Fametracker actually makes a nod to the actors who get lots of roles, but very few lead roles, in the Hey, It’s That Guy! section of their website.
The people on the list, though, are generally more recent actors, and folks like Bond and Bissel don’t get a mention.
Wouldn’t character actors like Whit Bissell also be able to make up in quantity of jobs by what they lose in quality of jobs because they aren’t part of long shoots and in many scenes?
Do you think Whit Bissell had to work more than 1 or 2 days on “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”?
One big advantage to not being a “star” actor is that you’ll still be offered good roles as your appearance changes with age.
My friend who is a second-tier actress is still getting juicy roles at the age of 57. If she’d been an ingenue type, her career would have petered out long ago.
Then you have guys like Larry Miller He almost always plays a complete asshole. Need an asshole for your film? Call Larry Miller.
Larry Miller was considered for the George role on “Seinfeld”.
QED