# Your Favorite Character Actors (pre-poll data gathering) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364 "2013-02-05T04:38:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/41 "2013-02-05T17:36:17Z")
[Victor McLaglen](http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=11712) [Chill Wills](http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/cgi-bin/res.pl?keyword=Chill+Wills.....) [Andy Devine](http://www.kids-n-cowboys.com/andy-devine.html) ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/42 "2013-02-05T17:54:10Z")
[Robert Picardo](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3558448384/nm0000585) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/43 "2013-02-05T17:58:21Z")
Here are a few more recent ones from favorite TV shows and recent movies Kim Coates Tim Kang Nick Searcy Michael K. Williams Mandy Patinkin Michael Imperioli Rutger Hauer Richard Jenkins Jonathan Banks Dean Norris ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/44 "2013-02-05T18:11:34Z")
[D. J. Qualls](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._J._Qualls) [Ciarán Hinds](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciar%C3%A1n_Hinds) [Danny Trejo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Trejo) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/45 "2013-02-05T18:17:31Z")
[Giovanni Ribisi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Ribisi) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/46 "2013-02-05T18:24:24Z")
Lotta great ones mentioned already. I’ll add (unless I’ve overlooked them): Robert Forster Sid Haig Phil Morris Kevin Dillon John C. McGinley Tony Todd Keith David ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/47 "2013-02-05T18:26:21Z")
I can’t believe these two haven’t been mentioned yet: Alan Rickman Tim Roth ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/48 "2013-02-05T18:27:00Z")
I can’t decide whether Gene Hackman qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/49 "2013-02-05T18:33:16Z")
Joan Cusack ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/50 "2013-02-05T18:48:21Z")
My setup has a new page coming so I’ll post the updated alpha list there. I’m thinking of a new thread for Top Ten lists from those who want to participate to help narrow down what’s now over 150 names. From that thread’s lists maybe we can come down to a small enough number for a poll or two. I welcome suggestions on alternative measures. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/51 "2013-02-05T18:51:44Z")
Through Post #50 here’s the list so far: ============================ Dan Ackroyd Danny Aiello R. G. Armstrong William Atherton Hermione Baddeley G.W. Bailey Joe Don Baker Martin Balsam Jonathan Banks Jim Beaver William Bendix Ward Bond (2) Neville Brand Walter Brennan Wilford Brimley Jim Broadbent Clancy Brown Kathy Burke Steve Buscemi Kim Coates Lee J. Cobb Olivia Colman Steve Coogan Elisha Cook Jr. Chris Cooper Brian Cox Laird Creggar James Cromwell Tim Curry Joan Cusack Keith David Sammy Davis Jr. Bruce Davison Andy Devine Dale Dickey Garret Dillahunt Kevin Dillon Charles Durning Dan Duryea Buddy Ebsen Jack Elam Richard Farnsworth Pam Ferris William Fichtner Paul Fix Tommy Flanagan Robert Forster Byron Foulger Michael Gambon Chief Dan George Stefan Gierasch Walton Goggins John Goodman Richard E Grant Billy Green Bush Richard Griffiths Gene Hackman Sid Haig Philip Baker Hall Rutger Hauer John Hawkes Dan Hedaya Ciarán Hinds Philip Seymour Hoffman James Hong Bo Hopkins Michael Imperioli Michael Ironside Gregory Itzin Zeljko Ivanek Richard Jaeckel (2) David Jason Richard Jenkins Ken Jeong Ben Johnson (2) L. Q. Jones Tim Kang George Kennedy Robert Knepper Al Leong Al Lettieri Peter Lorre John Carroll Lynch Ken Lynch Mako Eddie Marsan E. G. Marshall Strother Martin (2) Chistopher McDonald Frances McDormand Bruce McGill John C. McGinley Victor McLaglen Allan Melvin Stephen Merchant Dick Miller Tony Mordente Rita Moreno Robert Morley Phil Morris Burt Mustin Kathy Najimy Bill Nighy Dean Norris Warren Oates Donald O’connor George O’hanlon Catherine O’Hara Gary Oldman Mandy Patinkin Bill Paxton Austin Pendleton Ron Perlman Robert Picardo Johnathan Pryce D.J. Qualls Claude Rains Aldo Ray James Rebhorn Giovanni Ribisi Alan Rickman Stephen Root Tim Roth William Sanderson Vito Scotti Nick Searcy Wallace Shawn Henry Silva J. K. Simmons Maggie Smith (2) Tucker Smith Joe Spinel Harry Dean Stanton (2) David Strathairn (2) Robert Strauss Mark Strong Dub Taylor Stephen Tobolowsky Tony Todd Danny Trejo Lee Van Cleef John Vernon Eli Wallach J.T. Walsh M. Emmet Walsh Ray Walston Tracey Walter Jack Warden Jesse White Mary Wickes Tom Wilkinson Mark Williams Michael K. Williams Chill Wills Ian Wolfe Victor Wong ============================ ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/52 "2013-02-05T19:08:07Z")
[Jim Backus](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000822/?ref_=sr_1) [Dana Elcar](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0253020/?ref_=tt_cl_t6) [Gordon Jump](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0432410/?ref_=sr_2) [Richard Libertini](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0508844/?ref_=sr_1) ---
**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:** [February 5, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/53 "2013-02-05T21:27:48Z")
Dabs Greer Stubby Kaye Gabby Hayes ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/54 "2013-02-05T21:40:07Z")
John Saxon (hey, if we have Joe Don Baker…) ---
**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:** [February 5, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/55 "2013-02-05T23:01:16Z")
John Turturro Jared Harris Jonathan Hyde Jim Carter Christopher Guest ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/56 "2013-02-07T15:01:28Z")
Is Harvey Keitel not considered a “character actor” for some reason? Because I am amazed that he hasn’t been mentioned anywhere in any of these 3 threads. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/57 "2013-02-07T15:59:28Z")
Did we also miss Tommy Lee Jones? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/58 "2013-02-07T16:14:05Z")
Tommy Lee Jones isn’t a “character actor” anymore, is he? He’s a star. William Sadler has been “that guy” in a lot of movies, though: [William Sadler](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm116494080/nm0006669). I’ll nominate him. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/59 "2013-02-07T16:40:36Z")
Looks like time to post the complete list so those who haven’t done so yet can post a Top Ten list at [Your Top Ten Favorite Character Actors](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681361) and thereby assist in narrowing down the group(s) that will make it to polls. As of **Elendil’s Heir** ’s post these have been mentioned in this thread: Dan Ackroyd Danny Aiello R. G. Armstrong William Atherton Jim Backus Hermione Baddeley G.W. Bailey Joe Don Baker Martin Balsam Jonathan Banks Jim Beaver William Bendix Ward Bond (2) Neville Brand Walter Brennan Wilford Brimley Jim Broadbent Clancy Brown Kathy Burke Steve Buscemi Jim Carter Kim Coates Lee J. Cobb Olivia Colman Steve Coogan Elisha Cook Jr. Chris Cooper Brian Cox Laird Creggar James Cromwell Tim Curry Joan Cusack Keith David Sammy Davis Jr. Bruce Davison Andy Devine Dale Dickey Garret Dillahunt Kevin Dillon Charles Durning Dan Duryea Buddy Ebsen Jack Elam Dana Elcar Richard Farnsworth Pam Ferris William Fichtner Paul Fix Tommy Flanagan Robert Forster Byron Foulger Michael Gambon Chief Dan George Stefan Gierasch Walton Goggins John Goodman Richard E Grant Billy Green Bush Dabs Greer Richard Griffiths Christopher Guest Gene Hackman Sid Haig Philip Baker Hall Jared Harris Rutger Hauer John Hawkes Gabby Hayes Dan Hedaya Ciarán Hinds Philip Seymour Hoffman James Hong Bo Hopkins Jonathan Hyde Michael Imperioli Michael Ironside Gregory Itzin Zeljko Ivanek Richard Jaeckel (2) David Jason Richard Jenkins Ken Jeong Ben Johnson (2) L. Q. Jones Tommy Lee Jones Gordon Jump Tim Kang Stubby Kaye Harvey Keitel George Kennedy Robert Knepper Al Leong Al Lettieri Richard Libertini Peter Lorre John Carroll Lynch Ken Lynch Mako Eddie Marsan E. G. Marshall Strother Martin (2) Chistopher McDonald Frances McDormand Bruce McGill John C. McGinley Victor McLaglen Allan Melvin Stephen Merchant Dick Miller Tony Mordente Rita Moreno Robert Morley Phil Morris Burt Mustin Kathy Najimy Bill Nighy Dean Norris Warren Oates Donald O’connor George O’hanlon Catherine O’Hara Gary Oldman Mandy Patinkin Bill Paxton Austin Pendleton Ron Perlman Robert Picardo Johnathan Pryce D.J. Qualls Claude Rains Aldo Ray James Rebhorn Giovanni Ribisi Alan Rickman Stephen Root Tim Roth William Sadler William Sanderson John Saxon Vito Scotti Nick Searcy Wallace Shawn Henry Silva J. K. Simmons Maggie Smith (2) Tucker Smith Joe Spinel Harry Dean Stanton (2) David Strathairn (2) Robert Strauss Mark Strong Dub Taylor Stephen Tobolowsky Tony Todd Danny Trejo John Turturro Lee Van Cleef John Vernon Eli Wallach J.T. Walsh M. Emmet Walsh Ray Walston Tracey Walter Jack Warden Jesse White Mary Wickes Tom Wilkinson Mark Williams Michael K. Williams Chill Wills Ian Wolfe Victor Wong ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364/60 "2013-02-10T18:40:31Z")
Kicking myself that I didn’t think of Vincent Gardenia before now!: [http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/vincentgardenia.jpg](http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/vincentgardenia.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-character-actors-pre-poll-data-gathering/649364.md?page=4)