Character Actors

been thinking about this topic for a while being the nerd i am. this is the other or "ugly" half of Hollywood, the people making less than millions, but more endearing and infinitely more talented than some of the "stars", especially the ones getting by solely on looks. they usually play the antagonist, or sidekick, but the really talented individual can parley a leading career into character roles as they age (Vincent Price is an excellent example). anyway, i love these guys

Giovanni Ribisi (former child star now intergalactic corporate douche bag)

Patton Oswalt (stand-up comedian has moved into dramatic and comedic film roles)

Stephen Root (brilliant chameleon actor and voice over artist - i.e. half of "King of the Hill")

William Sadler

MC Gainey

Clancy Brown (been in everything from Shawshank Redemption, LOST, Batman Animated Series, as well as video game voice artist)

Jackie Early Haley (another child star gone thru the wringer in life to come out the other with a resurgent carrer in Watchmen, etc)

and of course the king of Hollywood nepotism, the excellent Clint Howard!

who else am i forgetting? please give me some ladies' names, there are some great ones out there i'm sure.

have to big up clancy brown, that man can do it all, one moment ill be hating his guts for being an evil asshole the next ill be worshipping him for being a badass hero. DAT VOICE

Philip Seymour Hoffman is in a lot of movies.

warren oates

harry dean stanton

Nick Stahl

  On 4/27/2012 at 2:57 AM, zaphod said:

For ages i didn't realize he was playing two different characters in deadwood, im a fucking moron.

  On 4/27/2012 at 3:00 AM, The Pod said:

 

Philip Seymour Hoffman is in a lot of movies.

  On 4/27/2012 at 2:34 AM, Rubin Farr said:

who else am i forgetting? please give me some ladies' names, there are some great ones out there i'm sure.

defiantly Penelope Ann Miller

tim pigott-smith is great

brian dennehy - also fantastic!!

fred melamed (esp. in a serious man)

John C. Reilly.

Why the lack of women on this character actor list? Is it because most women in movies are young and attractive and they only get these character actor roles when old?

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw an overweight or physically unattractive woman in a major film... Nope. Maybe as a joke in a crass comedy, but nope, there are none.

It's terrible really.

Does that Precious count as a major film?

Props to mentioning Stephen Root, love that guy... he's hilarious in just about everything I've seen him in

also... how have we not mentioned Steve Buscemi yet?

He's a great actor, from brilliant roles like Reservoir Dogs and Fargo to stupid shit like Adam Sandler movies... he pulls of both

Masonic boom.

  On 4/27/2012 at 11:59 AM, Obel said:

Does that Precious count as a major film?

Yes, but I wouldn't call Mariah Carey an actress either...

But no, there's a big fat chick in that. Fair point.

I literally can't think of any other film though. Your point still stands!

MY FAVORITE CHARACTER ACTORS:

Great comments guys, I was thinking of addressing the male/female ratio and how Hollywood treats women as the sex object, or the mother roles, nothing really in between.

As for John Reilly and Buscemi, I think you're seeing an effect in film now where character actors previously seen as unattractive have changed their public image into a leading man. So our tastes on television seem to be maybe a little more enlightened than in movies?

If you can't think of any female character actors, you aren't thinking hard enough.

Francis McDormand

Toni Collette

Kathy Bates

Good thread. A lot of character actors have become bona fide leads though.

Was just gonna post Michael Rooker

David Cross has been in a fuckton of movies.

CCH Pounder is one of those elusive unnatractive character actresses.

And so is that weird troll lady from NCIS: Los Angeles. Linda Hunt.