# Favorite (or noteworthy) supporting TV characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213 "2014-01-19T17:56:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/1 "2014-01-19T17:56:24Z")
This may take some poking around at IMDb and similar sites, but after the main characters have been accounted for in the cast list or credits of your regular TV shows, who are the ones you count on for consistent quality? A few examples of my choices ought to make it easier to decide the category I’m talking about. Anyway, ```auto -- Kim Coates ... Alex 'Tig' Trager (82 episodes, 2008-2013) -- Tim Kang ... Kimball Cho (129 episodes, 2008-2014) -- Archie Panjabi ... Kalinda Sharma (102 episodes, 2009-2014) -- Jacob Pitts ... Deputy U.S. Marshal Tim Gutterson (60 episodes, 2010-2014) -- T.J. Thyne ... Dr. Jack Hodgins (179 episodes, 2005-2014) -- Michael K. Williams ... Chalky White (48 episodes, 2010-2013) -- Olivia Munn ... Sloan Sabbith (19 episodes, 2012-2013) ``` Put a different way, when you start watching a favorite show, other than the lead players, who is it you’re hoping will show up in the episode because you really like their work or just the character itself? And, yes, I have asked similar questions in earlier threads but I figured I’d start a new one instead of poking a zombie. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/2 "2014-01-19T18:02:27Z")
Raffi on The League. He is one of the funniest guys on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/3 "2014-01-19T18:42:36Z")
Might be helpful to include the name of the series as well, as I don’t recognize anyone in the OP’s list… I enjoyed Tommy Chong in _That 70s Show_, and whoever played Sidney Friedman on M_A_S\*H… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/4 "2014-01-19T18:52:01Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Might be helpful to include the name of the series as well, as I don’t recognize anyone in the OP’s list… > > I enjoyed Tommy Chong in _That 70s Show_, and whoever played Sidney Friedman on M_A_S\*H… Good point! Sorry 'bout that! Top to bottom from the OP: Alex ‘Tig’ Trager – Sons of Anarchy Kimball Cho – The Mentalist Kalinda Sharma – The Good Wife Deputy U.S. Marshal Tim Gutterson – Justified Dr. Jack Hodgins – Bones Chalky White – Boardwalk Empire Sloan Sabbith – The Newsroom ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/5 "2014-01-19T19:16:05Z")
Dan Fielding-_Night Court_ Honorable mention-The Wheeler family-_Night Court_ All the weirdos who wandered through both _Night Court_ and _Barney Miller_ ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/6 "2014-01-19T19:43:31Z")
For character actors in general: [Terry Thomas](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/09/05/article-1052851-0286FF5200000578-311_468x527.jpg) [Betty Garrett](http://image1.findagrave.com/photos/2011/45/65638424_129783033078.jpg) [John McGiver](http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsM/tve11618-19661219-164.jpg) [Roscoe Lee Browne](http://cineclap.free.fr/l-etau-1969/roscoe-lee-browne.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/7 "2014-01-19T19:58:00Z")
I will submit the entire supporting cast of Seinfeld, who had some of the best part time characters of all time. Some of my favorites included: David Puddy J. Peterman Frank and Estelle Costanza Uncle Leo Newman ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/8 "2014-01-19T20:10:13Z")
Chloe O’Brien on **24** - the part just grew and grew, so she was a co-star by the end, a perfectly rendered version of Jack Bauer as an IT person. 🙂 Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers, the wise-cracking ME on **Law and Order** for most of its run. “Is that it? I’ve got a guy on my table with a javelin in his head.” “Rodgers, why do you do this job?” “Free javelins!” Loretta McReady, the pot-slinging orphan on **Justified**. “It was my understanding you didn’t pursue sellers of herbal relief, Marshal.” Flynn and Provenza of **The Closer**. The season highlight for me was the annual ep with them as the focus. Runner up: Asst. Chief Pope. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/9 "2014-01-19T20:48:12Z")
Definitely Kimball Cho Also… Sergeant Wu (Reggie Lee) on _Grimm_ Mycroft Holmes (Mark Gatiss and Rhys Ifans) in both _Sherlock_ and _Elementary_ ---
**Author:** ![I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Made_French_Toast_For_You)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/10 "2014-01-19T21:27:38Z")
_Artemis_ (Artemis Pebdani) on **It’s Always Sunny**. _Rosalie Aprile_ (Sharon Angela) on **The Sopranos** [the episode when she and Carmela go to Paris is perfect]. _Drusilla_ (Juliet Landau) on **Buffy**. _Lumpy Space Princess_ (Pendleton Ward) on **Adventure Time**. _Beverly_ (Estelle Parsons) on **Roseanne**. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/11 "2014-01-19T23:29:56Z")
Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) on Grimm. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/12 "2014-01-20T00:16:07Z")
> [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > _Artemis_ (Artemis Pebdani) on **It’s Always Sunny**. > > _Rosalie Aprile_ (Sharon Angela) on **The Sopranos** [the episode when she and Carmela go to Paris is perfect]. > > _Drusilla_ (Juliet Landau) on **Buffy**. > > _Lumpy Space Princess_ (Pendleton Ward) on **Adventure Time**. > > _Beverly_ (Estelle Parsons) on **Roseanne**. Artemis is fantastic. Every second she is on the screen, she is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/13 "2014-01-20T01:18:49Z")
Bob "Better Call Saul!"Odenkirk and Jonathan “Mike” Banks from _Breaking Bad._ Although in S4, Jonathan Banks is more a regular than a supporting cast member. Jere Burns (Wynn Duffy) and Damon Herriman (Dewey Crowe) both turn in consistently entertaining performances on _Justified._ And speaking of both _Breaking Bad_ and _Justified_, Jim Beaver turns in memorable performances and holds his own quite handily alongside main-cast members. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/14 "2014-01-20T01:40:59Z")
> [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > _Artemis_ (Artemis Pebdani) on **It’s Always Sunny**. Thirded. I’d also like to nominate the McPoyles, specifically Liam and Ryan (Jimmi Simpson and Nate Mooney, respectively) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/15 "2014-01-20T02:25:28Z")
Lloyd -Rex Lee - on Entourage Randy, J-Roc, Cory and Trevor - Pat Roach, Jonathan Torrens, Cory Bowles and Michael Jackson - on Trailer Park Boys ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/16 "2014-01-20T02:33:34Z")
The guy who plays Palmer on NCIS. Too lazy to look it up, but that is a very attractive man, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/17 "2014-01-20T02:52:05Z")
Wouldn’t Jacob Pitts as Tim Gunderson count as a lead character? He certainly doesn’t get included in as many episodes as he should, but he’s credited during the opening along with the other regulars. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/18 "2014-01-20T03:11:43Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > The guy who plays Palmer on NCIS. Too lazy to look it up, but that is a very attractive man, IMHO. Brian Dietzen. I love how he slowly worked his way from bit part background player to series regular (he’s even in the opening titles now). Anyway, my choice is Woody on _Psych_. Played by brilliant character actor, Kurt Fuller. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/19 "2014-01-20T05:45:52Z")
> [@Garula](#): > > Wouldn’t Jacob Pitts as Tim Gunderson count as a lead character? He certainly doesn’t get included in as many episodes as he should, but he’s credited during the opening along with the other regulars. As you prefer. I treat Raylan and Boyd, and perhaps Art as the main stars. The rest are support cast. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213/20 "2014-01-20T19:16:44Z")
Ross Martin as Artemus Gordon on _ **Wild, Wild West** _. As far as I was concerned, he was always more than just Jim West’s sidekick. James Doohan as Scotty on _ **ST: TOS** _. He deserved a lot more (and better) attention than he got over the course of the series. All of James Garner’s guest buddies on _ **The Rockford Files** _—Louis Gossett, Jr; Tom Selleck; Isaac Hayes; Dennis Dugan; et al. Both Nick Colasanto and Woody Harrelson as Coach and Woody on _ **Cheers!** _ The show wouldn’t have been nearly as funny without them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-or-noteworthy-supporting-tv-characters/679213.md?page=2)