Character actors

[Melakon]

In motion pictures, these are people who rarely get a top billing role, but they often have more credits than a box office star. On television, they're usually persons getting guest star and special guest star roles.

Saul Rubinek (TNG: The Most Toys) is an actor I first noticed in the film Ticket to Heaven (1981). I've seen him in several films and television shows. He never fails to deliver good work. His interviews show him to be an intelligent guy.

Leland Orser. He reminds me a lot of Rubinek's ability with quirky characters. I didn't notice him until he showed up as Commander Lovok on DS9, and have primarily seen him in Star Trek, with his appearances on VOY and ENT. Have seen him in some other shows, but none of his films. Has a good looking wife.

 

[bbailey861]

Character actors get a huge amount of respect from me. To be able to play different roles successfully, and bounce off the main stars, is vital to making any show or movie believable. Quite often, a small role is done so successfully that you wish you could have had more of him/her. I would have loved to seen more of Capt Terrell played by Paul Winfield.

 

[Catarina]

ooh I like Paul Winfield

 

[SPCTRE]

Leland Orser. He reminds me a lot of Rubinek's ability with quirky characters. I didn't notice him until he showed up as Commander Lovok on DS9, and have primarily seen him in Star Trek, with his appearances on VOY and ENT. Have seen him in some other shows, but none of his films. Has a good looking wife.

He is really, really good. Looking at his IMDb, I had no idea he was in so many things... and so much Trek.

 

[RandyS]

What's the difference between an actor and a character actor? I've never understood it.

 

[Melakon]

What's the difference between an actor and a character actor? I've never understood it.

I usually use the term to distinguish between big name stars, like Paul Newman or Angelina Jolie, and actors usually seen in supporting but either specialize in a type, or are able to completely submerge their own personality to become unrecognizable. Examples would include Woodrow Parfrey, Jack Elam, and Margaret Hamilton. Jack Nicholson is sort of a synthesis, becoming a leading man through a career of characters that were never alike.

Wikipedia expands on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_actor