Favorite character actor/actress thread
 

This is another idea from another forum that I liked, so I thought, "Why not us?" So here's one of mine:


William Fichtner

http://www.mikesfichtner.com/front.jpg

William Fichtner had a few minor roles in previous films, but was given his first chance at some real screen time in Steven Soderbergh's film The Underneath. In that role, he was able to show his versatility by switching between quiet contemplation and all out rage. A few more small roles came along until Albino Alligator was released in 96. Again given a role of a freaked out violent individual, he proves that he can play powerful men in extreme circumstances. The next year, he landed the role as the blind sympathetic friend to Jodie Foster in Contact. This role is what helped him escape the possible typecasting that he almost fell into. Armageddon helped make him recognizable to a larger audience, but it was his role as the worthless and diabolical husband in Drowning Mona that helped prove, once again, that he was one of the best character actors working in Hollywood. The roles just kept getting better and better after that, beginning with Passion of the Mind playing the romantic lead opposite Demi Moore. Fichtner is an excellent character actor that deserves more recognition that he gets. I hope that someday he will get a break like Chris Cooper did with Adaptation. He's one of my personal favorites.

http://www.mikesfichtner.com/pic6.jpg

Notable roles:

As the World Turns - Josh Snyder/Rod Landry (1987-1993)
Underneath - Tommy Dundee (1995)
Virtuosity - Wallace (1995)
Strange Days -Dwayne Engelman (1995)
Heat -Roger Van Zant (1995)
Albino Alligator - Law (1996)
Contact - Kent Clark (1997)
Switchback -Chief Jack McGinnis (1997)
Armageddon -Colonel William Sharp (1998)
Go - Burke (1999)
The Settlement - Jerry (1999)
Drowning Mona - Phil Dearly (2000)
Passion of Mind - Aaron Reilly (2000)
The Perfect Storm - Sully (2000)
Pearl Harbor - Danny's Father (2001)
Black Hawk Down - SFC. Jeff Sanderson (2001)
Equilibrium - Jurgen(2002)

Filming: Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Another nice thread Bri. :)

Jennifer Coolidge
I first took notice of her in Legally Blonde as the loveable manicurist that befriends Elle and learns the ‘bend and snap’to get her man. Since then, I’ve seen and loved her in A Mighty Wind(very small part, but she’s a scene stealer), and Best in Show. I’ve taken a shine to this woman...she’s a hoot. I will look forward to seeing her in future movies.

This list is copy and pasted from IMDB....

Currently Filming...
Robots (2005) .... (voice)
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) .... White Faced Woman #1
A Cinderella Story (2004) (post-production) .... Nora

Notable Roles:
American Wedding (2003) .... Stifler's Mom
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003) .... Paulette
A Mighty Wind (2003) .... Amber Cole
Stage On Screen: The Women (2002) (TV) .... Edith Potter/Herself
"Sketch Pad" (2001) TV Series .... The Groundlings
American Pie 2 (2001) .... Stifler's Mom
Legally Blonde (2001) .... Paulette Bonafonté
Pootie Tang (2001) .... Ireenie
Down to Earth (2001) .... Mrs. Wellington
Best in Show (2000) .... Sherri Ann Ward Cabot
American Pie (1999) .... Stifler's Mom
A Night at the Roxbury (1998) .... Hottie Cop
Trial and Error (1997) .... Jacqueline 'Jackie' Turreau
"She TV" (1994) TV Series .... Skit Characters
Seinfeld (1993) TV Series....a masseuse who won't offer her professional services to boyfriend Jerry.

I have to say Angline Jolieif only because, I think she was meant for her Tomb Raider's character..she is extremely believeable and I love her kick ass stunts. She seems to be a no frills actress and has something of a bad attidute with style karma. I think she is great.

Brad Dourif
 

Brad Dourif

http://www.movieforums.com/community...achmentid=2664

Brad Dourif always seems to be able to pull off creepy. From the wacky exterminator in Graveyard Shift, to Grima Wormtounge in LotR, to the Gemini killer in Exorcist III, I am always happy to see Mr. Dourif grace the screen. His face is extremely expressive, and his acting ability is stellar. He has a few clunkers under his belt, but he has more than made up for it in the following roles:

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002) .... Grima Wormtongue

Alien: Resurrection (1997) .... Dr. Gediman

Graveyard Shift (1990) .... Tucker Cleveland/The Exterminator

Exorcist III, The (1990) .... The Gemini Killer/James Venamun

Mississippi Burning (1988) .... Deputy Clinton Pell

Blue Velvet (1986) .... Raymond

Dune (1984) .... Piter De Vries

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) .... Billy Bibbit

Gray Oldman

- lack of effort, I know :)

Angelina Jolie and Gary Oldman are stars, this is for the people who are second fiddle. ;)

Oldman made it to stardom from all the various characters he can/has played, he is a character actor :P

But, for the sake of the topic, allow me to take back my Gary Oldman post and replace him with :

John Turturro, does he count, or is he too well known now? ;)

Actually, I shouldn't have said anything. I'm just glad you responded. I love both these guys, have you seen Barton Fink?

Not yet, Im desperate to see it, but its so hard to find for rental in the UK, and I don't know if I want to splash out extra moolah on a film I haven't seen yet. I don't even think it is released in the UK...would have to import it via ebay or playusa.com

Stormare and Buscemi are two other great character actors, :)

Favorite actor? Where's Jack Nicholson??? I've yet to see a film that I didn't enjoy his performance in. Sometimes the film itself sucked, but his acting is always impeccable.

Welcome to the forum Slayer. Although I agree Jack Nicholson is a wonderful actor...

...Brian (LordSlaytan) pointed out a few posts above...."this is for the people who are second fiddle." I believe this is to appreciate the many character/supporting actors that don't get the attention/recognition the big stars get. There are already few threads started for favorite actor/actress.


Here's a couple more I like.....

Carol Kane
She unique, lovable and very funny. I loved her in both Scrooged and The Princess Bride and I would love to see her in another hit movie.

Notable Roles
The Office Party (2000) .... Linda
Scrooged (1988) .... Ghost of Christmas Present
The Princess Bride (1987) .... Valerie
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985) .... Lupi
"Taxi" (1978) TV Series .... Simka Dahblitz-Gravas (1981-1983)
The Muppet Movie (1979) .... Myth
The World's Greatest Lover (1977) .... Annie
Valentino (1977) .... Fatty's Girlfriend
Annie Hall(1977) .... Allison Portchnik
Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976) .... Florence
Dog Day Afternoon (1975) .... Jenny


Also........

George Sanders
I love the tone of his voice. I first saw him in All About Eve as Addison DeWitt...I believe he won an oscar for best supporting actor for that role. He plays a great snob and cad. His voice was also perfect for Shere Khan in Disney's Jungle Book.

Notable Roles
The Jungle Book (1967) (voice) .... Shere Khan
Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965) .... The Banker
A Shot in the Dark (1964) .... Benjamin Ballon
Viaggio in Italia (1953) .... Alexander 'Alex' Joyce
Ivanhoe (1952) .... Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert
All About Eve (1950) .... Addison DeWitt
Samson and Delilah (1949) .... The Saran of Gaza
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) .... Miles Fairley
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) .... Lord Henry Wotton
The Black Swan (1942) .... Captain Billy Leech
Rebecca (1940) .... Jack Favell

This thread is for character actors, not just actors in general, and I don't see Nicholson as a character actor. Slay, ummmm Slaytan made another thread for favorites general actors somewhere on the site as well....

_S

I believe this is also a favorites thread....

Olympia Dukakis

http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...is/toronto.jpg

I first noticed Olympia in Norman Jewison’s Moonstruck, and I liked her immediately, but it wasn’t until I saw Steel Magnolias when I knew I adored her. Her role as the smart and sassy Clairee Belcher, best friend of Shirley MacLaine’s Ouiser Boudreaux, was a perfect fit for her wonderful style. A lot had to do with the excellent dialogue written for the film, but I can’t imagine anyone who could have delivered the lines so perfectly. Here are a few that make me laugh: “Ouiser could never stay mad at me; she worships the quicksand I walk on.” “Ouiser, I'd recognize this penmanship anywhere. You have the handwritin' of a serial killer.” “Ouiser, you sound almost chipper. What happened today? You run over a small child or something?” Sorry, I couldn’t resist throwing a few in here. Another film that fit her perfectly is The Cemetary Club. Perhaps it's best when she works with the wonderful Shirley MacLaine, because it seems to bring out the best in her.

Not known for starring in hardly any films, Olympia Dukakis has still left her mark in contemporary cinema. No matter what movie she works in, she leaves an indelible mark that is not easily forgotten. For that reason, she is one of my favorite character actors.

Notable Roles:

Search for Tomorrow - Dr. Barbara Moreno (1983)
Moonstruck - Rose Castorini (1987)
Working Girl - Personnel Director (1988)
Look Who's Talking - Rosie (1989)
Dad - Bette Tremont (1989)
Steel Magnolias - Clairee Belcher (1989)
Look Who's Talking Too - Rosie (1990)
Over the Hill - Alma Harris (1992)
The Cemetery Club - Doris Silverman (1993)
Look Who's Talking Now - Rosie (1993)
Digger - Bea (1993)
Mr. Holland's Opus - Principal Ellen Jacobs (1995)
Mother - Mrs. Jay (1996)
Picture Perfect - Rita Mosley (1997)
Never Too Late - Rose (1997)
Jane Austen's Mafia! - Sophia (1998)
The Intended - Erina (2002)
Charlie's War - Charlie (2003)

Filming: The Great New Wonderful and 3 Needles.

http://www.fansofjohngoodman.com/Goodman/pg3/jgblu.gif

John Goodman

Probley best know as Dan from the TV show "Rossanne, John has since become a fantastic "BIT" actor. The films he is in are often not the best but he always seems to shine. He is at hios best when beeing directed by the Coens.

Best Performances
Barton Fink
Hudsucker Proxy
The Borrowers
The Big Lebowski
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Monsters, Inc
Dirty Deeds

Favorite character actor/actress
 

This is a character actor or 'not an A-list' actor thread, not big time star thread. Thanks anyway. :)

Yeah, but a "character actor" is a person who can play any character, because he changes himself for the role. It doesn't mean not an A-List actor. If that is what you wanted for the board then I take my post back, sorry I misunderstood.

You're absolutely right and I didn't mean for you to take your post back. When I made the thread, I should have been more plain.

Bruce Campbell

http://img15.photobucket.com/albums/...baby/bruce.jpg

To me his prescence just makes the movie. Most of the movies he's been in wouldn't do sh** for me if he wasn't in them. I'd really like to see him get more [good] roles.

http://www.filmlinc.com/fcm/online/jpegs/Bubba.jpg
Most Notable Roles:

• Bubba Ho-tep (2002) .... Elvis Presley/Sebastian Haff
• Adventures of Brisco County Jr., The (1993) TV Series .... Brisco County Jr.
• Army of Darkness (1993) .... Ash
• Evil Dead II (1987) .... Ash
• Evil Dead, The (1981) .... Ash
  

Steve Buscemi
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...emi/28days.jpg

• Big Fish (2003)
• Ghost World (2001)
• Fargo (1996)
• Airheads (1994)
• Pulp Fiction (1994)
• Ed & His Dead Mother (1993)
• Reservoir Dogs (1992)

David Wenham... his performance in Gettin' Square is nothing short of brilliant. Plus his roles in The Lord Of The Rings & even Van Helsing. He is the best character actor in Australia today... bar-none.

She is one of my Favourites also :D

http://www.dancelife.ru/Photos/sb.jpg

BILL HUNTER
Is also one of mine, his movie list is too extensive to type but here are a few

FINDING NEMO....................................................Dentist
STRICTLY BALLROOM............................................Barry Fife
MURIELS WEDDING..............................................Bill Heslop
ADVENTURES OF PRICILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT.....Bob

:D :D

Robert Duvall

• Anastacia ~~~~~~ (voice) Rasputin
• The Adams Family ~~~~~~~ Uncle Fester/Gordon Craven
• Back To The Future 1+2+3 ~~~~~~~~ 'Doc' Emmet Brown
• The Dream Team ~~~~~~~~~ Henry Sikorsky
• Who Framed Roger Rabbits ~~~~~~~ Judge Doom
• Clue ~~~~~~~~~ Professor Plum
• Numerous Television Roles (Most notably Taxi)

Claude Rains is in 3 of my top 15 movies

Casablanca (1942)
Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Mr. Smith goes to Washington (1939)

http://www.meredy.com/clauderains/rains04.jpg

also love him in

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Notorious (1946)
Caesar and Cleopata (1945)
Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
They Made Me a Criminal (1939)

andy serkis..did an incredible job as gollum

i saw him recently in 13 going on 30...

Nice one choice uconjack...Claude Rains is wonderful.
I liked him in...

Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Deception (1946)
Casablanca (1942)
The Sea Hawk (1940)
Now, Voyager (1942)
Caesar and Cleopata (1945)
Kings Row (1942)
Mr. Skeffington (1944)
Anthony Adverse (1936)

Here's another....

Annie, Gentleman Jim Is one of favourites, I was a real fan of Errol Flynn's, If you Like Jack Carson, you will like him in this. :D

Thanks for letting me know it's one of your favorites Nebs. I'm an Errol Flynn fan as well, which is another reason I want to see Gentleman Jim. I've only seen bits and parts of it years ago, but not the entire movie. I'll make the time to see it the next time it's playing on Turner Classic Movies. :)

My favorite Actor has to be Tom Hanks. He has been great in Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, directed an episode of Band of Brothers... just to name a few.

Philip Bosco

I love the way he can become any character.

Fimography:
Abandon (2002) .... Professor Jergensen
Kate & Leopold (2001) .... Otis
After Amy (2001) (TV) .... Dr. Ed Walden
... aka No Ordinary Baby (2001) (TV)
"All My Children" (1970) TV Series .... Lyle Wedgewood (2000)
... aka "All My Children: The Summer of Seduction" (1970) (USA: promotional title)
Brooklyn Sonnet (2000) .... Uncle Chicky
... aka Borough of Kings (2000) (USA: MIFED title)
Shaft (2000) .... Walter Wade, Sr.
... aka Shaft - Noch Fragen? (2000) (Germany)
Cupid & Cate (2000) (TV) .... Dominic DeAngelo
Wonder Boys (2000) .... Emily's Father
... aka Wonder Boys, Die (2000) (Germany)
... aka Wonderboys - Lauter Wunderknaben (2000) (Germany: TV title)
Bonanno: A Godfather's Story (1999) (TV) .... Steve Maggadino Sr.
Twelfth Night, or What You Will (1998) (TV) .... Malvolio
Carriers (1998) (TV) .... Col. John O. Bailey
... aka Virus X - Die tödliche Falle (1998) (TV) (Germany)
"LIBERTY! The American Revolution" (1997) (mini) TV Series .... Dr. Benjamin Franklin
Critical Care (1997) .... Dr. Hofstader
Deconstructing Harry (1997) .... Prof. Clark
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) .... Walter Wallace
Surprise! (1996) .... Cabby
... aka Apologies to Bunuel (2005) (USA: new title)
First Wives Club, The (1996) .... Uncle Carmine Morelli
It Takes Two (1995) .... Vincenzo
... aka Me and My Shadow (1995)
Young at Heart (1995) (TV) .... Patsy
Safe Passage (1994) .... Mort
Nobody's Fool (1994) .... Judge Flatt
Janek: The Silent Betrayal (1994) (TV) .... Chief Wycoff
Milk Money (1994) .... Jerry the Pope
Forget-Me-Not Murders, The (1994) (TV) .... Chief
... aka Janek: Forget-Me-Not Murders (1994) (TV)
Against the Wall (1994) (TV) .... Oswald
Angie (1994) .... Frank Scacciapensieri
"Tribeca" (1993) TV Series .... Harry Arsharsky
Straight Talk (1992) .... Gene Perlman
Shadows and Fog (1992) .... Mr. Paulsen
Return of Eliot Ness, The (1991) (TV) .... Art Malto
F/X2 (1991) .... Lt. Ray Silak, NYPD
... aka F/X 2: The Deadly Art of Illusion (1991)
... aka FX2 (1991)
True Colors (1991) .... Stn. Steubens
Quick Change (1990) .... Bus Driver
Blue Steel (1990) .... Frank Turner
Murder in Black and White (1990) (TV) .... Wycoff
Luckiest Man in the World, The (1989)
Dream Team, The (1989) .... O'Malley
Working Girl (1988) .... Oren Trask
Another Woman (1988) .... Sam
Internal Affairs (1988) (TV) .... John Wycoff
Three Men and a Baby (1987) .... Det. Sgt. Melkowitz
Echoes in the Darkness (1987) (TV)
Suspect (1987) .... Paul Gray
Read Between the Lines (1987) (TV) .... Grandfather
Rage of Angels: The Story Continues (1986) (TV) .... Thomas Colfax
Children of a Lesser God (1986) .... Dr. Curtis Franklin
Liberty (1986) (TV) .... Boss William Tweed
Money Pit, The (1986) .... Curly
Walls of Glass (1985) .... James Flanagan
... aka Flanagan (1985)
Some Men Need Help (1985) (TV) .... Gaetano Altobelli
Heaven Help Us (1985) .... Brother Paul
... aka Catholic Boys (1985)
Pope of Greenwich Village, The (1984) .... Paulie's Father
... aka Village Dreams (1984) (Europe: English title)
Trading Places (1983) .... Doctor
Guiding Light, The" (1952) TV Series .... Clarence Baily (1979)
... aka "Guiding Light" (1978) (USA: new title)
Hogan's Goat (1971) (TV) .... Priest
Lovely Way to Die, A (1968) .... Fuller
... aka Lovely Way to Go, A (1968)
Enemy of the People, An (1966) (TV) .... Peter Stockmann
... aka Arthur Miller's Adaptation of An Enemy of the People (1966) (TV) (USA: complete title)

some of my favorites are

Kate Hudson (Penny Lane,Andie Anderson)
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...ostfamous2.jpghttp://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...te_hudson2.jpg
R.Lee Ermy in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...rmey/texas.jpg
Ginger and Brigitte Fitzgerald-Ginger Snaps Trilogy
http://www.ginger-snaps.com/intervie...kisabelle3.gifhttp://www.ginger-snaps.com/media_gs3/pic_sisters01.jpg

Favorite Kick Ass Chicks

The Bride,GoGo,Oren Ishii,Elle Driver-Kill Bill
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...rman/bill3.jpghttp://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...nnah/bill2.jpghttp://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...iyama/bill.jpg
Trinity-The Matrix Trilogy
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...ss/matrix7.jpg
Alice-Resident Evil
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...vich/evil8.jpghttp://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...ovich/evil.jpg

Two of my faves
______________

TOM HANKS

- The Money Pit
- The Burbs
- Splash
- Apollo 13
- Castaway
- Catch Me if you Can



ROBIN WILLIAMS

- Mrs. Doubtfire
- Bicentennial Man
- AI
- One Hour Photo
- Insomnia

Bumping up for some of the newer members.


Nebs...I tried to watch Gentleman Jim during Errol Flynn month on TCM...but I was so tired when it came on I fell alseep during it. :bawling:

Shame on me.

http://film.onet.pl/_i/news/duze/t/timothy_spall_1.jpg
Tim Spall

http://dvdtoile.com/ARTISTES/15/15998.jpg
James Robertson Justice

http://entimg.msn.com/i/150/ce/feb/B...ll_150x207.jpg
Brendan Gleeson

http://www.tvtome.com/images/people/65/6/46-16377.jpg
Wilfred Hyde-White (if the character is a Vicar)

http://pageperso.aol.fr/nicosarapott...%20thewlis.gif
David Thewlis

Michael Wincott
a very, very bad man...

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/T...elwincott1.jpg
His gravelly voice and scraggly hair and angular face and physicality make him the perfect character actor for The Bad Guy. He also has a huge presence, giving all his bad guys considerable power.

A few roles from his filmography:
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) .... Armand Dorleac
Along Came a Spider (2001) .... Gary Soneji
Alien: Resurrection (1997) .... Frank Elgyn
Basquiat (1996) .... Rene Ricard
Strange Days (1995) .... Philo Gant
Dead Man (1995) .... Conway Twill
The Crow (1994) .... Top Dollar
The Three Musketeers (1993) .... Rochefort
Romeo Is Bleeding (1993) .... Sal

Awwww thats terrible here is a http://bestsmileys.com/hugging/1.gif to help you feel better. :D an Errol month http://bestsmileys.com/wow/1.gif

Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C Reilly, both are brilliant in everything they do.

http://tahoecelebritygolf.com/Player...inley-john.jpg
John C. McGinley
Just because he's the driving force of Scrubs, the only sitcom ever to rival Seinfeld's brilliance.

http://www.arnadal.no/film/actors/im...hristopher.jpg
Christopher Walken
Who doesn't love this man?

http://www.man.se/dyn_images/modells.../10282_644.jpg
Peter Stormare
"Let's go to Pancake's House..."

Damn!! You beated me to him, I really like his acting, he's very very good at what he does

Now a personal favourite:

TARYN MANNING

http://www.papermag.com/magazine/mag...yn_manning.jpg

dAMN, YES the most beautifull woman ever IMO, and she a very decent actress.

I also like A LOT Adrian Grenier
for he's work on adventures of Sebastian COle, such a great movie

Tom Wilkinson- never gets enough praise and is one of my favs in the movie buisness.
http://movieshop.ru/catalog/people/000300/000387/i.jpg

Best roles- Gerald in The Full Monty
Hugh Fennyman in Shakespeare in love
Dr. Howard Mierzwiak in Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

Can't wait to see him in Batman Begins

M. Emmet Walsh
 

Ray Winstone

Ray Winstone gives a fantastic performance every time. I especially loved him Sexy Beast.

1. The Tender Hook (2006) (announced)
2. Jerusalem (2005) (announced) .... William Blake
3. Beowulf (2007) (pre-production)
4. Breaking and Entering (2006) (filming)
5. The Departed (2006) (filming) .... Mr. French
6. The Proposition (2005) (post-production) .... Captain Stanley
7. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) (post-production) (voice) .... Mr. Beaver
8. The Magic Roundabout (2005) (voice) .... Soldier Sam (English version)
   ... aka Pollux - Le manège enchanté (France)
   ... aka Sprung! The Magic Roundabout (USA)
   ... aka The Magic Roundabout (UK)
9. Everything (2004/II) .... Richard
10. She's Gone (2004) (TV) .... Harry Sands
11. King Arthur (2004) .... Bors
    ... aka King Arthur: Director's Cut (USA: DVD title (director's cut))
12. Cold Mountain (2003) .... Teague
13. Henry VIII (2003) (TV) .... Henry VIII
14. Bouncer (2002)
15. Ripley's Game (2002) .... Reeves
    ... aka Gioco di Ripley, Il (Italy)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...nstone_150.jpg

Steve Buscemi is by far my favorite character actor of all time. He makes any movie better, if only by a little bit.

sam shepard, sam neil, robert deniro, steve buscemi, orlando bloom,johnny depp(sp? i can never get it right) emma thompson, uma thurman, cameron diaz, penelope cruz,susan sarandon.....

Favorite Actor: Marlon Brando http://adorocinema.cidadeinternet.co...n-brando02.jpg
Favorite Actress: Ingrid Bergman http://adorocinema.cidadeinternet.co...-bergman02.jpg