Character actors are the unsung heroes of Hollywood. These are the guys you see in everything, you know their face, but you can’t quite place their name. Character actors have built their careers around small, yet distinctive roles. So – here are 15 of the best!
Diane Wiest has enjoyed a successful career on stage, television, and film. She might be best known for roles in Parenthood and Edward Scissorhands, and she has become better known for a series of anxious, insecure women who seem to be taxed to the breaking point just getting through the day.
Hedaya had a minor role in Oliver Stone’s Nixon and later played Nixon himself in Dick. He was a junior high school teacher for many years before deciding to pursue acting full-time.
Who can forget Jeffrey Jones in Beetle Juice or as the principal in Ferris Bueller’s Day off? Sadly, Jones became a registered sex offender in 2003, after having been accused of hiring a 14-year-old boy to pose for sexually explicit photographs, and pled guilty to a felony charge.
Acting since the age of seventeen, Stern got his start in off-Broadway productions and has built up quite an impressive list of movie credits. He starred in City Slickers and Home Alone.
I was surprised to learn Donal Logue attended Harvard and studied at the British-American Drama Academy in London. Logue starred in Blade and Jerry Maguire, among other things.
Cromwell has played a US President four times – fictional President Fowler in The Sum of All Fears, fictional President Newman in “The West Wing”, Lyndon B. Johnson in the TV movie RFK, and George H.W. Bush in Oliver Stone’s film W.
A veteran of over 100 television and 120+ movie roles, James is best remembered for roles such as the replicant Leon in Blade Runner, Gen. Munro in The Fifth Element, Big Teddy in Cabin Boy. He died of a heart attack in 1999.
Morse is frequently cast in book-to-movie/television works by Stephen King, and I personally enjoyed his performance in The Langoliers. He claims that out of all of the films he’s done, his favorites are The Green Mile, The Crossing Guard, The Indian Runner, and The Rock.
Stanton served in WWII before beginning his acting career. He also fronts a band called “The Harry Dean Stanton Band” which regularly performs in the Los Angeles area. He starred in Alien, Repo Man, Paris, Texas, and other films.
Vincent Schiavelli, selected in 1997 by Vanity Fair as one of the best character actors in America, made over 120 film and television appearances. Aside from his acting career, Vincent was the author of three cookbooks, and has written numerous articles on food for magazines and newspapers. He died of lung cancer in 2005. He starred in Blade Runner and Tomorrow Never Dies.
Fred Thompson was a United States Senator representing Tennessee from 1994 through 2002. He has played the same character, District Attorney Arthur Branch, in five different series: “Law & Order”, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, “Law & Order: Trial by Jury” and “Conviction”. He also ran for president in 2008! Fred ’08.
Root has developed a cult following since his performance in Office Space and says people often give him red Swingline staplers.
Most famous for being one of the principal providers of voices on The Simpsons, he became better known through his appearances in films such as The Birdcage, Godzilla and Along Came Polly. As well as Moe, Wiggum and Apu, Azaria provides the voices of Comic Book Guy, Carl Carlson, Cletus Spuckler, Professor Frink, Dr. Nick Riviera, Lou, Snake, Kirk Van Houten, the Sea Captain, Superintendent Chalmers, Duffman, the “Wise Guy” and numerous other one-time characters in the Simpsons.
Edie McClurg is usually typecast as a middle-aged, somewhat stubborn and dimwitted Midwesterner. She has a Master of Science from Syracuse and taught radio at the University of Missouri/Kansas City for eight years. She starred in Natural Born Killers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Mr. Mom.
Probably most well-known for playing Booger in Revenge of the Nerds, Armstrong also had a recurring role on Moonlighting.
Contributor: rushfan
Thanks for listing Harry Dean Stanton. I will always see any film he is in. He's fantastic!!!
He was good in anything, but I always look at him and think “There’s Exodor”. That’s probably unfair because he’s been good in such a wide range of roles. He can pull off comedy, drama, good guy, bad guy, super intelligent and stupid as a box of rocks. Wonderfully versatile actor!
Harry Dean Stanton has been in everything from the “Godfather” to “Alien”. Not a bad track record. Check out his IMDB listing and you’ll be amazed at the number of great (and NOT so great) movies he’s appeared in.
No Chris Cooper. No David Strathairn. no good.
I knew 10 of the 15 by name as well as face. It might be an 80′s thing though, 6 were in some of my favorite movies from that decade.
Diane- Footloose
Jeffrey and Edie- Ferris B
Harry- Pretty in Pink
Vincent- Fast Times
Curtis- Revenge of the Nerds
Thanks for the memories rushfan.
My initial impression is that Fred Thompson seems out of place here as a one note/one role actor.
Cyn ~ Thanks for the addition to Fred Thompson’s bio. I was very disappointed in his “whatever” approach to running for president. I still don’t understand why he and Rudy just sat there during the primaries until the last minute. Oh, and by the by, my husband thinks Obama is gonna announce Oprah as his VP pick.
And Chris and any others who don’t see your personal favorite actor on this list, take heart, I don’t care, you can make your own list or list them in the comments.
Iain ~ I don’t think a character actor is a one/note one/role actor, they’re just not leads, they’re supporting cast.
I would also make a strong case for Giovanni Ribisi – TV, mainstream and art-house movies – comedy and high drama.
rushfan – I agree – my point is that Fred, compared to the rest of the excellent actors on your list seems to be, in my view, a one note/one character actor. You haven’t presented anything beyond that one guy on Law & Order that he does.
damn, Rushfan, you just keep coming out with the lists!
I really enjoyed this one, thanks!
Rushfan – rereading my initial statement, I can see it is a little ambiguous.
Another rushfan list… wow!
Seems being a female actor is a bit ‘all or nothing’ – there are only two on the list out of fifteen. Yes, no?
It seems a bit strange to say that Vincent Schiavelli “starred” in Blade Runner. I couldn’t remember him. I’ve just checked to find that he played a character named “Bullet Bob”, which leaves me none the wiser. The movie that I remember him in was “Ghost”, but I didn’t remember then name.
I loved Harry Dean Stanton in The Straight Story.
Jain- ribissi is not a character actor – he has been a leading man. He is one of my favorite actors.
rushfan is our featured lister this week! And bravo! Great lists
Schiavelli’s imdb filmography doesn’t list Bladerunner; Bladerunner cast doesn’t mention Schiavelli; I’ve seen the movie multiple times and don’t recall him. Assuming he was in it somewhere, how can you say he “starred”?
I think it would be better if you had provided pictures of the actors in the roles they’re known for.
So are they character actors because they are typecast andalways play the same or similar roles?
I second Jamie’s praise. Yes, rushfan, well done!!
“He starred in Blade Runner and Tomorrow Never Dies.”
Wasn’t part of my original text, you’ll have to ask Cyn or Jamie.
rushfan – nice list, thanks! I kinda expected to see Michael Caine…
Jfrater – I’m aware of Giovanni’s lead roles, so I had a bit of a reservation. However, I would say he’s always an excellent character/support actor in smaller roles (Friends, My Name is Earl). Plus there are a few actors on this list with leading credentials (e.g. Harry Dean Stanton). I think we can both agree he’s damn good.
Good job. It’s often hard to make the distinction between character actors and cult actors (like Danny Trejo), so well done. The first four mentioned are the ones I always end up scratching my head over; “Now, where the hell did I see that guy/chick?”
Could have included Jordan Prentice.
You missed so many great actors and actresses. You’ve seem to have a bias for actors of the modern era. What about greats like James Gregory, Sterling Holloway, Charles Lane, Bernard Fox, Agnes Moorehead, Woody Strode, Roscoe Lee Browne, Collen Dewhurst, John Carradine, Lee J. Cobb, Henry James, and so many more.
Besides, even if your criteria were for the modern era, you overlooked J.T. Walsh, John Rhys-Davies, Graham Greene, Donald Moffet, Charles Durning, Steve Buscemi, Linda Hunt, William Daniels, Charles Napier, Oliver Platt, and Bob Gunton.
Spocker ~ Congratulations! You made your own list like a big boy. Try hitting the “submissions” link at the top of the page, and follow the step by step directions for how to, now here’s the exciting part, submit your *very own* list! Isn’t that just magical?
Excellent list! However, just to point it out, Vincent Schiavelli was a voice in Blade Runner the video game, and wasn’t in the actual movie. I love him as a character actor though, and thought him a good choice to be on the list! Well done, rushfan!!
Sorry for the double post, but I just remembered that Schiavelli was in “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”, one of my favourite movies!
Tempyra ~ The list was actually 15 dudes and then I said to myself, “hey, self, they’re all dudes. find some chicks.” So I did. I had Laura Linney on the original list, but changed my mind, as I am inclined to do.
i would agree with iain, fred just doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of these guys based on the bio given.
i was wondering who was going to be the first peson offended by not having any people from outside the modern age.
As far as Giovanni Ribisi goes, did anyone see that horrible excuse for a movie Perfect Stanger? With him and Halle Berry? Did he lose a bet or something? Yikes, that movie was a crapfest. God, even Bruce Willis was in that *****hole. WTF?
disc ~ Yeah, the bios are just kinda random info. Fred’s on there cause he’s a role player in movies like Hunt for Red October, No Way Out, Fat Man and Little Boy.
Great list! I think you’re definitely going to need to do “Another Great 15 Character Actors” in the future.
I know all of them except Donal Logue and Thompson.
Great list, although I was shocked to find out about Jeffrey Jones, which explains why you never see him in films anymore.
Okay – Ribisi was brilliant in Boiler Room where he had a lead role. In that film he showed that he wasn’t a character actor – he was a lead actor. Even his small (maybe character) role in lost in Translation was extremely important.
A while ago I saw “Vincent Schiavelli” and “Blade Runner” on the same page of IMDB. I’ve just re-checked that, and he was in the video game of Blade Runner. I should have noticed “VG” (for video game) and “(1997)” in the first place.
Giovanni Ribisi will always have a special place in my heart since he was on My Two Dads when I was a kid. I loved that show.
oh – after all the praise for ribisi I should point out he is a scientologist. – a great tradgedy
NO! I hate finding out people are scientaliens. Beck is too.
Whoa whoa whoa, where is JOHN TURTURRO?
He’s had very memorable character roles in “The Big Lebowski” (don’t ***** with the Jesus), “O Brother Where Art Thou?,” “Mr. Deeds” and, more recently, though not as good, “Transformers.”
His role in “Lebowski” alone deserves a mention on the list–his two or three minutes on screen almost steal the whole movie!
Somehow, almost all of these guys seem to be in the same movie of my mind. and it’s not pretty.
i didn’t know that about Jeffery Jones(hell i didnt even know that was his name). Not only does he know how to play a scumbag in movies, he’s also one in real life.
i wonder how come i always confuse Azaria with some character mafia actor. talk about typecasted character actors. whatsthatguy’sname?
I guess Azaria is up there with the great Mel Blank ,as far as cartoon voices go. Is there an award for that?
“…and the best cartoon voice of the year goes toooo….”
I wonder what Vincent Schiavelli looked like as a baby? What great parents he must of had. Theres a mug!
Teacher:”What do you want to be when you grow up Vincent?”
I must say i despise Edie McClurg.
“The Dao of Steve” was not all that bad, i liked it. Donal Logue was lovable “steve”. After watching, I had the urge to gain weight, smoke pot, teach school children and live blissfully within my manboy mentality.
Harry Dean Stanton-the ultimate sad sack. if i saw him in person, ide just wanna hug him and jump on a trampolene ,
“cheer up fella!”.
ohrmets ~ good addition, thanks.
What no Brian Dennehy? I thought for sure he would make the list. He’s in everything. Also kudos to Spocker for mentioning Steve Buscemi, one of my all time favorite character actors, forget that, one of my favorite actors.
And Oliver Platt, yes! We were talking about him last night, a great and funny-ass actor in everything I’ve ever seen him in.
Diane Wiest was also in the Original Lost Boys!
Mom, you really got me thinking there. I even forgot Tim Roth and I *love* him.
I don’t understand why that guy’s no.1…..
26. rushfan – Hey dude, chill! Your list is…ok, if that’s your preferences. If your a number one Booger fan, that’s alright with me, man. I like “Revenge of the Nerds” as much as the other guy. I’m just pointing out that your list lacks a bit of depth. You don’t have to get all defensive just because I offer a bit of criticism.
It’s not a “top” 15 list, Ghidoran, it’s in no particular order.
Spocker ~ No biggie, I was actually being humorous. Please feel free to check out my and many others’ lists that are much deeper. This one is lighter fare.
Rushfan: Tim Roth is definitely worthy as well. I think we could probably double or treble this list without too much effort.
Good job by the way – I like Rushfan week at ListVerse.
I loved Stephen Root in “O Brother Where Art Thou”
Every time I scrolled down I had an “oh my gosh I love him!” moment…except for the principal guy. ew.
I wouldn’t agree with Booger as #1, but really great list!
Is it just me or is James Cromwell in every single movie ever?
I too think John Turturro should have made the list… that guy is in everything I see!! And he’s brilliant, and, I don’t think he’s a scientologist! ha!
Spocker; Rushfan is a dudette. No fear, I made the same mistake, but worse.
BA – Cromwell was great as the farmer in Babe. A damn fine family movie by the way. He blowed himself up real good in Robocop too!
“That’ll do, Pig … that’ll do.”
I love James Cromwell!
Do y’all think Jeremy Piven is still a character actor or has he moved beyond? He was the guy I used to say was in every movie ever.
I think he would probably still qualify Rushfan; he doesn’t head-line any movies on his own, he’s generally part of an ensemble cast.
Have you noted how entirely creepy David Morse can be? I find his psycho roles extremely convincing.
Yes! Disturbia for example. He made a lame attempt at a lead role in a movie called George B. I was embarassed for him. He has such a weird way about him, almost no personality at all.