Your Top Ten Favorite Character Actors

[Zeldar]

Here’s the complete list again. Please check these links for accuracy and post corrections as needed.

Michael Asher Michael Asher - IMDb
Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore - IMDb
Abraham Benrubi Abraham Benrubi - IMDb
Ward Bond (2) Ward Bond - IMDb
Walter Brennan (2) Walter Brennan - IMDb

Clancy Brown Clancy Brown - IMDb
Steve Buscemi Steve Buscemi - IMDb
Emma Chambers Emma Chambers - IMDb
Fred Clark Fred Clark - IMDb
Lee J. Cobb Lee J. Cobb - IMDb

Elisha Cook Jr Elisha Cook Jr. - IMDb
Chris Cooper (4) Chris Cooper - IMDb
Peter Coyote Peter Coyote - IMDb
Laird Cregar Laird Cregar - IMDb
Garret Dillahunt (2) Garret Dillahunt - IMDb

Margaret Dumont Margaret Dumont - IMDb
Jack Elam (2) Jack Elam - IMDb
Richard Farnsworth Richard Farnsworth - IMDb
William Fichtner William Fichtner - IMDb
Dawn French Dawn French - IMDb

Dwight Frye Dwight Frye - IMDb
Hermione Gingold http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0320006/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Walton Goggins Walton Goggins - IMDb
Bruce Gordon Bruce Gordon - IMDb
Billy Green Bush Billy Green Bush - IMDb

Graham Greene Graham Greene - IMDb
Sydney Greenstreet Sydney Greenstreet - IMDb
Alan Hale Sr (2) Alan Hale - IMDb
Margaret Hamilton (2) Margaret Hamilton - IMDb
John Hawkes John Hawkes - IMDb

Jonathan Haze Jonathan Haze - IMDb
Ciarán Hinds (2) Ciarán Hinds - IMDb
Bo Hopkins Bo Hopkins - IMDb
Jason Isaacs Jason Isaacs - IMDb
Richard Jaeckel (2) Richard Jaeckel - IMDb

Ben Johnson (3) Ben Johnson - IMDb
Carol Kane Carol Kane - IMDb
George Kennedy George Kennedy - IMDb
Robert Knepper Robert Knepper - IMDb
Elsa Lanchester Elsa Lanchester - IMDb

Cloris Leachman Cloris Leachman - IMDb
Peter Lorre Peter Lorre - IMDb
Keye Luke Keye Luke - IMDb
Jean Marsh Jean Marsh - IMDb
Strother Martin (2) Strother Martin - IMDb

Frances McDormand (3) Frances McDormand - IMDb
Butterfly McQueen Butterfly McQueen - IMDb
Una Merkel Una Merkel - IMDb
Dick Miller Dick Miller - IMDb
Una O’Connor Una O'Connor - IMDb

Slim Pickens (2) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001620/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Zazu Pitts http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0686032/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Jonathan Pryce http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000596/?ref_=sr_1
Steve Railsback http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706883/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Claude Rains http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001647/?ref_=sr_1

Giovanni Ribisi http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000610/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Stephen Root http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0740535/?ref_=sr_1
Tim Roth http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000619/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Jennifer Saunders http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0766837/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Jay Silverheels http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0798855/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Emil Sitka http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0803238/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
William Smith http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810342/?ref_=sr_1
Ned Sparks http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817021/?ref_=sr_1
Harry Dean Stanton (4) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001765/?ref_=sr_1
Maggie Steed http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0824353/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Henry Stephenson http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827261/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Lewis Stone http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0832011/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
David Strathairn (4) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000657/?ref_=sr_1
Woody Strode http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0834754/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Mark Strong http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0835016/?ref_=sr_1

Sheila Tousey http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0869721/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Lee Van Cleef http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001812/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
JT Walsh (2) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000687/?ref_=sr_1
Jack Warden http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0912001/?ref_=sr_1
Billie Whitelaw http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0925794/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Tom Wilkinson http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929489/?ref_=sr_1
Guinn “Big Boy” Williams http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0930711/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Michael K. Williams http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0931324/?ref_=sr_2
Chill Wills http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0932629/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Trey Wilson http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934254/?ref_=sr_4

Penelope Wilton http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934362/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Also, if the IMDb page has no pictures please do a Google Image search and post a link to the actor to be sure we have the right person’s name. If the name is wrong please say so.

[Zeldar]

In the same spirit as Post #10, here’s the short list of multiple mentions:

Ward Bond (2) Ward Bond - IMDb
Walter Brennan (2) Walter Brennan - IMDb
Chris Cooper (4) Chris Cooper - IMDb
Garret Dillahunt (2) Garret Dillahunt - IMDb
Jack Elam (2) Jack Elam - IMDb

Alan Hale Sr (2) Alan Hale - IMDb
Margaret Hamilton (2) Margaret Hamilton - IMDb
Ciarán Hinds (2) Ciarán Hinds - IMDb
Richard Jaeckel (2) Richard Jaeckel - IMDb
Ben Johnson (3) Ben Johnson - IMDb

Strother Martin (2) Strother Martin - IMDb
Frances McDormand (3) Frances McDormand - IMDb
Slim Pickens (2) Slim Pickens - IMDb
Harry Dean Stanton (4) Harry Dean Stanton - IMDb
David Strathairn (4) David Strathairn - IMDb

JT Walsh (2) J.T. Walsh - IMDb

[Zeldar]

Due to some recent additions I have reposted the alpha list from the first thread in this post.

Please refer to that list (if needed) to come up with your own Top Ten. Again, your Top Ten doesn’t have to come from that list, but it is the Top Ten lists in this thread that will be used to narrow down the group(s) for the next poll(s).

Yeah, it’s getting confusing. But maybe it will be worth it.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Getting it down to ten was hard. Some almost-made-its that it hurts to leave off, but nevertheless:

Jim Broadbent
Steve Buscemi
Elisha Cook Jr.
Ciaran Hinds
Dan Hedaya
Peter Lorre
Jonathan Pryce
William Sadler
J.K. Simmons
M. Emmet Walsh

[Chefguy]

@Bumbershoot

Well, that was more difficult than I thought it would be. 15 or 20, no problem, but narrowing it down to 10 was tough. Anyway, here’s my list:

Ward Bond
Walter Brennan
Chris Cooper
Jack Elam
George Kennedy
Strother Martin
Tim Roth
Harry Dean Stanton
Lee Van Cleef
J T Walsh

Finally, a list I can get behind.

[Gyrate]

Stanley Tucci
Fiona Shaw

[BrotherCadfael]

I question the inclusion of Barrymore - he was a leading actor, not a character actor!

[Zeldar]

@BrotherCadfael

I question the inclusion of Barrymore - he was a leading actor, not a character actor!

There are quite a few in that category, but the main idea is to get names for a poll (or several polls). When it comes time to vote voters can decide if their choices include “stars” or not.

I’m not limiting nominations in these preliminary threads, trusting others to make those decisions for themselves.

Your objection is noted and appreciated.

So far, you have mentioned one actor (that I have seen). Can you add nine more?

[Dallas_Jones]

I do not see Warren Oates. You’ve got to have Warren Oates if for no other reason than “Two Lane Blacktop”, which he should have won an Oscar for.

Warren Oates

Although the Peckinpah film roles are his best-known, his most critically acclaimed role is GTO in Monte Hellman’s 1971 cult classic Two-Lane Blacktop. The film, although a failure at the box-office, is studied in film schools as a treasure of the 1970s, in large part due to Oates’ heartbreaking portrayal of GTO. Famed film critic Leonard Maltin remarked that Oates’ performance in this film was as good as any he’d seen and should have won the Oscar.

During a recent screening of Hellman’s Two-Lane Blacktop, Linklater introduced the film and announced 16 reasons why viewers should love the 1971 movie. The sixth was: “Because there was once a god who walked the Earth named Warren Oates.”[3]

I would also and to the lists:

Ned Beatty & Charles Durning.

[Zeldar]

Recent posts have provided these multi-mention names for the next preliminary poll.

I’d like to get 15-20 names before doing another poll, so add your Top Ten to help that process along.

Steve Buscemi (2) Steve Buscemi - IMDb
Elisha Cook Jr (2) Elisha Cook Jr. - IMDb
George Kennedy (2) George Kennedy - IMDb
Peter Lorre (2) Peter Lorre - IMDb
Jonathan Pryce (2) Jonathan Pryce - IMDb
Tim Roth (2)Tim Roth - IMDb
Lee Van Cleef (2) Lee Van Cleef - IMDb

Dallas Jones, I’ve yet to add yours. But thanks anyway!

[jack_tardiff]

Too early to think of a ten list, but certainly Akim Tamiroff fits the definition of character actor, and was one of the best.

Timothy Carey.

But it brings me to wonder, since both the above had supporting-character roles as well. Notably Carey in Paths of Glory and Tamiroff in Touch of Evil. I can’t accept Walter Brennan as character actor/bit player, not just because of his Oscar (at least one I know of), but the majority of his well-known roles were as supporting actor.

Ditto Ward Bond, except he truly probably is better known for his character roles. I’d nitpick, though – he ended up “featured player” on the many John Ford pictures he was in.

So what is a character actor, anyway, besides the person you point at and say, “Hey, it’s thatguy! I love that guy!”?

[Zeldar]

@jack_tardiff

Too early to think of a ten list, but certainly Akim Tamiroff fits the definition of character actor, and was one of the best.

Timothy Carey.

But it brings me to wonder, since both the above had supporting-character roles as well. Notably Carey in Paths of Glory and Tamiroff in Touch of Evil. I can’t accept Walter Brennan as character actor/bit player, not just because of his Oscar (at least one I know of), but the majority of his well-known roles were as supporting actor.

Ditto Ward Bond, except he truly probably is better known for his character roles. I’d nitpick, though – he ended up “featured player” on the many John Ford pictures he was in.

So what is a character actor, anyway, besides the person you point at and say, “Hey, it’s thatguy! I love that guy!”?

See my comments in Post #28, please.

Of those you mentioned I’m adding Tamiroff and Carey, but not adding to the mention counts for the others.

When you vote in a poll or more, you can decide your own criteria – as can everybody else who chooses to vote.

[jack_tardiff]

@Zeldar

Of those you mentioned I’m adding Tamiroff and Carey, but not adding to the mention counts for the others.

That will be acceptable.

[Zeldar]

This is an update for Post #21:

Again, please check the IMDb links for people you mentioned for accuracy.

Michael Asher Michael Asher - IMDb
Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore - IMDb
Ned Beatty Ned Beatty - IMDb
Abraham Benrubi Abraham Benrubi - IMDb
Ward Bond (3) Ward Bond - IMDb

Walter Brennan (3) Walter Brennan - IMDb
Jim Broadbent Jim Broadbent - IMDb
Clancy Brown Clancy Brown - IMDb
Steve Buscemi (2) Steve Buscemi - IMDb
Timothy Carey Timothy Carey - IMDb

Emma Chambers Emma Chambers - IMDb
Fred Clark Fred Clark - IMDb
Lee J. Cobb Lee J. Cobb - IMDb
Elisha Cook Jr (2) Elisha Cook Jr. - IMDb
Chris Cooper (5) Chris Cooper - IMDb

Peter Coyote Peter Coyote - IMDb
Laird Cregar Laird Cregar - IMDb
Garret Dillahunt (2) Garret Dillahunt - IMDb
Margaret Dumont Margaret Dumont - IMDb
Charles Durning Charles Durning - IMDb

Jack Elam (3) Jack Elam - IMDb
Richard Farnsworth Richard Farnsworth - IMDb
William Fichtner William Fichtner - IMDb
Dawn French Dawn French - IMDb
Dwight Frye Dwight Frye - IMDb

Hermione Gingold http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0320006/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Walton Goggins Walton Goggins - IMDb
Bruce Gordon Bruce Gordon - IMDb
Billy Green Bush Billy Green Bush - IMDb
Graham Greene Graham Greene - IMDb

Sydney Greenstreet Sydney Greenstreet - IMDb
Alan Hale Sr (2) Alan Hale - IMDb
Margaret Hamilton (2) Margaret Hamilton - IMDb
John Hawkes John Hawkes - IMDb
Jonathan Haze Jonathan Haze - IMDb

Dan Hedaya Dan Hedaya - IMDb
Ciarán Hinds (3) Ciarán Hinds - IMDb
Bo Hopkins Bo Hopkins - IMDb
Jason Isaacs Jason Isaacs - IMDb
Richard Jaeckel (2) Richard Jaeckel - IMDb

Ben Johnson (3) Ben Johnson - IMDb
Carol Kane Carol Kane - IMDb
George Kennedy (2) George Kennedy - IMDb
Robert Knepper Robert Knepper - IMDb
Elsa Lanchester Elsa Lanchester - IMDb

Cloris Leachman Cloris Leachman - IMDb
Peter Lorre (2) Peter Lorre - IMDb
Keye Luke Keye Luke - IMDb
Jean Marsh Jean Marsh - IMDb
Strother Martin (3) Strother Martin - IMDb

Frances McDormand (3) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000531/?ref_=sr_2
Butterfly McQueen http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0574335/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Una Merkel http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0580916/?ref_=sr_1
Dick Miller http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0588241/?ref_=sr_1
Warren Oates http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0643105/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Una O’Connor http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640547/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Slim Pickens (2) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001620/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Zazu Pitts http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0686032/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Jonathan Pryce (2) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000596/?ref_=sr_1
Steve Railsback http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706883/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Claude Rains http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001647/?ref_=sr_1
Giovanni Ribisi http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000610/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Stephen Root http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0740535/?ref_=sr_1
Tim Roth (2)http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000619/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
William Sadler http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006669/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Jennifer Saunders http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0766837/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Fiona Shaw http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0789716/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Jay Silverheels http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0798855/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
J.K. Simmons http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0799777/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Emil Sitka http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0803238/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

William Smith http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810342/?ref_=sr_1
Ned Sparks http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817021/?ref_=sr_1
Harry Dean Stanton (5) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001765/?ref_=sr_1
Maggie Steed http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0824353/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Henry Stephenson http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827261/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Lewis Stone http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0832011/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
David Strathairn (4) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000657/?ref_=sr_1
Woody Strode http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0834754/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Mark Strong http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0835016/?ref_=sr_1
Akim Tamiroff http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0848667/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Sheila Tousey http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0869721/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Stanley Tucci http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001804/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Lee Van Cleef (2) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001812/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
JT Walsh (3) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000687/?ref_=sr_1
M. Emmet Walsh http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001826/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Jack Warden http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0912001/?ref_=sr_1
Billie Whitelaw http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0925794/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Tom Wilkinson http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929489/?ref_=sr_1
Guinn “Big Boy” Williams http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0930711/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Michael K. Williams http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0931324/?ref_=sr_2

Chill Wills http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0932629/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Trey Wilson http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934254/?ref_=sr_4
Penelope Wilton http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934362/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

[El_Kabong]

Steve Buscemi
Joan Cusack
John Goodman
George Kennedy
Peter Lorre
Strother Martin
Frances McDormand
Harry Dean Stanton
J. T. Walsh
M. Emmet Walsh