Character actor

"That guy" redirects here. For the New Zealand comedian also known as "That Guy", seeLeigh Hart.

ActorClaude Rains(right) was sometimes a leading actor, sometimes a character actor, often cast as a sophisticated, sometimes "morally ambiguous" man.

Acharacter actoris an actor known for playing unusual, eccentric or interestingcharactersinsupporting roles,rather than leading ones.The term is somewhat abstract and open to interpretation.While all actors play "characters",the 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 also be one who specializes in minor roles.

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. Character actor roles are more substantial thanbit partsor non-speakingextras.The term is used primarily to describe television and film actors, as opposed to theater actors.An early use of the term was in the 1883 edition ofThe Stage,which defined a character actor as "one who portrays individualities and eccentricities".Actors with a long career history of playing character roles may be difficult for audiences to recognize as being the same actor.

Overview

Character actressMargaret Hamilton(left) in real life was a "sweet, gentle woman" who even taught kindergarten prior to working on Broadway and Hollywood, which was different from her on-screen persona of theWicked Witchin the 1939 filmThe Wizard of Oz.

In contrast toleading actors,they are generally seen as less glamorous.While a leading actor often has thephysical attractivenessconsidered necessary to play thelove interest,a character actor typically does not. In fact, some character actors are known for their unusual looks. For example, Chicago character actor William Schutz's face was disfigured in a car accident when he was five years old, but his appearance after reconstructive surgery helped him to be distinctive to theater audiences.Generally, the names of character actors are not featured prominently in movie and television advertising on themarquee,since a character actor's name is not expected to attract film audiences.Some character actors have been described as instantly recognizable despite their names being little known.They are colloquially referred to as "that guy",or "that guy" actors,as in the 2014 documentaryThat Guy Dick Miller;with a prime example of a "that guy" actor beingJohn Carroll Lynch.

Over the course of an acting career, an actor can sometimes shift between leading roles and supporting roles.Some leading actors, as they get older, find that access to leading roles is limited by their age. Sometimes character actors have developed careers based on specific talents needed in genre films, such as dancing, horsemanship, acrobatics, swimming ability, or bo xing.Many up-and-coming actors find themselvestypecastin character roles due to an early success with a particular part or in a certain genre, such that the actor becomes so strongly identified with a particular type of role that casting directors and theatrical agents steer the actor to similar roles. Some character actors are known as "chameleons", able to play roles that vary wildly, such asGary OldmanandChristian Bale.

Many character actors tend to play the same type of role throughout their careers,such asHarvey Keitelas tough, determined characters;Christopher Lloydas eccentrics;Claude Rainsas sophisticated, sometimes morally ambiguous men;Abe Vigodaas aging criminals;Fairuza Balkas moodygothgirls;Doug Jonesas non-human creatures; andForest Whitakeras composed characters with underlying volatility.Ed Lauterusually portrayed a menacing figure because of his "long, angular face", which was easily recognized in public, although audiences rarely knew his name.Character actors can play a variety of types, such as thefemme fatale,gunslinger,sidekick,town drunk,villain,hooker with a heart of gold,and many others.Prolific character actors, such asMargo Martindale,are rarely out of work, and they often have long careers that span decades.They are often highly esteemed by fellow actors.

See also

• Commedia dell'arte
• Stock character
• Typecasting

Further reading

• Quinlan, David(1995).Quinlan's Illustrated Directory of Film Character Actors.USA: Batsford Press.ISBN0713470402.
• Voisin, Scott (2009).Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting.BearManor Media.ISBN978-1-59393-342-5.