The African explorer? 
If Kawliga’s going to bring up “Homicide”, then I have to mention Zeljko Ivanek as State’s Attorney Ed Danvers, because (a) he was a great supporting player, and (b) it’s fun to type “Zeljko”.
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
Good one Scarlett, That was funny.
A few other under-appreciated characters that come to mind:
Felipe, Jack’s assistant chef, from “Three’s Company”
In “What’s Happening”, all the people in Rob’s Diner that would laugh at one of Roger’s jokes, or clap when Rerun danced, and then keep quiet the remainder of the time. I’ll throw in Rob too. He was very under-appreciated.
Dave the cook from “Northern Exposure”
I’m noticing that under-appreciated characters often work in the food preparation field.
Joan Shawlee? Hmmm, same Joan Shawlee as in “Conquest of Space”? Hubba hubba.
“Hello, this is Carleton, your doorman…”
Suzie Plakson as K’Eylarh and Dr. Selar in Star Trek: Next Generation.
Well, then. How about the greatest “role-that-could-have-been”?
Timothy Brown, who was in the original cast of MAS*H as Spearchucker Jones, but was then removed since they realized there were no black surgeons in the Korean War.
Can you imagine? He never amounted to anything and he was there in the beginning! If only they had decided to haze over the fact he was black, he could have been forever famous(at least as famous as Wayne Rogers).
Poor, poor, Timothy Brown.
In all fairness, though, things are looking up for Tim. He recently played the important role of “Roof Man Billy” in Frequency.
That’s almost as good as being on one of the greatest shows ever. Really.
Here is his link, by the way.
Copy and paste that link. The comma through it off.
Sweet frelling mercy! I’ve been on this board for 3 1/2 years and this is the first time I’ve had to post three times in a row.
It should have said, “threw” it off, not “through”.
Sometimes, I revert to a state of mental retardation. Excuse me while I go bang my head on a wall and scream wildly.
…but wasn’t Paul’s last name Smith, not Wilson??
Most underrated and missed character from that show was definitely Coach. He had the most hilarious lines!!
Night Court had several silly recurring characters: Mel Torme, the people (can’t remember names) that ran the snack bar (the man played by Brent Spiner, otherwise known as Data) and other various weirdos for Dan Fielding to make jokes about.
Oooh—Baby Gerald on “The Simpsons!” You know, the one who looks just like Helena Bonham-Carter?
Wasn’t he credited as “The Man Who Said ‘Sinatra’” whenever he appeared, based on his first-ever line?
I’ll pick the Log Lady and Albert from “Twin Peaks.” Never the main characters, but some darned amusing initial subplots, and Albert had perhaps the funniest line of the show.
How about the guy who ran the tailor shop in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”? Never said a word, but always nodded as Napoleon Solo went by.
The Butler in “The Prisoner” appeared as a regular but never said a word.
Then there’s Morg from Star Trek: Deep Space 9. He was always hanging around at Quark’s bar. The actor is trying to make money by appearing at SF conventions.
Oooohhh… that calls for a groucho smilie! Too bad there isn’t one…
How about ‘Moose’ from Hot l Baltimore. One time he glued himself to the ceiling.
One line from that show has stuck in mt head for years…
Charlotte Rae’s character: “Moose is upstairs, buttering the hallways.”
Unless omni-not is talking about Al, the other old guy - the dishevelled drunk guy who usually wore a hat. Phil was a relatively (compared to Al) sober old guy with big old-guy glasses.
The actor’s name was Paul Wilson. The character’s name was Paul Krapence.
Yeah, Coach was the best. I loved Woody(Huckleberry), but Coach was something else.
[Cheer’s Phone Rings]
Coach: Cheers, hello?
[pause]
Coach puts phone down
Coach(yelling): Is there an Ernie Pantusso here?
Sam: That’s you, coach.
Coach puts phone back to mouth
Coach: Speaking.
Yes! YES! Finally got it straight. It’s Al Rosen I was thinking of. Not Phil (more of a drab character, IMO). Al always had those zingers. And I realized I was pretty generous giving him 30 seconds airtime. T’was more like 10.
Paul Willson (note the spelling) was in Office Space actually. He was great. And he was Leonard Smith in “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” who was always introduced as “sigh Oh no, it’s Leonard Smith!”
One of my favourite supporting character actors is Wallace Shawn, but he’s getting to be more famous these days, so I won’t count him.
So my next-in-line choice is Doris Roberts - currently starring in Everybody Loves Raymond but has been a favourite of mine all through Angie, Remington Steele, and various guest spots everywhere.
From the original Star Trek, Lt. Kevin O’Reilly, placed by Bruce Hyde. He was on two episodes. I had such a crush on the guy.
Selby on Mad About You. He was Paul’s best friend the first season. Phased out in favor of Ira, Paul’s cousin. Also Ursula the waitress, who later become her twin sister Phoebe on Friends.
Three’s Company had a sequel, Three’s a Crowd. Jack’s assitant, E.Z., was played by Alan Campbell. I loved him, and was totally amazed when the actor got the lead in the US version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Blvd,” being a huge ALW fan. I’m one of the few people who even remember the series and actor (Dorothy Parker’s second & third husband was also named Alan Campbell. And they had a Norma/Joe relationship).
I loved Jack Riley as Eliot Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show, and Stuart Margolin as the great weasel Evelyn “Angel” Martin on The Rockford Files. “Don’t worry, I’ll stonewall 'em, Jimmy!”