# Favorite Character Actors -- Semi Finals
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 18, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665 "2013-02-18T04:11:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/1 "2013-02-18T04:11:08Z")
These names have received the most votes in the Quarter Finals thread so we can proceed to cut down to a smaller group.
To do your part:
1. Copy the entire list
2. Eliminate all but 15
3. Post your 15 in this thread
After four days (Thursday 2/21) the top vote-getters (maximum 20) will be posted in a new thread for the Finals.
The Finals will be a multiple choice public poll where you will vote for no more than five actors and the top vote-getters will be deemed the SDMB Favorites.
The Semi-Final list:
======================
Ned Beatty
Jim Broadbent
Steve Buscemi
Elisha Cook Jr
Chris Cooper
Joan Cusack
Garret Dillahunt
Margaret Dumont
Charles Durning
Jack Elam
Walton Goggins
John Goodman
Sydney Greenstreet
John Hawkes
Dan Hedaya
Ben Johnson
Carol Kane
George Kennedy
Cloris Leachman
Peter Lorre
Strother Martin
Frances McDormand
Warren Oates
Slim Pickens
Claude Rains
Giovanni Ribisi
Stephen Root
Tim Roth
J.K. Simmons
Harry Dean Stanton
David Strathairn
Stanley Tucci
JT Walsh
M. Emmet Walsh
Jack Warden
======================
---
### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/2 "2013-02-18T04:37:21Z")
Here you go:
Steve Buscemi
Elisha Cook Jr
Joan Cusack
John Goodman
Sydney Greenstreet
Dan Hedaya
George Kennedy
Peter Lorre
Strother Martin
Frances McDormand
Slim Pickens
Stephen Root
Harry Dean Stanton
JT Walsh
M. Emmet Walsh
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/3 "2013-02-18T04:42:22Z")
======================
Steve Buscemi
Chris Cooper
Garret Dillahunt
Walton Goggins
John Goodman
Ben Johnson
Strother Martin
Frances McDormand
Slim Pickens
Stephen Root
Harry Dean Stanton
David Strathairn
Stanley Tucci
JT Walsh
M. Emmet Walsh
======================
---
### Author:  [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2013, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/4 "2013-02-18T04:56:18Z")
Ned Beatty
Jim Broadbent
Steve Buscemi
Chris Cooper
Charles Durning
John Goodman
Sydney Greenstreet
Peter Lorre
Frances McDormand
Claude Rains
Stephen Root
Tim Roth
Harry Dean Stanton
M. Emmet Walsh
Jack Warden
---
### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/5 "2013-02-18T05:24:04Z")
Steve Buscemi
Margaret Dumont
Charles Durning
Jack Elam
Sydney Greenstreet
Ben Johnson
Cloris Leachman
Peter Lorre
Strother Martin
Warren Oates
Slim Pickens
Claude Rains
Stephen Root
M. Emmet Walsh
Jack Warden
---
### Author:  [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/6 "2013-02-18T14:37:57Z")
Jim Broadbent
Steve Buscemi
Chris Cooper
Garret Dillahunt
Walton Goggins
John Hawkes
Peter Lorre
Frances McDormand
Claude Rains
Stephen Root
Tim Roth
David Strathairn
Stanley Tucci
JT Walsh
Jack Warden
---
### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/7 "2013-02-18T16:24:32Z")
Jim Broadbent
Steve Buscemi
Elisha Cook Jr
Joan Cusack
Margaret Dumont
Jack Elam
John Goodman
Sydney Greenstreet
Carol Kane
Cloris Leachman
Peter Lorre
Strother Martin
Slim Pickens
Claude Rains
Harry Dean Stanton
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2013, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/8 "2013-02-19T08:15:41Z")
If the voting is finished at this point – there are three days remaining – then the Final Poll will consist of these names:
========================
Steve Buscemi (6)
Peter Lorre (5)
Stephen Root (5)
John Goodman (4)
Sydney Greenstreet (4)
Strother Martin (4)
Frances McDormand (4)
Slim Pickens (4)
Claude Rains (4)
Harry Dean Stanton (4)
M. Emmet Walsh (4)
Jim Broadbent (3)
Chris Cooper (3)
JT Walsh (3)
Jack Warden (3)
========================
---
### Author:  [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2013, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/9 "2013-02-19T09:35:14Z")
Steve Buscemi
Chris Cooper
Joan Cusack
Garret Dillahunt
Jack Elam
Walton Goggins
John Goodman
John Hawkes
Peter Lorre
Frances McDormand
Stephen Root
Harry Dean Stanton
David Strathairn
Stanley Tucci
JT Walsh
---
### Author:  [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/10 "2013-02-19T13:25:24Z")
Steve Buscemi
Chris Cooper
Joan Cusack
Garret Dillahunt
Walton Goggins
John Hawkes
Peter Lorre
Frances McDormand
Claude Rains
Stephen Root
Tim Roth
J.K. Simmons
Harry Dean Stanton
David Strathairn
Stanley Tucci
---
### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/11 "2013-02-19T16:45:44Z")
Jim Broadbent
Steve Buscemi
Margaret Dumont
Charles Durning
John Goodman
Sydney Greenstreet
Peter Lorre
Strother Martin
Frances McDormand
Claude Rains
Tim Roth
J.K. Simmons
Stanley Tucci
JT Walsh
M. Emmet Walsh
---
### Author:  [@jack\_tardiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_tardiff)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/12 "2013-02-19T19:23:43Z")
Ned Beatty
Steve Buscemi
Elisha Cook Jr
Jack Elam
Ben Johnson
Carol Kane
Cloris Leachman
Strother Martin
Warren Oates
Slim Pickens
Tim Roth
Harry Dean Stanton
David Strathairn
M. Emmet Walsh
Jack Warden
---
### Author:  [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/13 "2013-02-19T22:49:49Z")
Steve Buscemi
Chris Cooper
Garret Dillahunt
Charles Durning
Walton Goggins
John Hawkes
Dan Hedaya
George Kennedy
Cloris Leachman
Frances McDormand
Stephen Root
J.K. Simmons
Harry Dean Stanton
David Strathairn
Stanley Tucci
---
### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/14 "2013-02-19T23:01:29Z")
Boy, those were some hard choices.
Chris Cooper
Jack Elam
John Goodman
Dan Hedaya
Carol Kane
Frances McDormand
Warren Oates
Slim Pickens
Stephen Root
J.K. Simmons
Harry Dean Stanton
David Strathairn
Stanley Tucci
M. Emmet Walsh
Jack Warden
---
### Author:  [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/15 "2013-02-19T23:04:01Z")
Ned Beatty
Jim Broadbent
Steve Buscemi
Joan Cusack
Charles Durning
John Goodman
Sydney Greenstreet
Carol Kane
George Kennedy
Cloris Leachman
Peter Lorre
Frances McDormand
Claude Rains
Harry Dean Stanton
Stanley Tucci
---
### Author:  [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/16 "2013-02-20T01:27:17Z")
Ned Beatty
Steve Buscemi
Chris Cooper
Charles Durning
Dan Hedaya
George Kennedy
Frances McDormand
Warren Oates
Giovanni Ribisi
Stephen Root
J.K. Simmons
Harry Dean Stanton
Stanley Tucci
JT Walsh
Jack Warden
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/17 "2013-02-20T01:34:16Z")
As of **lawoot** ’s post here are the current standings of all names:
Steve Buscemi (12)
Frances McDormand (10)
Harry Dean Stanton (10)
Peter Lorre (9)
Stephen Root (9)
John Goodman (8)
Stanley Tucci (8)
Chris Cooper (7)
Claude Rains (7)
David Strathairn (7)
M. Emmet Walsh (7)
Sydney Greenstreet (6)
Strother Martin (6)
Slim Pickens (6)
Jim Broadbent (5)
Joan Cusack (5)
Garret Dillahunt (5)
Charles Durning (5)
Jack Elam (5)
Walton Goggins (5)
Cloris Leachman (5)
Tim Roth (5)
JT Walsh (5)
Jack Warden (5)
John Hawkes (4)
Carol Kane (4)
J.K. Simmons (4)
Ned Beatty (3)
Elisha Cook Jr (3)
Margaret Dumont (3)
Dan Hedaya (3)
Ben Johnson (3)
George Kennedy (3)
Warren Oates (3)
Giovanni Ribisi
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/18 "2013-02-20T18:49:09Z")
As of **kevja** ’s post, here’s where we stand headed toward the Final Poll.
I’m thinking we should include the (5) votes which will mean 25 names instead of 17.
If there are no more votes/posts by this time tomorrow (Thursday) I will post that poll at that time.
Thanks to all who have participated in this whole project.
The top vote-getters to this point:
========================
Steve Buscemi (13)
Frances McDormand (11)
Harry Dean Stanton (11)
Stephen Root (10)
Peter Lorre (9)
Stanley Tucci (9)
Chris Cooper (8)
John Goodman (8)
Claude Rains (7)
David Strathairn (7)
M. Emmet Walsh (7)
Charles Durning (6)
Sydney Greenstreet (6)
Strother Martin (6)
Slim Pickens (6)
JT Walsh (6)
Jack Warden (6)
=== 17
Jim Broadbent (5)
Joan Cusack (5)
Garret Dillahunt (5)
Jack Elam (5)
Walton Goggins (5)
Cloris Leachman (5)
Tim Roth (5)
J.K. Simmons (5)
=== 25
========================
---
### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/19 "2013-02-20T18:53:40Z")
Ned Beatty
Steve Buscemi
Chris Cooper
Walton Goggins
John Goodman
Ben Johnson
George Kennedy
Cloris Leachman
Strother Martin
Frances McDormand
Slim Pickens
Giovanni Ribisi
Harry Dean Stanton
David Strathairn
Jack Warden
---
### Author:  [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665/20 "2013-02-20T21:13:55Z")
Elisha Cook Jr
Chris Cooper
Jack Elam
Sydney Greenstreet
John Hawkes
Ben Johnson
George Kennedy
Peter Lorre
Strother Martin
Warren Oates
Claude Rains
Harry Dean Stanton
David Strathairn
JT Walsh
M. Emmet Walsh
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-character-actors-semi-finals/650665.md?page=2)