# Favorite Character Actor threads -- discussion please
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 8, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712 "2013-02-08T15:51:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/1 "2013-02-08T15:51:49Z")
In the order they were posted, these are the threads on this subject:
> **[Your Favorite Character Actors (pre-poll data gathering)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681313)**
>
> The current thread Actors you will always associate with one role gave me this idea for an offshoot. I’d like to build a poll of SDMB’s favorite character actors and the roles most associated with them. Getting some names that people recognize and...
Your Favorite Character Actors (pre-poll data gathering)
> **[Your Top Ten Favorite Character Actors](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681361)**
>
> This is Step Two on the way to a poll (or more) to decide the SDMB favorites. Refer to Your Favorite Character Actors (pre-poll data gathering) for some possibilities from which to make your own Top Ten list. Your list can be totally new and...
Your Top Ten Favorite Character Actors
> **[Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 1](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681543)**
>
> Please refer to Your Top Ten Favorite Character Actors (which is still in progress) for the basis for this first poll. This is step three in the process of narrowing the list down to the SDMB’s favorites. Those actors mentioned more than once in...
Your Favorite Character Actor – Poll 1
> **[Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681652)**
>
> Please refer to Your Top Ten Favorite Character Actors (which is still in progress) for the basis for this poll. This is step four in the process of narrowing the list down to the SDMB’s favorites. After Poll 1 was posted, the actors mentioned more...
Your Favorite Character Actor – Poll 2
> **[Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 3](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681684)**
>
> Please refer to Your Top Ten Favorite Character Actors (which is still in progress) for the basis for this poll. This is step five in the process of narrowing the list down to the SDMB’s favorites. Polls 1 & 2 were based on the actors mentioned...
Your Favorite Character Actor – Poll 3
> **[Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 4](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681685)**
>
> Please refer to Your Top Ten Favorite Character Actors (which is still in progress) for the basis for this poll. This is step six in the process of narrowing the list down to the SDMB’s favorites. Polls 1 & 2 were based on the actors mentioned...
Your Favorite Character Actor – Poll 4
> **[Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 5](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681689)**
>
> Please refer to Your Top Ten Favorite Character Actors (which is still in progress) for the basis for this poll. This is step seven in the process of narrowing the list down to the SDMB’s favorites. Polls 1 & 2 were based on the actors mentioned...
Your Favorite Character Actor – Poll 5
===============================
How to proceed with the next step in the “narrowing down” process is a puzzle at the moment.
I’d like your input.
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/2 "2013-02-08T18:18:27Z")
Here’s a summary of the non-zero votes from just a few minutes ago:
```auto
View Poll Results: Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 1 (see OP first)
This poll will close on 02-27-2013 at 04:49 AM
Harry Dean Stanton 7 20.59%
David Strathairn 5 14.71%
JT Walsh 5 14.71%
Strother Martin 3 8.82%
Garret Dillahunt 2 5.88%
Ciarán Hinds 2 5.88%
Richard Jaeckel 2 5.88%
Frances McDormand 2 5.88%
Ward Bond 1 2.94%
Walter Brennan 1 2.94%
Jack Elam 1 2.94%
Alan Hale Sr 1 2.94%
Ben Johnson 1 2.94%
Slim Pickens 1 2.94%
Voters: 34
View Poll Results: Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 2 (see OP first)
This poll will close on 02-27-2013 at 10:30 PM
M. Emmet Walsh 3 27.27%
Steve Buscemi 2 18.18%
Peter Lorre 2 18.18%
Tim Roth 2 18.18%
Jonathan Pryce 1 9.09%
Lee Van Cleef 1 9.09%
Voters: 11
View Poll Results: Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 3 (see OP first)
This poll will close on 02-28-2013 at 08:10 AM
Richard Farnsworth 3 27.27%
Ned Beatty 1 9.09%
Clancy Brown 1 9.09%
Lee J. Cobb 1 9.09%
Joan Cusack 1 9.09%
Margaret Dumont 1 9.09%
Dwight Frye 1 9.09%
Walton Goggins 1 9.09%
Graham Greene 1 9.09%
Voters: 11
View Poll Results: Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 4 (see OP firs
This poll will close on 02-28-2013 at 08:21 AM
Claude Rains 3 25.00%
Stephen Root 3 25.00%
Sydney Greenstreet 2 16.67%
John Hawkes 1 8.33%
Bo Hopkins 1 8.33%
Keye Luke 1 8.33%
Warren Oates 1 8.33%
Voters: 12
View Poll Results: Your Favorite Character Actor -- Poll 5 (see OP first)
This poll will close on 02-28-2013 at 08:31 AM
Stanley Tucci 3 25.00%
Jack Warden 3 25.00%
Jay Silverheels 1 8.33%
J.K. Simmons 1 8.33%
Tom Wilkinson 1 8.33%
Michael K. Williams 1 8.33%
Chill Wills 1 8.33%
Penelope Wilton 1 8.33%
Voters: 12
```
---
### Author:  [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/3 "2013-02-08T18:55:19Z")
Maybe it would be easier to get a top three in a few different categories:
Male, American, Currently Working
Male, American, Retired or Deceased
Male, Non-American, Currently Working
Male, Non-American, Retired or Deceased
Because there are few character actresses, maybe just American and Non-American?
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/4 "2013-02-08T19:00:56Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#):
>
> Maybe it would be easier to get a top three in a few different categories:
>
> Male, American, Currently Working
> Male, American, Retired or Deceased
> Male, Non-American, Currently Working
> Male, Non-American, Retired or Deceased
>
> Because there are few character actresses, maybe just American and Non-American?
That might work as a way to organize the ones remaining after the voting stalls out. Good idea. IMDb could help in that categorizing effort.
My slant on the current voting is that it’s leaning toward the currently working group, but I haven’t checked that hunch for accuracy.
Do you have those groups counted as things stand so far?
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/5 "2013-02-08T22:39:16Z")
If you’ll disregard the percentages (since the number of Voters varies between polls) here’s how the front-runners are looking. I dropped the 0-votes and 1-votes groups.
```auto
4:20 PM 2/8/13
Harry Dean Stanton 7 18.92%
David Strathairn 5 13.51%
JT Walsh 5 13.51%
Stanley Tucci 4 26.67%
Sydney Greenstreet 3 18.75%
Claude Rains 3 18.75%
Stephen Root 3 18.75%
Jack Warden 3 20.00%
Ciarán Hinds 3 8.11%
Strother Martin 3 8.11%
Steve Buscemi 3 20.00%
Peter Lorre 3 20.00%
Tim Roth 3 20.00%
M. Emmet Walsh 3 20.00%
Richard Farnsworth 3 20.00%
Cloris Leachman 2 12.50%
Walter Brennan 2 5.41%
Garret Dillahunt 2 5.41%
Richard Jaeckel 2 5.41%
Frances McDormand 2 5.41%
Slim Pickens 2 5.41%
Lee J. Cobb 2 13.33%
```
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/6 "2013-02-10T19:52:26Z")
The names in the six polls thus far all came from the Top Ten lists supplied by Dopers.
Here’s the list of every name mentioned so far along with the poll(s) (if any) where they appeared for voting’s sake.
If you know of additional names to add to the list please do so in this thread.
* * *
My next post will be the list of those yet to appear in a poll. Whether some of them make it to another poll – for completeness sake – can be discussed here as well.
========================
```auto
Dan Aykroyd
Danny Aiello
R. G. Armstrong
Michael Asher Tidy-up Poll #3
William Atherton
Jim Backus
Hermione Baddeley
G.W. Bailey
Joe Don Baker
Martin Balsam
Jonathan Banks
Lionel Barrymore Tidy-up Poll #3
Ned Beatty Poll #3
Jim Beaver
William Bendix
Abraham Benrubi Tidy-up Poll #3
Ward Bond (2) Poll #1
Neville Brand
Walter Brennan Poll #1
Wilford Brimley
Jim Broadbent Poll #3
Foster Brooks
Clancy Brown Poll #3
Kathy Burke
Steve Buscemi Poll #2
Timothy Carey Poll #3
Jim Carter
Emma Chambers Tidy-up Poll #3
Fred Clark Tidy-up Poll #3
Kim Coates
Lee J. Cobb Poll #3
Olivia Colman
Steve Coogan
Elisha Cook Jr. Poll #2
Chris Cooper Tidy-up Poll #1
Brian Cox
Peter Coyote Poll #3
Laird Cregar Tidy-up Poll #3
James Cromwell
Tim Curry
40
Joan Cusack Poll #3
Keith David
Sammy Davis Jr.
Bruce Davison
Andy Devine
Dale Dickey
Garret Dillahunt Poll #1
Kevin Dillon
Margaret Dumont Poll #3
Charles Durning Tidy-up Poll #3
Dan Duryea
Buddy Ebsen
Jack Elam Poll #1
Dana Elcar
Richard Farnsworth Poll #3
Pam Ferris
William Fichtner Tidy-up Poll #3
Paul Fix
Tommy Flanagan
Robert Forster
Byron Foulger
Dawn French Tidy-up Poll #3
Dwight Frye Poll #3
Michael Gambon
Vincent Gardenia
Chief Dan George
Stefan Gierasch
Hermione Gingold Tidy-up Poll #3
Walton Goggins Poll #3
Thomas Gomez
John Goodman Tidy-up Poll #3
Bruce Gordon Tidy-up Poll #3
Richard E Grant
Billy Green Bush Tidy-up Poll #3
Graham Greene Poll #3
Sydney Greenstreet Poll #4
Dabs Greer
Richard Griffiths
Christopher Guest
Gene Hackman
80
Sid Haig
Alan Hale Sr Poll #1
Philip Baker Hall
Margaret Hamilton Tidy-up Poll #1
Jared Harris
Rutger Hauer
John Hawkes Poll #4
Gabby Hayes
Jonathan Haze Tidy-up Poll #4
Dan Hedaya Tidy-up Poll #4
Ciarán Hinds Poll #1
Philip Seymour Hoffman
James Hong
Bo Hopkins Poll #4
Jonathan Hyde
Michael Imperioli
Michael Ironside
Jason Isaacs Tidy-up Poll #4
Gregory Itzin
Zeljko Ivanek
Richard Jaeckel (2) Poll #1
David Jason
Richard Jenkins
Ken Jeong
Ben Johnson (2) Poll #1
L. Q. Jones
Tommy Lee Jones
Gordon Jump
Carol Kane Tidy-up Poll #4
Tim Kang
Stubby Kaye
Harvey Keitel
George Kennedy Tidy-up Poll #2
Robert Knepper Tidy-up Poll #4
Elsa Lanchester Tidy-up Poll #4
Cloris Leachman Poll #4
Al Leong
Al Lettieri
Richard Libertini
Peter Lorre Poll #2
120
Keye Luke Poll #4
John Carroll Lynch
Ken Lynch
Mako
Eddie Marsan
Jean Marsh Tidy-up Poll #4
E. G. Marshall
Strother Martin (2) Poll #1
Chistopher McDonald
Frances McDormand Poll #1
Bruce McGill
John C. McGinley
Victor McLaglen
Butterfly McQueen Tidy-up Poll #4
Allan Melvin
Stephen Merchant
Una Merkel Tidy-up Poll #4
Dick Miller Tidy-up Poll #4
Thomas Mitchell
Tony Mordente
Rita Moreno
Robert Morley
Phil Morris
Burt Mustin
Kathy Najimy
Bill Nighy
Dean Norris
Warren Oates Poll #4
Donald O'Connor
Una O'Connor Tidy-up Poll #4
George O'Hanlon
Catherine O'Hara
Gary Oldman
Mandy Patinkin
Bill Paxton
Austin Pendleton
Ron Perlman
Robert Picardo
Slim Pickens Poll #1
Zasu Pitts Tidy-up Poll #4
160
Jonathan Pryce Poll #2
D.J. Qualls
Steve Railsback Tidy-up Poll #4
Claude Rains Poll #4
Aldo Ray
James Rebhorn
Giovanni Ribisi Poll #4
Alan Rickman
Stephen Root Poll #4
Tim Roth Poll #2
William Sadler Tidy-up Poll #4
William Sanderson
Jennifer Saunders Tidy-up Poll #4
John Saxon
Vito Scotti
Nick Searcy
Fiona Shaw Tidy-up Poll #4
Wallace Shawn
Henry Silva
Jay Silverheels Poll #5
J. K. Simmons Poll #5
Emil Sitka Tidy-up Poll #5
Maggie Smith (2)
Tucker Smith
William Smith Tidy-up Poll #5
Joe Spinel
Ned Sparks Tidy-up Poll #5
Harry Dean Stanton (2) Poll #1
Maggie Steed Tidy-up Poll #5
Henry Stephenson Tidy-up Poll #5
Lewis Stone Tidy-up Poll #5
David Strathairn (2) Poll #1
Robert Strauss
Woody Strode Tidy-up Poll #5
Mark Strong Tidy-up Poll #5
Akim Tamiroff Poll #5
Dub Taylor
Stephen Tobolowsky
Tony Todd
Sheila Tousey Tidy-up Poll #5
200
Danny Trejo
Stanley Tucci Poll #5
John Turturro
Lee Van Cleef Poll #2
John Vernon
Eli Wallach
J.T. Walsh Poll #1
M. Emmet Walsh Poll #2
Ray Walston
Tracey Walter
Jack Warden Poll #5
Jesse White
Billie Whitelaw Tidy-up Poll #5
Mary Wickes
Tom Wilkinson Poll #5
Guinn "Big Boy" Williams Tidy-up Poll #5
Mark Williams
Michael K. Williams Poll #5
Chill Wills Poll #5
Trey Wilson Poll #5
Penelope Wilton Poll #5
Ian Wolfe
Victor Wong
223
```
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/7 "2013-02-10T19:54:04Z")
These actors’ names are yet to be in a poll for voting. Should they be?
```auto
Dan Aykroyd
Danny Aiello
R. G. Armstrong
William Atherton
Jim Backus
Hermione Baddeley
G.W. Bailey
Joe Don Baker
Martin Balsam
Jonathan Banks
Jim Beaver
William Bendix
Neville Brand
Wilford Brimley
Foster Brooks
Kathy Burke
Jim Carter
Kim Coates
Olivia Colman
Steve Coogan
Brian Cox
James Cromwell
Tim Curry
Keith David
Sammy Davis Jr.
Bruce Davison
Andy Devine
Dale Dickey
Kevin Dillon
Dan Duryea
Buddy Ebsen
Dana Elcar
Pam Ferris
Paul Fix
Tommy Flanagan
Robert Forster
Byron Foulger
Michael Gambon
Vincent Gardenia
Chief Dan George
40
Stefan Gierasch
Thomas Gomez
Richard E Grant
Dabs Greer
Richard Griffiths
Christopher Guest
Gene Hackman
Sid Haig
Philip Baker Hall
Jared Harris
Rutger Hauer
Gabby Hayes
Philip Seymour Hoffman
James Hong
Jonathan Hyde
Michael Imperioli
Michael Ironside
Gregory Itzin
Zeljko Ivanek
David Jason
Richard Jenkins
Ken Jeong
L. Q. Jones
Tommy Lee Jones
Gordon Jump
Tim Kang
Stubby Kaye
Harvey Keitel
Al Leong
Al Lettieri
Richard Libertini
John Carroll Lynch
Ken Lynch
Mako
Eddie Marsan
E. G. Marshall
Chistopher McDonald
Bruce McGill
John C. McGinley
Victor McLaglen
80
Allan Melvin
Stephen Merchant
Thomas Mitchell
Tony Mordente
Rita Moreno
Robert Morley
Phil Morris
Burt Mustin
Kathy Najimy
Bill Nighy
Dean Norris
Donald O'Connor
George O'Hanlon
Catherine O'Hara
Gary Oldman
Mandy Patinkin
Bill Paxton
Austin Pendleton
Ron Perlman
Robert Picardo
D.J. Qualls
Aldo Ray
James Rebhorn
Alan Rickman
William Sanderson
John Saxon
Vito Scotti
Nick Searcy
Wallace Shawn
Henry Silva
Maggie Smith (2)
Tucker Smith
Joe Spinel
Robert Strauss
Dub Taylor
Stephen Tobolowsky
Tony Todd
Danny Trejo
John Turturro
John Vernon
120
Eli Wallach
Ray Walston
Tracey Walter
Jesse White
Mary Wickes
Mark Williams
Ian Wolfe
Victor Wong
128
```
---
### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/8 "2013-02-10T20:03:51Z")
You write these polls as if you are an alien compiling data on humans. I will not participate in what may be a precursor to an alien invasion.
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/9 "2013-02-10T20:07:19Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> You write these polls as if you are an alien compiling data on humans. I will not participate in what may be a precursor to an alien invasion.
As you wish. Maybe they won’t come after all. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actor-threads-discussion-please/649712/10 "2013-03-08T17:11:14Z")
I missed Newsradio the first time around and started watching the first 3 seasons on DVD and I had to laugh from the get-go that Stephen Root plays an overbearing, overconfident boss.