Favorite Character Actors (1 Viewer)

[Mysto]

We were watching A Date with the Falcon last night and I started thinking about all the great character actors that I have enjoyed over the years. In this case it was Allen Jenkins the perennial sidekick. I've always enjoyed his tough guy NY persona. I probably first saw him on tv shows when I was a kid, but as an adult with a taste for 30s-40s mystery series I see him a lot. He was in a ton of films and, I think, always pulled his weight.

I have many others, but I thought it might be fun to have some of you share some of your favorite character actors with the forum.

 

[Bernard McNair]

Walter Brennan was (and is) one of my favourite character actors.

 

[disctrip]

Rags Ragland. Was in many of the Red Skeleton films and was wonderful in "Her Highness & The Bellboy"

 

[jauritt]

Jack Warden and Bill Paxton. It doesn't get any better than them.

 

[Mysto]

Another of my favorites appeared in the same Date with the Falcon movie. James Gleason. At his best as the other half in the Hildegarde Withers mysteries with Edna May Oliver.

 

[Dave B Ferris]

Frank McHugh, and Dane Clark.

 

[Johnny Angell]

S. Z. Sakhal, Claude Rains (though we was also a leading man), Paul Henreid, Conrad Veidt. Ok, so I cribbed them from Casablanca.

 

[John Dirk]

Great topic! Here's my guy. The great Gary Oldman!

 

[Richard V]

JT Walsh, Harry Dean Stanton, Jack Elam, Elisha Cooke, M. Emmit Walsh, Blossom Roberts, Dabs Greer, James Cromwell, the Late Great Warren Oats, Bruce Dern, Strother Martin, LQ Jones, Sidney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, just to name A FEW.

 

[Ron Lee Green]

One of my earliest exposures to character actors was through watching reruns of Bewitched. All these great character actors made multiple guest appearances on that show: Charles Lane, Reta Shaw, Dick Wilson, J. Pat O'Malley, Maudie Prickett, Parley Baer, etc. plus the semi-regulars like Alice Pearce, George Tobias, Bernard Fox, Alice Ghostley, Sandra Gould, Mabel Albertson, etc.

 

[John Dirk]

One of my earliest exposures to character actors was through watching reruns of Bewitched. All these great character actors made multiple guest appearances on that show: Charles Lane, Reta Shaw, Dick Wilson, J. Pat O'Malley, Maudie Prickett, Parley Baer, etc. plus the semi-regulars like Alice Pearce, George Tobias, Bernard Fox, Alice Ghostley, Sandra Gould, Mabel Albertson, etc.

I grew up on that show and many others [I Dream of Jeannie, Brady Bunch, Good Times, All In The Family, The Jeffersons] and loved them all. Those were great shows in a great era. Of course, at that time I didn't know what a "character actor" was. Thanks for reminding me, Ron. You and I may eventually be "Lead Actors" here so we should become acquainted.

 

[Ron Lee Green]

You and I may eventually be "Lead Actors" here so we should become acquainted.

Yes, I've been a supporting actor far too long! I'm reading for my closeup, Mr. DeMille!

 

[Walter Kittel]

First actor that comes to mind is M. Emmet Walsh. My first exposure to this great performer was his portrayal of a corrupt private investigator in the Coen Bros' Blood Simple. Richard V has already mentioned a lot of individuals who would make my list of favorites.

Since he has not been discussed so far, I thought I'd mention Ian Holm, who never disappoints.

- Walter.

 

[ponset]

Some of my favorites: Thelma Ritter, Ward Bond, Ben Johnson, Jack Elam, and Eve Arden.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Some of my favorites: Thelma Ritter, Ward Bond, Ben Johnson, Jack Elam, and Eve Arden.

Thelma and Ward, they never disappointed.

 

[Mysto]

Good to see some of the ladies start to appear on the list. Let me add one of my favorites: Mary Wickes.

 

[Malcolm R]

Mary Wickes is awesome. Anytime she appears on screen, you know you're in for a great time.

I've always loved Wallace Shawn, either live or by voice (The Princess Bride, Toy Story, Family Guy, Star Trek: DS9). Another in the same category would be Leslie Jordan. He voiced a dog on an episode of Supernatural a couple seasons ago to hilarious effect, and his appearances as Karen's nemesis, Beverley Leslie, on Will & Grace are always entertaining (also American Horror Story, Sordid Lives, Boston Legal, Boston Public, Hearts Afire).