# The most successful character actor ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 2, 2006, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987 "2006-08-02T06:34:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/21 "2006-08-02T17:21:38Z")
John Goodman? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/22 "2006-08-02T17:23:26Z")
Roddy McDowell ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/23 "2006-08-02T17:32:17Z")
It’s kinda like your standard “look in the dictionary under ‘character actor’ and there’s his picture (Brennan).” Can’t argue with the choice, but others who come to mind when you mention his name: Pat Buttram Arthur Hunnicutt Smiley Burnette (westerns only) Elisha Cook, Jr. Noah Beery, Jr. Harry Carey, Jr. Edgar Buchanan Chill Wills In the female category: Ellen Corby Thelma Ritter Verna Felton Rosemarie Rhea Perlman ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/24 "2006-08-02T17:40:48Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] May I jump in here with a Harry Dean Stanton question? I recently saw _You, Me and Dupree_. In the scene when Dupree is told he can’t keep using the cot at the bar as his bed, I was sure that the character who objected was called “Curly” and it looked like HDS to me. However no-one in the credits appears to be the character I have in mind. It’s only a few minutes in for those yet to see it. Thanks for any help. [/QUOTE] I agree with you that it was he in that scene. [Yep](http://www.sbj.net/article.asp?aID=370588402.7388729.964093.5157231.6357952.361&aID2=74152)"This is about to end, as some of the old-timers (Harry Dean Stanton in an uncredited cameo among them) complain that THEY don’t get to sleep at the place." I thought they mentioned uncredited parts on idmb?? ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/25 "2006-08-02T17:42:46Z")
Would Charles Durning/Brian Dennehy (is there any actual proof they are different people?) count, or are they too famous? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/26 "2006-08-02T17:47:38Z")
Given the new definitions, I withdraw the name of John Wayne and, for the female side, submit Alyson Hannigan. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/27 "2006-08-02T17:57:43Z")
On the female side, [Grace Zabriskie](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0951471/) (yes I had to look up her name!). The ice blue eyes and shock of white in her dark hair–very distinctive. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/28 "2006-08-02T17:58:18Z")
[QUOTE=Rube E. Tewesday] Would Charles Durning/Brian Dennehy (is there any actual proof they are different people?) count, or are they too famous? [/QUOTE] In my mind there’s not a mutual exclusion sort of thing going on. Dennehy has for sure had some starring roles, but he’s also done a number of roles from the “character actor” standpoint. _Silverado_ springs to mind. You’ll have to tell me about Durning’s exceptions. Must be things I haven’t seen. What he did in _The Sting_, for instance, is definitely what a “character actor” would be asked to do. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/29 "2006-08-02T18:04:02Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] You’ll have to tell me about Durning’s exceptions. Must be things I haven’t seen. What he did in _The Sting_, for instance, is definitely what a “character actor” would be asked to do. [/QUOTE] It was mostly a joke, since I honestly have trouble keeping track of which of them has done which. From various things I’ve read, I gather I’m not alone. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/30 "2006-08-02T19:43:01Z")
I don’t know that it’s possible to single out one “most successful” but he or she has to be [in here somewhere.](http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/GCA_page_2.php) As far as memorable continued roles by a character actory, James Gregory as Inspector Frank Luger, NYPD on _Barney Miller_ has to be in there somewhere along with Don Knotts as Barney Fife. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/31 "2006-08-02T20:02:40Z")
[QUOTE=Scarlett67] But perhaps we need to define “most successful.” Made the most money? Most well-known? Most credited appearances? [/QUOTE] For “most appearances”, I nominate [William Schallert](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0769974/); his IMDB page has 297 entries under “actor”, many of them uncredited movie roles or TV guest appearances. Probably most remembered as the father on _The Patty Duke Show_. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/32 "2006-08-02T20:14:12Z")
I think the point of the OP is that this actor was so successful as a character actor in the 80s, that he snuck into Dave’s dreams playing the same type of character. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/33 "2006-08-02T20:24:03Z")
It’s hard to argue with **Walter Brennan** in movies or **William Schallert** on TV. Some others who come to mind are **Sydney Greenstreet, Harry Morgan** and **Keenan Wynne**. On the female side, I think immediately of **Eve Arden** (the wisecracking best friend) and **Celeste Holm** (the sincere best friend.) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/34 "2006-08-02T20:48:07Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] On the female side, I think immediately of **Eve Arden** (the wisecracking best friend) and **Celeste Holm** (the sincere best friend.) [/QUOTE] It is probably way to soon to go elevating currently active performers to the level of “most successful character actor” but if we take a stab at who will likely get there in another 10 years or so, I’ll vote for [Patricia Clarkson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0165101/) [Catherine Keener](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001416/) ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/35 "2006-08-02T21:55:53Z")
One actor who turned up in a surprising number of classic films (especially John Ford’s) is [Ward Bond.](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000955/) Also, add **Eli Wallach** to the list. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/36 "2006-08-02T22:04:17Z")
[QUOTE=NDP] One actor who turned up in a surprising number of classic films (especially John Ford’s) is [Ward Bond.](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000955/) [/QUOTE] Bond appeared in more Best Picture nominees (14) than any other actor in history (though he never scored a nod himself): _It’s a Wonderful Life, Gone with the Wind, The Maltese Falcon, It Happened One Night, The Grapes of Wrath, The Quiet Man, Mister Roberts, You Can’t Take It With You, Sergeant York, Dead End, The Informer, The Long Voyage Home, Lady for a Day_, and _Arrowsmith_. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/37 "2006-08-02T22:08:00Z")
From the current generation, I’d nominate [James Rebhorn](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0714310/). ---
**Author:** ![davmilasav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@davmilasav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davmilasav)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/38 "2006-08-02T22:14:34Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] From the current generation, I’d nominate [James Rebhorn](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0714310/). [/QUOTE] What? I’m the first to think of [Vincent Schiavelli](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001704/)? He was the subway ghost in Ghost! He married Latka & Simka! He was Jenny Calendar/Calderash’s uncle on Buffy! Heck, he was even in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He was everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/39 "2006-08-02T22:19:17Z")
Would **Lee Van Cleef** count as a character actor? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987/40 "2006-08-02T22:22:31Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] He’s still alive!?!?! [/QUOTE] 101 and still going strong! He’s going to be in Jamestown, NY on Thursday for Lucille Ball’s birthday celebration. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-successful-character-actor-ever/366987.md?page=3)