Marc Lawrence
(1910 - 2005)| He was destined to play sneaky, creepy henchmen, gangsters and criminals much as Reggie Nalder was. He had the perfect look with his black slicked down hair, his skeletal, pocked face, his slight 5’ 1 ...Click on photo to read biography |
Bill Erwin
(1914 - )| With his ‘Mr. Magoo’ eyes and that droopy white mustache, you can’t help but recognize one of the hardest and longest working actors in show business, Bill Erwin. He’s been around along time and is st ...Click on photo to read biography |
Eily Malyon
(1879 - 1961)| Eily Malyon was one of those infrequently seen character actors whose work was extremely memorable. Her career focused more on quality than quantity of roles. She was indeed an interesting looking act ...Click on photo to read biography |
Bill McCutcheon
(1924 - 2002)| Anyone born prior to 1980 should recognize this wonderful face, but very few will know his name. He was a star of TV commercials and guest starred on many TV dramas and sitcoms of the 1960s and 70s. I ...Click on photo to read biography |
Dame.May Whitty
(1865 - 1948)| She was titled Dame so long that many people thought Dame was her first name. A beloved, grandmotherly lady she was a quite popular actress and was cherished on both sides of the Atlantic. Although an ...Click on photo to read biography |
Iris Adrian
(1912 - 1994)| Another of the blonde bombshells, her career paralleled most of the others in this category. Platinum blonde hair, chipmunk cheeks, sparkling eyes, a chorus girl figure along with a shrill, brassy dem ...Click on photo to read biography |
Thomas.B. Henry
(1907 - 1980)| Thomas Browne Henry is a perfect example of the character actors for whom this Website was created. We all know his face and we are familiar with his diverse work in films, but we did not know his nam ...Click on photo to read biography |
Richard Conte
(1910 - 1975)| He was often cast as a gangster or mafia type but his good looks afforded him many opportunities to play a variety of good guys and heroes. Early on in his career he played a variety of roles in class ...Click on photo to read biography |
Charles Hallahan
(1943 - 1997)| Another of those great, sometimes unappreciated, always very reliable character actors whose name was unknown to movie fans; he was extremely well liked by his peers. He was considered ‘an actor’s act ...Click on photo to read biography |
Colm Meaney
(1953 - )| Anyone who enjoys Star Trek recognizes this magnificent Irish face. Although he is best known by fans as Chief O’Brien of “Star Trek: the Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”, he is an ab ...Click on photo to read biography |
Robert Loggia
(1930 - )| He is one of the most consistently good character actors around today and proof of this are his numerous award nominations. He just gets better and better with age…like a fine wine. He started his act ...Click on photo to read biography |
Douglass Dumbrille
(1889 - 1974)| Another of those suave, sophisticated actors with that same look, who play civic leaders, bankers, politicians and the like; he most often played the corrupt or villainous variety. So many of these ac ...Click on photo to read biography |
Thomas Gomez
(1905 - 1971)| One of the screen’s great villains, he was a master of the hulking, edgy, malevolent henchman. Thomas Gomez was the epitome of evil in many of his roles and words like menacing, slimy, slinky, creepy, ...Click on photo to read biography |
Lyle Bettger
(1915 - 2003)| Lyle Bettger became one of the screen’s better villains, especially in westerns. Like 95% of actors, he started out in theatre and summer stock and graduated to Broadway. [Ed’s. Note: If ever there we ...Click on photo to read biography |
Richard Libertini
(1933 - )| He is one of the funniest character actors ever, and if you compiled a Top 10 List of the most hilarious character actors, Richard Libertini would be near the top. He was a tall, medium framed man wit ...Click on photo to read biography |
Chris Cooper
(1951 - )| Chris Cooper is one of the best actors working today! He plays character roles but could easily handle lead roles, and he has. He has the look of a small town person even though he was born in a major ...Click on photo to read biography |
David Clennon
(1943 - )| Another solid character actor who never gets his due or the acclaim he deserves is David Clennon. He has created quite a roster of fascinating characters in his career, mostly "everyman" types and pro ...Click on photo to read biography |
Tracey Walter
(1942 - )| If you don’t recognize this face you must have been living on Mars during the past four decades! He is one of the most recognizable character actors working today. He is the master of the creepy, scru ...Click on photo to read biography |
James.Earl Jones
(1931 - )| One of America’s most beloved stage, film & TV stars; he is both a Superstar and a character actor. He evokes a presence that makes people want to be a friend of his; to know him personally! He is exc ...Click on photo to read biography |
Lynne Overman
(1887 - 1943)| One of my favorite varieties of character actors is the loyal friend or buddy of the lead actor. Sometimes they’re wise guys, sometimes they’re clumsy and not too bright, sometimes they are strong and ...Click on photo to read biography |
Harold.J. Stone
(1913 - 2005)| He was seen on almost every TV series of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, most often in the role of a villain, a domineering patriarch, a cunning business executive or the like. A solidly built, stocky hulk of ...Click on photo to read biography |
Barbara Barrie
(1931 - )| She was one of the great TV mothers of all time yet she was not as well known as Barbara “June Cleaver” Billingsley, Harriet Nelson or Florence “Carol Brady” Henderson and others. Primarily a stage ac ...Click on photo to read biography |
Sian Phillips
(1934 - )| For anyone who first saw Sian Phillips as Livia, wife of Augustus Caesar, in the excellent mini-series “I, Claudius”, it is very difficult to shake that image of her as one of the greatest villainesse ...Click on photo to read biography |
Mason Adams
(1919 - 2005)| Mason Adams' biggest asset was his voice. He was a very good actor but his voice was something special. It is definitely one of the most memorable voices ever in show business ranking with those of Me ...Click on photo to read biography |
Brock Peters
(1927 - 2005)| His face was classic looking, almost as if it had been sculpted by a master sculptor. With its flared nostrils, intense eyes and wide mouth it was the perfect face. Not only did he have perfect looks ...Click on photo to read biography |
Vincent D'Onofrio
(1959 - )| If you bumped into Vincent D’Onofrio on the street, your first impression would be that he looks like any 30-40 yr. old you’d see in a local bar after a softball game whooping it up with his buddies. ...Click on photo to read biography |
Oliver Platt
(1960 - )| There is a reason Oliver Platt follows Vincent D’Onofrio on this Page and that is because I often confuse these two actors and/or their roles. Oliver Platt is built exactly like D’Onofrio; both are ov ...Click on photo to read biography |
Gary Oldman
(1958 - )| He is one of those chameleon-like actors who could get lost in a role. So often you had to look twice and ask, “Is that Gary Oldman?” He could play anything from a punk rocker to a classical composer ...Click on photo to read biography |
Rand Brooks
(1918 - 2003)| Pictured above in two of his best-known roles is Rand Brooks a great character actor of the 1930s, 1940s & 1950s. On the left he portrays Charles Hamilton, Scarlett O’Hara’s doomed husband in “Gone Wi ...Click on photo to read biography |
Fiona Shaw
(1958 - )| One of my recent “discoveries” is Fiona Shaw, a real gem of a character actress. Although on stage she is a lead, in films she is a wonderful supporting actor. Her versatility is evidenced in one look ...Click on photo to read biography |
Keenan Wynn
(1916 - 1986)| Even though his talents were somewhat “hereditary”, he had a style all his own. He was a “second banana” but a very good one. His forte was probably the fast-talking, glib pal of the lead actor in bot ...Click on photo to read biography |
Ed Wynn
(1886 - 1966)| Anyone who ever saw Ed Wynn will remember him. That tousled hair, that rubbery face, that fluttery voice and his kindly demeanor. The sad thing is that his, and many of these brilliant character actor ...Click on photo to read biography |
Rip Torn
(1931 - )| Long before I ever knew who Rip Torn was, I knew that name. It was, it seemed, the typical movie star alias. Much like Tab Hunter, Rock Hudson and Lash LaRue it seemed a “made up” moniker. It wasn’t u ...Click on photo to read biography |
Ed Platt
(1916 - 1974)| One of the most familiar character actors ever, he was best known for his TV role as “The Chief” on television’s “Get Smart” series which starred Don Adams. He starred on the series from 1965-1970 and ...Click on photo to read biography |
Bob Gunton
(1945 - )| There is an art to portraying villainy on the stage, screen or television. The script accounts for part of the role, but the actor must be convincing. If he is not, everything is lost. Some actors loo ...Click on photo to read biography |
Mary_Grace Canfield
(1926 - )| Although her career in the limelight was quite short, it was wonderfully memorable which merits her a place among the greats of character acting. She could be described as somewhat Ellen Corbyesque in ...Click on photo to read biography |
Paul Ford
(1901 - 1976)| This basset-hound faced actor made his way to character actor greatness in quite a unique way. He is best remembered as Col. Hall on Phil Silvers’ show “You’ll Never Get Rich”, who was the foil and vi ...Click on photo to read biography |
Michael Gambon
(1940 - )| This very saggy, but magnificent, face belongs to one of the best actors working today. Although he’s been around for quite a while, it’s only recently that I discovered his fine body of work. He is k ...Click on photo to read biography |
Noel Purcell
(1900 - 1985)| Here is a face that pops up in many a good film. Sometimes he seems more like a prop than a supporting actor but he’s a good one. This tall Irishman with the long, steel gray beard, ruddy complexion a ...Click on photo to read biography |
Francis.L Sullivan
(1903 - 1956)| Some people have the “look” of a character actor. You see them on the street or in a photograph and you think to yourself, that person looks like a character actor. Such is definitely the case with Mr ...Click on photo to read biography |
Harry.Dean Stanton
(1926 - )| One of today’s finest and most revered character actors is Harry Dean Stanton. His body of work can match any character actor’s. He appears in unusual, quirky dramas mostly and he has made a solid car ...Click on photo to read biography |
Roscoe_Lee Browne
(1925 - 2007)| Roscoe Lee Browne is not only a phenomenal actor but he is a phenomenal human being. He is one of America’s greatest actors and proof of that is his versatility, the diversity of his memorable roles a ...Click on photo to read biography |
LaWanda Page
(1920 - 2002)| While not a raging beauty, this wonderful actress had an inner beauty which she capitalized on in her portrayals. She may be classified as a “one-hit wonder”, but the key word here is ‘wonder’, and sh ...Click on photo to read biography |
Laura_Hope Crews
(1879 - 1942)| Any fan of “Gone With the Wind” will be familiar with this delightful character actress. She is best known for her role as Aunt Pittypat from that film classic. Laura Hope Crews is one of those actors ...Click on photo to read biography |
Jeremy Kemp
(1934 - )| With his sharp, stark facial features Jeremy Kemp was perfect for villainous roles, but he certainly was not a one dimensional actor. He could play a kindly professor, a church official or a heroic mi ...Click on photo to read biography |
Phil Leeds
(1916 - 1998)| He was an elfish looking little man but most endearing and kindly looking as well. His looks were his bread and butter as an actor. He was one of those who put the ‘character’ in character actor. He h ...Click on photo to read biography |
Pete Postlethwaite
(1945 - )| If you’re thinking there are no longer any great character actors around these days then you have not yet seen the likes of Pete Postlethwaite and many others on these pages. Mr. Postlethwaite is one ...Click on photo to read biography |
Jean Reno
(1948 - )| Jean Reno is an intriguing character actor to watch. The diversity of his roles makes one wonder what will come next. He can play good or bad guys and play them to the hilt. He is also quite charismat ...Click on photo to read biography |
Raf Vallone
(1916 - 2002)| Raf Vallone is one of my favorite Italian character actors. He is often compared to Burt Lancaster and to be sure, their lives are somewhat parallel. Both were quite athletic; Lancaster a circus acrob ...Click on photo to read biography |
Beulah Quo
(1923 - 2002)| She was probably the most influential Asian character actress ever. A veteran of TV and films and an actress for over 50 years she even received an Emmy nomination for an appearance on the magnificent ...Click on photo to read biography |
Rosemary Harris
(1930 - )| Some character actors we just do not get to see enough of, as they often are stage actors, part-time actors or are just forgotten by casting directors; such is the case with Rosemary Harris. In watchi ...Click on photo to read biography |
Nicholas Pryor
(1935 - )| Every once in a while we see an actor in a scene stealing role but often do not remember the name. I made a point of looking up an actor’s name after I saw a really memorable performance and trying to ...Click on photo to read biography |
Regis Toomey
(1898 - 1991)| Regis Toomey was around for a long time and he mostly appeared in action-adventure films. Most of us remember him from the latter part of his career in television. For a long time he was also the best ...Click on photo to read biography |
Charlie Grapewin
(1869 - 1956)| One of the best known ‘old coots’ in Hollywood history, he is best known for three of his roles. He played Grandpa in “The Grapes of Wrath”, Jeeter Lester in “Tobacco Road” and Uncle Henry in “The Wiz ...Click on photo to read biography |
Will Wright
(1891 - 1962)| Not much has been written about Will Wright but one look at him and any real movie fan will recognize this familiar face. Another of the old codger types, he was a staple in many films and on early TV ...Click on photo to read biography |
Lawrence Tierney
(1919 - 2002)| One of the longer careers in Hollywood was that of Lawrence Tierney. It was interrupted occasionally for various reasons such as illness, his hard-living lifestyle and Hollywood’s aversion towards age ...Click on photo to read biography |
Richard Deacon
(1922 - 1984)| He was one of the most recognizable character actors of the 1960s and 70s. Often referred to as a second banana, he was adept at playing the pompous, smug, overbearing type whether it be a boss, co-wo ...Click on photo to read biography |
Nancy Kulp
(1921 - 1991)| She was definitely an original. Although she portrayed the homely, spinster, secretary type, she was actually quite the opposite in reality. She was somewhat attractive with very striking features and ...Click on photo to read biography |
Bruce Dern
(1936 - )| We don’t often think of Bruce Dern as a character actor probably because in his prime he played lead roles more often. In fact, he is the epitome of a character actor and has played some despicably ev ...Click on photo to read biography |
Patricia Hitchcock
(1928 - )| I’ve always been a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan, but then who isn’t. As a youngster I remember seeing this fascinating character; a wide-eyed, innocent, younger woman in his films and thinking she’s real ...Click on photo to read biography |
Fred_D. Thompson
(1942 - )| He was extremely good at playing politicians and authoritative characters: government officials, lawyers, law officers and military men. There may be a good reason for this other than his fine acting ...Click on photo to read biography |
Will Geer
(1902 - 1978)| Not only was he one of the great character actors, he was also a real-life character and an American original. Although he will always be remembered as Grandpa Walton of “The Waltons” TV series, he cr ...Click on photo to read biography |
James Cromwell
(1940 - )| He had a very kindly, amiable look about him yet he could play the vilest villain as easily as he did the kindly Farmer Hoggett in “Babe” the film that was his breakthrough into the mainstream of film ...Click on photo to read biography |
John Wood
(1930 - )| If you see this name in the credits of a movie, play or TV production you can be guaranteed of at least one memorable or astounding performance. Even though he has been around since the 1950s, he has ...Click on photo to read biography |
Herbert Anderson
(1917 - 1994)| This bespectacled actor was around for a long time and was one of the busiest actors of the 1940s and 50s. Although he’ll always best be known as Henry Mitchell, the father of Dennis, on the “Dennis t ...Click on photo to read biography |
Michael Jeter
(1952 - 2003)| Although he was a small, slightly nerdish looking fellow, Michael Jeter was a born scene-stealer. On top of that he was an excellent actor who created wonderfully complex and heartwarming characters. ...Click on photo to read biography |
Stellan Skarsgard
(1951 - )| Some actors can elevate a film just by appearing in it. William Holden, Humphrey Bogart, Steve McQueen and Liam Neeson come to mind just to name a few. Such is the case with Stellan Skarsgard. It is b ...Click on photo to read biography |
Florence Roberts
(1861 - 1940)| Florence Roberts was the perfect example of the kind of character actors I liked most. She was the epitome of a grandmotherly type and looked as if she’d been carved by a sculptor as a knick-knack of ...Click on photo to read biography |
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