame. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/11 "2003-07-04T01:55:48Z")
[Dan Hedaya](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Hedaya,+Dan) has been a favorite of mine for years, since I saw him in _Joe Versus the Volcano_. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/12 "2003-07-04T03:10:31Z")
Wallace Shawn, since The Princess Bride…“Inconceiveable!” (This is Cyn, not Drachillix, using his login) ---
**Author:** ![DaPearl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DaPearl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaPearl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/13 "2003-07-04T06:48:44Z")
Warren Oates, though he had two or three lead roles. I’m a huge Peckinpah fan too (my favorite director), so good choice with Strother Martin too. ---
**Author:** ![PinkJasmineMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@PinkJasmineMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkJasmineMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/14 "2003-07-04T11:51:00Z")
Here’s a second vote for Dick Miller. I don’t know if it’s apocryphal or not, but he allegedly played an Indian in the morning and a cowboy in the afternoon in one of those infamous Roger Corman grade Z movies - love it. He’s become a sort of “good luck” charm for a lot of directors. I wish he’d write an autobiography. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/15 "2003-07-04T12:03:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DaPearl \* > \*\*Warren Oates, though he had two or three lead roles. I’m a huge Peckinpah fan too (my favorite director), so good choice with Strother Martin too. \*\* Looks as if we’re of the same basic period and mindset, DaPearl. I’d like to add to my list: Jack Elam Harry Dean Stanton M. Emmet Walsh Steve Buscemi Slim Pickens Ed Lauter Tony Sirico Everett Sloan And if you go back to the B Westerns: Roy Barcroft Lane Bradford I. Stanford Jolley Myron Healey Al “Fuzzy” St. John Pat Buttram And that woman in _Blues Brothers_ who played the Mother Superior. I’ve seen her in dozens of things. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/16 "2003-07-04T12:12:15Z")
[Jeffrey Combs](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Combs,+Jeffrey) is more of a B-movie actor, but he’s such a damn good character actor! When I saw him play the scary FBI agent in “The Frighteners” I was hooked! ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/17 "2003-07-04T12:22:47Z")
[Kenneth Mars](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Mars,+Kenneth) Played Franz Liebkind in the movie _The Producers_, but he’s all over the place. [Allen Garfield](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Garfield,+Allen) [Raymond St. Jacques](http://us.imdb.com/Name?St.+Jacques,+Raymond) [Jerry Colonna](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Colonna,+Jerry) He should be in the dictionary under “scene stealer”. ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/18 "2003-07-04T12:27:02Z")
My vote is for Curtis Armstrong. He played “Booger” in revenge of the nerds; He was also Tom Cruz’s buddy in “Risky Business.” I agree that the guy in “Princess Bride” (“Inconceivable!”) was pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/19 "2003-07-04T14:36:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\*More of a supporting role than bit player, but Chris Tucker’s portrayal of Ruby Rod in **The Fifth Element** was simply outstanding. I feel he should have at least received an Oscar nomination for his work. His character was fully three dimensional and his acting was in place and consistent throughout the movie. He put Bruce Willis to absolute shame. \*\* Do I detect an element of sarcasm here? Thought not.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099/20 "2003-07-04T17:13:27Z")
J.T. Walsh And the entire cast of [Cool Hand Luke](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0061512). (Well, I guess we have to disqualify that blue-eyed guy playing the title role.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-part-players-whose-yer-fave/186099.md?page=2)