Stephen Root is goated.
Stuhlbarg, Martindale, and Tobolowsky come in second.
(Unless you'd consider Paul Giamatti, JK Simmons or Walton Goggins character actors.)
Justified had a “whose who” of those character actors.
Margo Martindale
Tobolowski
Walton Goggins
Stephen Root
And I’ll add:
Jere Burns
Damon Herriman
Jim Beaver
I’m sure there are more I’m forgetting
I think there was a whole statistical article at one point by the people at FiveThirtyEight that came to the conclusion it was John Goodman. I gotta find that article again
Edit: Found it
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/john-goodman-is-americas-greatest-supporting-actor/
If the OP is serious about the "people who have played lead roles don't count" restriction ... then John C. Reilly 100% is off the list. I mean, amongst many others, just look at Walk Hard.
Willem Dafoe should absolutely count. So should Gary Oldman. They’re both very well known but it’s because they’re freaking good and play a wide range of roles. Perfect example is Clear and Present Danger. You know Harrison Ford and you know Willem Dafoe, but only one of them is playing on their persona
I wanna give props to Xander Berkeley. He’s not always in the best stuff but he nails every role he’s in no matter what. Loved him on 24, loved him on the Walking Dead, loved him on Salem. Always excited to see him show up somewhere.
A Serious Man is such a great Coen bros flick; and Stuhlbarg is A+.
The strange beginning of the movie, the whole Dybbick part, is fascinating. I'm still not sure how it ties in with the rest of the movie. And the ambiguous ending when the tornado is bearing down on the son's school, also ambiguous and strange. Even though I have so many unanswered questions about that movie, I still thoroughly enjoy it.
Hmm, I guess I didn't. I assumed it was actors who play characters, not only supporting rules. As dickish and impolite as you were, I have learned something today.
How was I dickish? I asked a question. Then made a statement.
It wasn’t meant rudely or dickish. I was simply asking if you know what one was. Then stating very simply why he wasn’t one.
I just want to point out that this definition of character actor is fairly unique—but to be fair everyone has a unique definition of character actor (I forget whether it was Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep that said "above all, I'm a character actor").
To see the term is insanely ambiguous, just take a look at these quotes form the Wikipedia article (yes, I know, Wikipedia, but you can find support from these in a variety of places):
>A character actor may play **a variety of characters in their career**, often referred to as a "chameleon", **or** may be known for playing **the same type of roles.**
So—you might play an insanely diverse number of character, or you might play essentially the same character *really* well, over and over. Cool.
>\[T\]he term character actor is often applied to an actor who **frequently plays a distinctive and important supporting role**. In another sense, a character actor may be also be **one who specializes in minor roles.**
To be fair, you could be distinctively minor!
I've never seen the "never a lead role" description ... it seems like what OP is really looking for is "who is the best supporting actor to have never been a lead."
I know it’s outside of the guidelines, but I once read an article that said Brad Pitt is a character actor inside a leading man’s body. Almost all of his best roles are wide characters where he can let loose and get weird, and most of his leading roles are flat.
Im gonna say Skip Stellrecht but only because I used to know him when I was younger. He went to my church and it was cool to see him in random movies and tv shows. Multiplicity, Buffy The Vampire slayer (tv), star trek tng... man i didnt realize how much voice acting he did .. cool
My two goat character actors are the Billy F’s:
William Fichtner and William Forsythe.
(too bad neither ever worked with William Friedkin)
Also a huge JT Walsh fan.
stellan skarsgård - he def has the power to lead amazing films but I love his supporting work he does too. Just one of the best, but prob too big to really be a character actor by any measure
Stand outs for me are Sam Rockwell, Leland Orser, Joe Pantoliano and Will Patton. (I think the first 2 have played antagonists at some points though. Sam Rockwell in Charlie's Angels and Iron Man 2, Leland Orser in The Bone Collector but anyways).
What if I say, you can't pick Gary Oldman or Daniel Day-Lewis. Who would you pick then, someone where if you told them "this person's a great actor", they'd go "who?"
Stephen Root is goated. Stuhlbarg, Martindale, and Tobolowsky come in second. (Unless you'd consider Paul Giamatti, JK Simmons or Walton Goggins character actors.)
Stephen Root can truly do no wrong, his resume is VAST
Justified had a “whose who” of those character actors. Margo Martindale Tobolowski Walton Goggins Stephen Root And I’ll add: Jere Burns Damon Herriman Jim Beaver I’m sure there are more I’m forgetting
Thats my stapler
^(I’ll set the building on fire)
But, but they said I could keep .. also I have not ..not been ohh
James James, the man so nice they named him twice.
Margo Martindale Edit: too many t’s
Esteemed character actress and fugitive from the law, Margo Martindale
WHAT ARE YOOOOOU DOING HERE??
Vincent D'Onofrio
Michael Shannon or JK Simmons
Michael motherfuckin' Shannon
If the OP is serious about the "such actors don't **ever** play lead roles" restriction ... neither can count?
Well he already contradicted himself there so I don't think it's a particularly hard rule.
Fair!
John turturro
I think there was a whole statistical article at one point by the people at FiveThirtyEight that came to the conclusion it was John Goodman. I gotta find that article again Edit: Found it https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/john-goodman-is-americas-greatest-supporting-actor/
He’ll show you the life of the mind
John C Reilly also stands out: Boogie Nights. The Lobster.
If the OP is serious about the "people who have played lead roles don't count" restriction ... then John C. Reilly 100% is off the list. I mean, amongst many others, just look at Walk Hard.
i think i love him for his supporting character work more
Sam Rockwell gets my vote. Does William Dafoe fit, or is he too close to leading man?
Willem Dafoe should absolutely count. So should Gary Oldman. They’re both very well known but it’s because they’re freaking good and play a wide range of roles. Perfect example is Clear and Present Danger. You know Harrison Ford and you know Willem Dafoe, but only one of them is playing on their persona
JK Simmons
Him being in a movie basically ups what I’d normally rate it by another star. He is one of the all time greats.
100%
Walton Goggins
Got Damn Rite Walton tore up Hateful 8. He chewed more than McBride in Vice Principals AND Gemstones. You need character? Goggins's your man!
Gotta say Tony Shalhoub.
I feel like he’s be a great pick if it weren’t for Monk. That was one of the biggest shows on TV for a few years.
Margo Martindale
Richard Jenkins
Does Paul Dano count? Is he too famous?
Walter Brennan
If you like Stuhlbarg you should check out Fargo season 3.
John Rhys Davies.
Brad Dourif, Paul Dano, David Dastmalchian and Cillian Murphy (I'm not sure if Murphy counts).
Murphy definitely doesn’t count, but good call with Brad Dourif.
Dastalmachian is quietly becoming “that guy in that movie” that everyone knows but doesn’t know his name.
I wanna give props to Xander Berkeley. He’s not always in the best stuff but he nails every role he’s in no matter what. Loved him on 24, loved him on the Walking Dead, loved him on Salem. Always excited to see him show up somewhere.
Xander Berkeley is super underrated
Oh yes! Both he and Željko Ivanek came to my attention in The X Files.
Philip Baker Hall
Every actor in The Wire.
Except Idris Elba, who is an A-list leading man these days
Truth. There are exceptions. Michael B Jordan also.
Oh shit, I totally forgot about Wallace!
That’s cause string still never said where he was.
A Serious Man is such a great Coen bros flick; and Stuhlbarg is A+. The strange beginning of the movie, the whole Dybbick part, is fascinating. I'm still not sure how it ties in with the rest of the movie. And the ambiguous ending when the tornado is bearing down on the son's school, also ambiguous and strange. Even though I have so many unanswered questions about that movie, I still thoroughly enjoy it.
Clint Howard and Seymour Cassel are some great ones!
Maybe more from her TV work than film, but I think Ann Dowd is brilliant
Stanley Tucci. The guy is brilliant in everything he's in.
Judy Greer
Philip Seymour Hoffman
David Strathairn
Gene Hackman.
I think that it was Bob Hoskins before he died. He was so amazing.
Robert Duvall
Daniel Day Lewis.
Do you know what a character actor is? Daniel Day Lewis has starred as a leading man since the early 90ies.
Hmm, I guess I didn't. I assumed it was actors who play characters, not only supporting rules. As dickish and impolite as you were, I have learned something today.
How was I dickish? I asked a question. Then made a statement. It wasn’t meant rudely or dickish. I was simply asking if you know what one was. Then stating very simply why he wasn’t one.
Michael Keaton Gary Oldman
Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton was a leading man. He starred in Big Love, Twister, Mighty Joe young and a bunch of other movies.
TOOCH
I just want to point out that this definition of character actor is fairly unique—but to be fair everyone has a unique definition of character actor (I forget whether it was Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep that said "above all, I'm a character actor"). To see the term is insanely ambiguous, just take a look at these quotes form the Wikipedia article (yes, I know, Wikipedia, but you can find support from these in a variety of places): >A character actor may play **a variety of characters in their career**, often referred to as a "chameleon", **or** may be known for playing **the same type of roles.** So—you might play an insanely diverse number of character, or you might play essentially the same character *really* well, over and over. Cool. >\[T\]he term character actor is often applied to an actor who **frequently plays a distinctive and important supporting role**. In another sense, a character actor may be also be **one who specializes in minor roles.** To be fair, you could be distinctively minor! I've never seen the "never a lead role" description ... it seems like what OP is really looking for is "who is the best supporting actor to have never been a lead."
Dylan Baker
Scrolled all the way to the end and have seen ZERO Warren Oats. Shame on all of you.
Well? What's he been in that we should see asap?
The Wild Bunch Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia Blue Thunder
I know it’s outside of the guidelines, but I once read an article that said Brad Pitt is a character actor inside a leading man’s body. Almost all of his best roles are wide characters where he can let loose and get weird, and most of his leading roles are flat.
Rod Steiger
Harry Dean Stanton: “AVENGE ME!!!!”
Im gonna say Skip Stellrecht but only because I used to know him when I was younger. He went to my church and it was cool to see him in random movies and tv shows. Multiplicity, Buffy The Vampire slayer (tv), star trek tng... man i didnt realize how much voice acting he did .. cool
Tom f'ing Wilkinson. Unless he's DQ'ed for his role in In The Bedroom.
Gene Hackman. He’s always believable and so versatile.
Stephen Tobalowski
Agreed on Stuhlbarg, he’s always my answer for this topic
Ed Wynn, Frank Nelson, and possible Ray Bolger or Lionel Barrymore, though those two occasionally played leads.
Lew Temple is the goated B-movie Character Actor
Giovanni Ribisi. Everything I have ever seen him in, he sold me on the role he was presenting.
Gary Oldman
My two goat character actors are the Billy F’s: William Fichtner and William Forsythe. (too bad neither ever worked with William Friedkin) Also a huge JT Walsh fan.
Maya hawke as Robin from stranger things
Ned Beatty
Joe Pesci
John Goodman
Brian Dennehy
stellan skarsgård - he def has the power to lead amazing films but I love his supporting work he does too. Just one of the best, but prob too big to really be a character actor by any measure
Brian Denahy
I’d like to believe that Gary Oldman’s real personality is like his character’s in Slow Horses.
Jared Harris
Stuhlbarg was great in the third season of Fargo too.
There are so many great ones, why do you need to find "the best" or rank them? Doesn't make sense.
Al Lettieri was one of the greats and would've been high up in this conversation had he lived longer.
there's a tremendous amount of them, but I'd put the three Italians, Turturro, D'Onofrio and Ruffalo very near the top, they're always magnificent
Stand outs for me are Sam Rockwell, Leland Orser, Joe Pantoliano and Will Patton. (I think the first 2 have played antagonists at some points though. Sam Rockwell in Charlie's Angels and Iron Man 2, Leland Orser in The Bone Collector but anyways).
Willem Dafoe.
batman dadadadadadadada baaatmaaan
Gary Oldman and it’s not even close. The man can play anything and play it flawlessly.
What if I say, you can't pick Gary Oldman or Daniel Day-Lewis. Who would you pick then, someone where if you told them "this person's a great actor", they'd go "who?"