# Who's your favorite character actor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798 "2007-01-13T03:51:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/41 "2007-01-14T08:46:28Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I got timed out before I posted my own picks: [J. K. Simmons](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0799777/), the real star of the Spider-Man movies [/QUOTE] Ooh, ooh, ooh- I change my vote to him. I can’t believe I forgot him. He was the most evil bastard on television as the neo-Nazi Schillinger in OZ and when he was making me laugh in _Spiderman_ and double over in _The Ladykillers_ (“easiest thing in the world…”) or playing a loving father in _Cider House Rules_ and other films it was just incredible. Suddenly he’s a fnord actor who’s just popping up in everything and always making you forget he’s really an evil neo-Nazi bastard capable of murdering children (or at least capable of playing an evil neo-Nazi bastard etc etc). ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/42 "2007-01-14T13:26:54Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan] The other day I watched an old Star Trek episode and recognized a favorite character actor of mine was playing the guest captain. It was the episode where they find the planet of Yangs and the Coms, and in the end the Yangs bring out an American flag. The actor who played the rogue captain is [Morgan](http://www.morganwoodward.com/index.htm) [Woodward](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940971/) I also remember him from a couple of Kung Fu episodes and several roles on Gunsmoke. In fact he holds the record for guest star roles on a TV series. He was on Gunsmoke 19 times. He also played the guard with the sunglasses and rifle in Cool Hand Luke. Over 250 roles in TV and films. So dopers. Tell us your favorite character actors. People who were never “big stars” but still had busy acting careers. Link em if you got em. [/QUOTE] Love Morgan Woodward - he was also “The Boss” in “Cool Hand Luke” My favorite is the delightfully ubiquitous Dick (“Walter Paisley”) Miller: [http://imdb.com/name/nm0588241/](http://imdb.com/name/nm0588241/) > **[Dick Miller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Miller)** > > Richard Miller (December 25, 1928 – January 30, 2019) was an American character actor who appeared in more than 180 films, including many produced by Roger Corman. He later appeared in the films of directors who began their careers with Corman, including Joe Dante, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese, with the distinction of appearing in every film directed by Dante. His turn in Dante's 1985 sci-fi drama Explorers earned Miller a nomination for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was k VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/43 "2007-01-14T13:34:14Z")
[QUOTE=Veuve\_ClicquotNJ] Love Morgan Woodward - he was also “The Boss” in “Cool Hand Luke” My favorite is the delightfully ubiquitous Dick (“Walter Paisley”) Miller: [http://imdb.com/name/nm0588241/](http://imdb.com/name/nm0588241/) > **[Dick Miller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Miller)** > > Richard Miller (December 25, 1928 – January 30, 2019) was an American character actor who appeared in more than 180 films, including many produced by Roger Corman. He later appeared in the films of directors who began their careers with Corman, including Joe Dante, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese, with the distinction of appearing in every film directed by Dante. His turn in Dante's 1985 sci-fi drama Explorers earned Miller a nomination for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was k VCNJ~ [/QUOTE] Of _course_ he was in “Cool Hand Luke” - just like the OP said! 😛 VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/44 "2007-01-14T18:02:47Z")
Some more (mostly from 60s and 70s television): -Claude Akins -Barry Atwater -Nehemiah Persoff -David Opatashu -Jacqueline Scott -Pat Hingle -Warren Stevens -Richard Anderson -Earl Holliman (A Stan Lee “No prize” to anyone who recognizes what the last three above have in common) -H. M. Wynant -Joseph Ruskin (only actor to have appeared in all FIVE incarnations of Star Trek–I put "incarnations, and not series, because for TNG he appeared in one of the movies and not on the actual series) -Theo Marcuse -Jan Shutan -Antoinette Bower -J. D. Cannon -Jon Lormer And that extrememly short little fellow in a bunch of shows (“Twilight Zone” off the top of my head) named Walter Something-the-other-what’s-his-name Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/45 "2007-01-14T19:43:35Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] [Thelma Ritter](http://imdb.com/name/nm0728812/), probably best remembered as Birdie in “All About Eve.” Also love her as Moe in my favorite _film noir_ “Pickup on South Street.” [/QUOTE] What I came in here to say. Also Beulah Bondi and Edna May Oliver. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/46 "2007-01-14T20:00:33Z")
Oh, and the entire supporting cast of _Green Acres_: Barbara Pepper, Pat Buttram, Frank Cady, Alvy Moore, Hank Patterson, Mary Grace Canfield, Eleanor Audley . . . applause for the casting director! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/47 "2007-01-14T20:57:31Z")
[QUOTE=Sir Rhosis] -Warren Stevens -Richard Anderson -Earl Holliman (A Stan Lee “No prize” to anyone who recognizes what the last three above have in common) [/QUOTE] _"Sorry miss, I was giving myself an oil-job. "_ ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/48 "2007-01-14T21:24:54Z")
Crispin Glover. That guy is amazing in everything he’s in, but I especially love his portrayal of Lane in _River’s Edge._ Most people might not think of him as a character actor, but Nick Nolte deserves some mention. _Breakfast Of Champions,_ the adaptation of Vonnegut’s novel starring Bruce Willis, was panned by critics, but Nolte’s hilarious portrayal of Harry LeSabre was definitely a highlight of the film. Few other actors are so good at portraying a guy at his wits’ end. In general I think he is underrated as an actor. Joe Pantoliano had one of the most memorable characters on the Sopranos, Ralph. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/49 "2007-01-14T23:14:45Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] Agree with Harry Dean Stanton. Other favorites of mine: Arnold Stang, Edward Everett Horton, John C Reilly, Steve Buscemi and William H Macy. [/QUOTE] I have [John C. Reilly’s](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000604/) imdb page bookmarked, because I always find myself watching a movie and saying, “Who the hell is he?” I think he’s fantastic, but I can never remember his name. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/50 "2007-01-14T23:51:58Z")
Oh, yes, and **Jim Broadbent**! Possibly the most versatile and talented actor working today. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/51 "2007-01-15T01:06:42Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] My favorite character actors are [Chris Cooper](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0177933/) and [Alan Rickman](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000614/). Brilliant and sexy, the both of them. [/QUOTE] Alan Rickman hasn’t qualified as a character actor for decades. He’s a fantastic actor, especially when he plays either a villian or a put-upon foil, but hardly a backgrounder. My vote goes to Robert Forester (_Jackie Brown_, _Diamond Men_, a huge pile of t.v. appearances and sub-B genre movies); his one memorable leading role was Haskell Wexler’s _Medium Cool_, and for some reason he’s never been able to parley that and his manifest talent into starring roles in decent films, or even a consistant t.v. career. I agree with the Thelma Ritter adorists, but she was in so few films. _Rear Window_ would have been a much poorer movie without her caustic commentary, though. Once that few people probably know is Michel Lonsdale: he played the droll villian, Hugo Drax, in the forgettable Moore-era Bond film _Moonraker_, but he shines as a secondary character in films like _Ronin_ and _Munich_, where his subtle cues and ticks do a lot more than Al Pacino’s scenery chewing in any given film. DeNiro isn’t a character actor per se, but he has often taken “character actor” parts in films like _Angel Heart_, _Brazil_, and _The Good Shepherd_, and acquits himself nicely without dominating the film the way other actors of his stature would. The ultimate character actor, though, I think should be Alec Guinness. Even when this guy headlined a film, he had a knack for fading into character and completely becoming whatever he needed to be to play the role. He’s the central character in _Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy_, completely indispensible, and yet he almost seems to be just wandering through the story incidentally. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/52 "2007-01-15T14:27:26Z")
[QUOTE=saoirse] I have [John C. Reilly’s](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000604/) imdb page bookmarked, because I always find myself watching a movie and saying, “Who the hell is he?” I think he’s fantastic, but I can never remember his name. [/QUOTE] I saw him in something last night and thought of this thread. I think he was already mentioned but I saw [Victor French](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0294229/) on Gunsmoke this morning and looked up his credits. Pretty dam impressive. I think he came in a close second to Morgan Woodward for appearences on Gunsmoke. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/53 "2007-01-15T15:04:27Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan] I saw him in something last night and thought of this thread. I think he was already mentioned but I saw [Victor French](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0294229/) on Gunsmoke this morning and looked up his credits. Pretty dam impressive. I think he came in a close second to Morgan Woodward for appearences on Gunsmoke. [/QUOTE] Actually, it is the other way around. Victor French [appeared in 23 episodes](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0294229/filmoseries#tt0047736), but Morgan Woodward [appeared in only 19](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940971/filmoseries#tt0047736). ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/54 "2007-01-15T16:19:26Z")
Wilford Brimley never the star but steals the scene. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/55 "2007-01-18T20:06:06Z")
I’m bumping the thread because I just saw Alfred Molina on TV and remembered him. Like most actors with some success he’s had some lead roles but he’s best as a supporting player. He was so good as the Iranian father in _Not Without My Daughter_ (a role that would have been easy to turn into a cartoon character villain but he didn’t), the bikini briefs and kimono wearing coked up Eddie Nash character with the firecracker popping houseguest in _Boogie Nights_ and the missionary in _Dead Man_ that I didn’t recognize them as the same actor. He even made Doc Ock work (though I still can’t imagine him as Tevye on Broadway). ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/56 "2007-01-18T22:36:38Z")
55 posts and no love for [Wallace Shawn?](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001728/) :eek: Only the character actor’s character actor! I am shocked and disappointed! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/57 "2007-01-18T23:01:31Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] The ultimate character actor, though, I think should be Alec Guinness. Even when this guy headlined a film, he had a knack for fading into character and completely becoming whatever he needed to be to play the role. He’s the central character in _Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy_, completely indispensible, and yet he almost seems to be just wandering through the story incidentally. [/QUOTE] I’ve got _Kind Hearts and Coronets_ waiting for me at home, and I look forward to seeing him do that with eight different characters. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/58 "2007-01-19T02:32:45Z")
[QUOTE=want2know] 55 posts and no love for [Wallace Shawn?](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001728/) :eek: Only the character actor’s character actor! I am shocked and disappointed! [/QUOTE] My favorite Wallace Shawn moment, even moreso than his “inconceivable!” Princess Bride appearance, was when he played Stuart Best on _Murphy Brown_. It was a role he played in three or four episodes, but the funniest is the one where his total schmuck of a character gets elected to Congress only to find out that his campaign backers were- well, not the Aryan Nations, but “a militant offshoot of the Aryan Nations!” and he has to work in pro-slavery, pro-polygyny, anti-Japanese propaganda into an interview. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798/59 "2007-01-19T07:45:35Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] My favorite Wallace Shawn moment, even moreso than his “inconceivable!” Princess Bride appearance, was when he played Stuart Best on _Murphy Brown_. It was a role he played in three or four episodes, but the funniest is the one where his total schmuck of a character gets elected to Congress only to find out that his campaign backers were- well, not the Aryan Nations, but “a militant offshoot of the Aryan Nations!” and he has to work in pro-slavery, pro-polygyny, anti-Japanese propaganda into an interview. [/QUOTE] That’s right–he represented the newest congressional district in Arizona. “These people are _scary_!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-character-actor/387798.md?page=2)