Favorite Supporting/Character Actors (1 Viewer)

The passing of James Best had me thinking about this, and so I thought it might be an interesting topic.


This crosses movies and TV since it seems many were just as proficient/successful in both mediums. This includes character actor, supporting roles, and guest appearances. I'm think of those that generally don't get the notoriety of the typical main stars. For example, when I'm thinking of something of interest to either purchase or watch I generally already know of the leads. What I'm thinking about are those that when you scan the cast list or see in the opening credits a name that you didn't expect, and you say "hey, I didn't know they were in this" and you get a bit of a lift before it even starts.


For me, some that stand out are James Best (obvious based on how I started the thread), Ward Bond, Raymond Massey, and Strother Martin. To a lesser degree Royal Dano, John Carradine, James Colburn (early TV roles). Obviously, some of these have had more success than others. Some were even leads in TV but maybe not movies. This is just off the top of my head. I'm sure I will be reminded of others.


Who are yours?

Great thread idea!

Dabbs Greer
Simon Oakland
Richard Anderson
William Schallert (is anyone more prolific?)

It's interesting how often I've seen supporting actors from LHOTP show up in 50' westerns.

- Kevin Hagen
- Dabbs Greer
- Karl Swenson


I think this past week I've seen each one at least once, and Swenson actually twice.

Burt Mustin! Oh, wait, what DIDN'T he play in?

Great topic, I was thinking about starting similar thread the other day. Here goes, my favorites.


In no order:


Jack Elam

Warren Oates

Ward Bond

Bruce Dern

Dabbs Greer

Lee Van Cleef (spent more time in supporting roles than starring)

Strother Martin

Martin Milner

Andy Devine

Woody Strode

Ben Johnson


Just the tip of the iceberg, but my faves.

My favorite: Lionel Stander as Max the butler in Hart to Hart from 1979-84

Judith Anderson
Thelma Ritter
Claude Raines (some leads, mostly support roles... and how!)
Mildred Natwick
Martin Balsam
Leo G. Carroll
Henry Travers
Agnes Moorehead
Beulah Bondi
Sydney Greenstreet
J.T. Walsh
Charles Durning
Elisha Cook Jr.
John Goodman (mostly support roles)
Etc. etc.

Mary Louise Wilson - was so disappointed when she left "One Day at a Time" but she was also terrific in "She Devil" (1989) and a "Nurse Jackie" episode in 2012 and everything else I've seen her in. Same goes for Joanna Cassidy - always a pleasure to watch. She was great in everything from "Charlie's Angels" to "Six Feet Under". Also, Harriet Samson-Harris always livens up everything she's in.

Charles Lane, Edgar Buchanan, and William Frawley were all great character actors.


And like quite a few in here, the latter two in particular became even more successful with their transition to focusing on tv, both enjoying long running roles as secondary stars in popular tv series (With Edgar Buchanan eventually transitioning as the main star in the show that he's best remembered for today, Petticoat Junction).


And Charles Lane of course was a common sight on tv screens during tv's early decades, just as familiar to tv audiences in the 50's and 60's as he was to theater audiences back in the 30's and 40's.


And he was still a character actor, unlike several of these names that gained starring roles later in their careers.

First off, the King of 1939 - Thomas Mitchell

Edward Everett Horton

William Demarest

Franklin Pangborn

Edna Mae Oliver

John Rhys Davies

Many more

Richard V said:

Great topic, I was thinking about starting similar thread the other day. Here goes, my favorites.


In no order:


Jack Elam

Warren Oates

Ward Bond

Bruce Dern

Dabbs Greer

Lee Van Cleef (spent more time in supporting roles than starring)

Strother Martin

Martin Milner

Andy Devine

Woody Strode

Ben Johnson


Just the tip of the iceberg, but my faves.

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Yes, I just saw Lee Van Cleef last night, making it twice this week.

Here are some of my favourite guest stars and supporting players...


I'm excited to see these actors turn up in classic tv shows...


James Whitmore


Rip Torn


Joseph Cotten


Dean Jagger


Raymond Massey


Martin Balsam


Don Rickles


Villains...Steve Ihnat, Gregory Walcott...


Young fantasies...


Julie Newmar


Tuesday Weld


Yvette Mimieux


Susan Oliver

My personal faves:


1) Jack Cassidy

2) Strother Martin

3) Kevin McCarthy

4) Parley Baer - In answer to another poster's question, if anyone is more prolific than William Schallert, it's gotta be Parley Baer

5) Charles Lane

6) Howard Caine

7) Robert Webber

8) Ed Binns

9) Jason Evers

10) William Windom - Primarily a character actor IMO

11) Victor Buono

12) David Wayne

13) Frank Sutton

14) Richard Haydn

15) Sterling Holloway

16) Charles McGraw

17) Harold Gould - Boy, this guy pretty much defines the term character actor

18) Milton Selzer

19) Nehimiah Persoff - Ethnic character needed.... call this guy.

20) Vitto Scotti - Ditto

i am sure there are tons of them


i just saw mark richman on a fugitive episode last night


i seem to always like him


i think he had my most favorite line of the star trek tng series

RMajidi said:

Judith Anderson
Thelma Ritter
Claude Raines (some leads, mostly support roles... and how!)
Mildred Natwick
Martin Balsam
Leo G. Carroll
Henry Travers
Agnes Moorehead
Beulah Bondi
Sydney Greenstreet
J.T. Walsh
Charles Durning
Elisha Cook Jr.
John Goodman (mostly support roles)
Etc. etc.

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I collect autographs and one of the most interesting stories regarding that inlvolved J.T. Walsh. I received his autograph in the mail and only 3 hrs later, I read he had died unexpectedly the day before. Nice guy though, Sent me a great signed picture and a couple signed 3x5 cards. Wonderful character actor. Great villian in Good Morning Vietnam.

bmasters9 said:

My favorite: Lionel Stander as Max the butler in Hart to Hart from 1979-84

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Wasn't much of a Hart to Hart fan, but loved Lionel Stander's supporting turn in Mr Deeds Goes To Town with mister super duper.

I'll throw in a few more faves:


1) Ford Rainey

2) Warren Stevens

3) Herb Vigran

4) John Van Dreelan

5) Raymond Bailey - With or Without Toupee


And the man who rivals Bob Crane for award for the most gruesome death of a famous actor:


Albert Dekker

Thinking of villains, I never knew this one by name but as far as the 50's go I would find it hard to believe he wasn't on at least once a week as a heavy, Leo Gordon. Interesting website that lists many of the heavies.


http://www.westernclippings.com/heavies/leogordon_charactersheavies.shtml


From that I saw another name of interest: DAN DURYEA. Always good whether it be western or film noir/crime.

I thought this was just for TV, but it appears to be including feature films as well?

Most of mine have already been mentioned and I'm not very good at list making, but I didn't see anyone mention ROBERT J. WILKE. He rarely played a good guy and seemed so imposing and intimidating, both on the big screen and small, even in sitcoms!, that I don't think I would ever want to meet him under any circumstances. He had a long career and capped it with a marvelous performance in Terence Malick's superb film, DAYS OF HEAVEN.

If I think of any others that haven't been mentioned, I'll chime in again.

Of more recent vintage, what character actor has been more prolific in the past 30 years than Sam Anderson? Within the span of a week recently, I caught him on WKRP, Lost, and Friends (great role as Phoebe's doctor who happens to be obsessed with Fonzie)