by BrokeDog on January 6th, 2008

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Name the 5 best "character actors" of all time! They can be either male or female.

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Answers. 31 helpful answers below.

by Lemonyellow Di Vintage on May 29th, 2008
John Turturro
Harry Dean Stanton
M. Emmet Walsh
Walter Brennan
John Malkovich
Comments
- I noticed that several of you have named mostly modern actors and one classic, such as your Walter Brennan. What's up with that? I'm 60 and probably the first latch key child given a television set to keep me busy, so the list of character actors that I've seen, mostly on that tv for the older ones, would fill an encyclopedia. Still, there were a few that you guys have listed that I've never heard of, although I might have seen their performances and not noticed their names.
  
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  by ryunkin on May 29th, 2008
- Excellent list, Doc, especially Stanton and Walsh!
  
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  by BrokeDog on May 29th, 2008
- not one women or hermaphrodite
  
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  by haggis on May 30th, 2008
- You know how I hate women. And I never pay attention to Television actors.
  
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  by Lemonyellow Di Vintage on May 30th, 2008
- :(
  
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  by haggis on May 30th, 2008
- The woman I was going to add has already been mentioned so :P
  
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  by Lemonyellow Di Vintage on May 30th, 2008
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by ryunkin on May 29th, 2008
I think most of you are younger than I am by the actors you've chosen for your answers. But to choose the really great characters on film you have to go back to the people who started it all and go back to the 30s and 40s. Character actors are basically actors who support the leads and do so without the panache of the stars. They do, however, capture your attention by being what their title implies, characters. A Dusin Hoffman, for example, could not be considered a character actor because he does not exude a single character's personality on the screen. He is simply a great actor. Steve Buscemi, however, is a character actor in the traditional sense because his "character" is instantly recognizable and he has most of the credentials for being one (The character actor's credentials are: he or she must be amusing to look at---Peter Lorre---or have a distinctive appearance---George Macready---possess a sense of comedy---James Gleason and many others---and possess marvelous acting skills).

Having said that, my favorite character actors are Peter Lorre, Sidney Greenstreet, George Macready
Comments
- I have to defer to your knowledge of the "older" character actors, because I don't watch many movies from the 30's, 40's, and 50's, etc.. But, I will agree on the FANTASTIC character actor Steve Buscemi! He should have been on my list!
  
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  by BrokeDog on June 3rd, 2008
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by Dee Dee just havin some fun on February 14th, 2008
Scarlet O'Hara I love her.
Darth Vader
Captin James Kirk
Spong bob
Hannibal Lecter
Comments
- Not sure about "SpongeBob", but I could handle the rest! Thanks again, D.D.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on February 15th, 2008
- These are all characters. The question asked about actors.
  
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  by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
- Admiral Sir John is right, I asked for character actors, not just one role that they may have played. With the exception of Sponge Bob of course, because I didn't include voice overs in my question.
  
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  by ryunkin on May 29th, 2008
- True, but there are some good voice actors that would fit:
  .
  Mark Hamil
  Michael Dorn
  Michael Ironside
  Will Friedle
  (and the list goes on...)
  .
  +6 for a nice try. :)
  
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  by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
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by Anonymous on January 7th, 2008
1.Stellan Skarsgård
2.Frank Whaley
3.Peter Stormare
4.Dylan Baker
5.William Atherton/Paul Gleason
Comments
- Great list, Ayten! Especially Stormare and Skarsgard! Thanks!
  
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  by BrokeDog on January 7th, 2008
- Stellan Skargard sounds familiar. Was he the lead in the Swedish version of Insomnia? If so, I agree with you, he is a great character actor in two languages. But then, Peter Lorre was a great actor in three, Hungarian, German and English and did a credible Japanese accent in the Mr. Moto series.
  
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  by ryunkin on May 29th, 2008
- Yep, he was also in "King Arthur" with Clive Owen, and "Glass Houses", with LeeLee Sobieski (I believe).
  
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  by BrokeDog on June 16th, 2008
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by Slipshod Wombat and Co. on January 6th, 2008
1. Mario from Mario Bros
2. Toad from Mario Bros
3. Master Chief/ Spartan 117 from Halo
4. Baird from Gears of War
5. Mario Lopez
Comments
- LoL! I agree with Mario and Master Chief, but the others ... naw.
  
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  by BrokeDog on January 6th, 2008
- These are all characters, not actors. The question asked about actors.
  
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  by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
- The Prefontaine avatar caught my eye.
  
  And Drops of Jupiter is a sweet song.
  
  So, there you go.
  
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  by PharFigNewton on May 29th, 2008
- yep thats Pre. and drops of jupiter is great
  
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  by Slipshod Wombat and Co. on May 29th, 2008
- What events do you usually run? 1600 or 3200?
  
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  by PharFigNewton on May 29th, 2008
- both, and the 800
  
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  by Slipshod Wombat and Co. on May 29th, 2008
- Back in the 50s there was a television show, a mystery I believe, where two beatniks are smoking grass and listening the needle of a hi fi go tunelessly around and around at the end of a record. Stoned the point of oblivion, one beatnik says to the other, "I dig the beat but I can't quite get the melody." J
  
  I've returned to those golden days of yesteryear because, judging from what you consider to be character actors, the movies that you watch must be similar to the record the beatniks thought they were listening to.
  
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  by ryunkin on May 29th, 2008
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by Ed the Jetpacking Headbanger on June 16th, 2008
5. Gabby Hayes
4. Andy Devine
3. Anne Ramsey
2. Keenan Wynn
1. Denver Pyle
Comments
- Thanks, Big Ed!
  
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  by BrokeDog on June 16th, 2008
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by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
William H. Macy (the best contemporary character actor, IMHO)
Roddy McDowell (my favorite of all time)
Vaughn Armstrong (he's been more aliens in Trek than anybody else)
Kathy Bates
Forrest Whittaker
Morgan Freeman

(Okay, so that was six...)
Comments
- Good list.
  
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  by Barcaluv on May 29th, 2008
- Thanks. I have a few others, but the question asked for five.
  Most of them are the ones you see on all kinds of TV shows...
  
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  by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
- They're all good choices, only not mine.
  
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  by ryunkin on May 29th, 2008
- Macy, Whitaker, and Freeman (sometimes considered a "lead" actor), are all GREAT actors! Great choices, Admiral!
  
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  by BrokeDog on June 3rd, 2008
- Thanks. I added Freeman more for his ability to play a variety of types, rather than whether he was a lead or not. He's won as many awards as a supporting actor as he has a lead.
  
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  by Anonymous on June 3rd, 2008
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by SomewhatDamaged23 on May 29th, 2008
1) Basil Fawlty: Fawlty Towers
2) Professor Snape: Harry Potter
3) Stewie Griffin: Family Guy
4) Niles Crane: Frasier
5) Frank Spencer: Some Mothers Do Have 'Em
Comments
- The question wanted actors, not characters.
  
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  by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
- Yep, seems the question was easily misunderstood. A few points for answering, tho', Somewhat!
  
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  by BrokeDog on June 3rd, 2008
- Thnku =)
  
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  by SomewhatDamaged23 on June 4th, 2008
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by car audio crazy on May 29th, 2008
Captin Jack Sparrow
quagmire- from family guy
peter griffen- from family guy
stewie griffen- from family guy
philip fry- from futurama
bender- from futurama
meatwad- from auqa teen hunger force
fry lock- from auqa teen hunger force
master shake- from auqa teen hunger force
Comments
- The question wanted actors, not characters.
  
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  by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
- Thanks for answering, C.a.C.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on June 3rd, 2008
- your welcome but Admiral Sir John gave me negative 3 points for my answer. i think that he did that to alot of people who answered your question.
  
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  by car audio crazy on June 3rd, 2008
- I, personally, don't use the down-rate. After all, most answers are opinions anyway. Yet, to each his own, and I will respect that. I did give you points, tho', because I ALWAYS give points if someone takes the time to answer my questions, even if I don't agree. However, I will down-rate if an answer is mean, filthy, or just otherwise obnoxious. But, I DO realize, my opinion is in the minority on AB.
  
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  by BrokeDog on June 3rd, 2008
- The only reason I downrated was because you clearly answered a question that was not asked.
  
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  by Anonymous on June 3rd, 2008
- then you tell me what a character actor is. because to me its what i gave as my answer. Captian Jack Sparrow is a Character Actor
  
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  by car audio crazy on June 4th, 2008
- No, Captain Jack Sparrow is a CHARACTER. Sir John Gielgud was a character ACTOR. It's the guy who playes the part, not the part itself.
  
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  by Anonymous on June 4th, 2008
- The proper answer would have Johnny Depp who played Captain Jack Sprarrow which was probably the most brilliantly creative character of his career and he's had quite a few.
  
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  by ryunkin on June 16th, 2008
- Correct, though I wouldn't rate Johnny Depp as a character actor. He's too often the lead actor, rather than the "hey, it's that guy" kind of role.
  
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  by Anonymous on June 16th, 2008
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by labeeb xaman on January 6th, 2008
It's hard to find out only 5 from ANY category in the world. I'd just mention some that I can remember from games.
lara croft
father vincent- silent hill 3
james sunderland- silent hill 2
lucas kane- indigo prophecy/fahrenhiet
agent 47- hitman series
Comments
- It looks like some may have misunderstood ... I meant movies. But, as far as video games ... Hitman is tops!
  
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  by BrokeDog on January 6th, 2008
- These are all characters, not actors.
  
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  by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
- uh oh. I guess it's ok w/ Brokedog :)
  
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  by labeeb xaman on May 29th, 2008
- Apparently.
  
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  by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
- You're right, I asked for character actors, not characters, but even so, how can anyone lump the straight to video Father Vincent of Silent Hill 3 with Joe Cairo?
  
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  by ryunkin on May 29th, 2008
- Indeed. If we were listing game characters, I'd have to put Ken Rosenberg (GTA) at the top of my list.
  
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  by Anonymous on May 29th, 2008
- I thought I asked the question?
  
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  by BrokeDog on May 29th, 2008
- You did... so who's this ryunkin, taking credit for it?
  
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  by Anonymous on May 30th, 2008
- wow, silent hill is a great series and finally another who knows about indigo prophecy seriously the best game ever.
  
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  by clasherguy on February 11th, 2010
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by lizvelrene on January 6th, 2008
Depends on how you define Character Actor: some people use that to mean Actor Who Isn't Handsome Enough To Be A Leading Man But Is Nonetheless Very Talented. ;)

These are my picks, although I'll probably think of a bunch more later:

1) Steve Buscemi
2) Tilda Swinton
3) Peter Lorre
4) Forrest Whitaker
5) Kathy Bates

Edited to add: Don Cheadle, William H. Macy, Garret Dillahunt (tv actor, look him up - you know him)
Comments
- Oh man, I forgot Forrest Whitaker! Very, very good choices, Lizzy!
  
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  by BrokeDog on January 6th, 2008
- I agree, Good choices.
  
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  by Barcaluv on May 29th, 2008
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by BrokeDog on January 6th, 2008
Mine are:

Brian Cox - The Bourne Identity movies & The Ring
John Hawkes - The Perfect Storm & X-Files
John C. Reilly - Casualties of War & Boogie Nights
Veronica Cartwright - Alien & X-Files
Patricia Clarkson - The Station Agent & The Dead Pool
William Fichtner - Prison break & Armageddon

All great in their own way, and all have an extensive collection of work! And, I must say, (for honorable mention), as a foreign actor, Rade Serbedzija, (of "Space Cowboys" and "Mission Impossible II" fame) has an outstanding body of work!

P.S. I totally forgot Leon - from "Cliffhanger" and Joe Morton - from "Terminator 2" and "Speed I & II"! Once you start, you can't stop with these fine actors who may never be considered leading men/women.
Comments
- Oh, good picks! I love John C. Reilly, he's so underrated, and Patricia Clarkson is great.
  
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  by lizvelrene on January 6th, 2008
- Thanks, Lizzy!
  
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  by BrokeDog on January 6th, 2008
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by Demonica on June 16th, 2008
Trevor Moore
Tracy Morgan
Keenan Ivory Wayans
Michael McDonald
Mo Collins
Comments
- Thanks, D.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on August 6th, 2008
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by Shadow is Gone on June 16th, 2008
"Walter Brennan"
"Marjorie Main"
"Mary Wickes"
"Claude Akins"
"Chill Wills"
Comments
- Man ... EXCELLENT list ... especially Brennan and Wills! Thanks, Shadow!
  
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  by BrokeDog on August 6th, 2008
- My pleasure, Brokedog, it brought back some fond memories.
  
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  by Shadow is Gone on August 6th, 2008
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by elskwared on June 16th, 2008
In no particular order:

Ruth Gordon
John Candy
Stephen Root
Christopher Walken
Thelma Ritter
Comments
- Another GREAT list ... Thanks, E.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on August 6th, 2008
- you're welcome :)
  
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  by elskwared on August 6th, 2008
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by WesD on June 16th, 2008
1-Paul Giamatti

2-Brian Cox

3-Tim Roth

4-James Cromwell

5-Tom Wilkinson
Comments
- Great list, W.D.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on August 6th, 2008
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by Merfish on May 29th, 2008
...
Comments
- Michael Keaton isn't considered a character actor. He was, for most of his career a leading man. The rest are good choices.
  
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  by ryunkin on May 29th, 2008
- Did you remove your list?
  
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  by BrokeDog on August 6th, 2008
- Yup. I chose not to leave my list after being chided. Michael Keaton has done character roles. He was very good in them. As a leading man he is not that great of an actor. My opinion.
  
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  by Merfish on August 6th, 2008
- Oh ... I'm sorry you were chided on my question. I like Michael Keaton, myself, especially in "Night Shift". He seemed to have more fun acting when he was younger! Thanks, Merf!
  
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  by BrokeDog on August 6th, 2008
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by Gordon Gekko on July 22nd, 2009
1. M. Emmet Walsh
2. J.T. Walsh
3. Paul Dooley
4. John Goodman
5. Brian Cox
Comments
- Excellent list, Gekko!
  
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  by BrokeDog on July 23rd, 2009
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by Anonymous on June 15th, 2009
Add Roy Scheider. He was a legend!
Comments
- Yep ... Princess Flip-flop noticed that oversight, too. Thanks for answering, Anon!
  
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  by BrokeDog on June 15th, 2009
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by PrincessFlipFlop on June 4th, 2009
I just have one name to add to everyone's list: ROY SCHEIDER!

Known for playing mostly cops, his humble performance seldom receives the attention it deserves!!
Comments
- Thank you, princess F.F.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on June 4th, 2009
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by Pete on January 16th, 2009
Peter Lorre, James Earl Jones, Gary Oldman, Charles Durning, Maggie Smith
Comments
- Excellent, Pete! Thanks for your answer!
  
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  by BrokeDog on January 17th, 2009
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by NeverWas on November 29th, 2008
John Turturro
Christopher Walken
Vincent Price
Johnny Depp
Tim Curry
Comments
- Tho' Depp was probably considered more of a "lead" actor, he does play alot of weird characters! And, I had forgotten about Walken, who is maybe one of the best character actors! Thanks, N.W.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on November 29th, 2008
- True of the Johnny Depp front. He has become a lead actor but has still does excellent characters, and occasionally takes a supporting role and does it well: Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Chocolat.
  
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  by NeverWas on November 30th, 2008
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by skyshroud on November 29th, 2008
Christopher Walken
Vincent Price
Johnny Depp
Heath Ledger
John Travolta
Comments
- A couple of "lead" actors in there, but definite points for Walken! Thanks, S.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on November 29th, 2008
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by anonymous on November 29th, 2008
Johnny Depp.
Heath ledger
Adam Sandler
Angelina Jolie
Tom Hanks
Comments
- I consider your list a "top 5" of "lead" actors, but all excellent, anyway! Thanks for your answer, Frog!
  
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  by BrokeDog on November 29th, 2008
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by Anonymous on November 29th, 2008
1.samuel L. jackson That movie where he had to keep calling a man, from a payphone. I forgot the name.

2.angelina jolie in the movie where she was a model and she messed up by using. I forgot the name of that one.
3.penelope cruz-Vanilla sky
4.oprah -in the color purple
5.Zac Efron-High school musical
Comments
- The Jolie movie was "Gia", (I believe), and maybe the Jackson movie was the 3rd "Die Hard" movie (?), I'm not sure. Alot of "lead" actors on your list, but thank you for answering, A.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on November 29th, 2008
- what is a character actor?
  
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  by Anonymous on November 29th, 2008
- Usually someone who plays a prominent role but that is not the "lead" actor, or actress. Someone who seems to always be the best friend, or the Dad, or Mom, or the secondary police detective. I probably should have "worded" the question better, because probably half of the answers I got were for "specific roles" an actor played, or for leading actors/actresses.
  But, I loved all the responses, anyway!
  
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  by BrokeDog on November 29th, 2008
- oh ok, thanks. but I have a few in mind, but Don't know there real names. That does sounds familiar know "Gia" you have a good memory
  
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  by Anonymous on November 29th, 2008
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by samareene on November 24th, 2008
Al Pacino
Robert De Niro
Isabelle Adjani
Gad Elmaleh
Marion Cotillard
Comments
- Thanks, S.! I LOVE Isabelle Adjani!
  
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  by BrokeDog on November 24th, 2008
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by Anonymous on November 9th, 2008
Tom Hanks- Forest Gump
Gregory Peck- To Kill A Mockingbird
Heath Ledger- The Dark Night
Gary Cooper- The Pride of The Yankees
Tatum O'Neal- Paper Moon

Bonus*** Jessica Alba- Into The Blue (For non-acting reasons)
Comments
- Good list, M.! I liked Cooper a little better in "High Noon", but "Pride" was great, too!
  
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  by BrokeDog on November 10th, 2008
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by KP43ww on November 9th, 2008
Anthony Hopkins--Red Dragon--Hannibal Lector
Russel Crowe--Gladiator--Maximus Decimus Meridius
Nicholas Cage & John Travolta--Face Off--Castor Troy
Denzel Washington--Training Day--Alonzo
Tom Hanks--Forrest Gump
Comments
- Thank you, K.P.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on November 24th, 2008
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by Daytona79 on August 29th, 2008
Tom Hanks
Denzel Washington
Kevin Costner
Kevin James
Adam Sandler
Comments
- Tho' most would be considered "lead" actors, it is still an excellent list! Thanks, D-79!
  
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  by BrokeDog on August 29th, 2008
- No problem at all. Those are my fav
  
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  by Daytona79 on August 29th, 2008
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by jemroid on August 6th, 2008
pheobe
rachel
monica
joey
ross
Comments
- Points for good "characters". Thanks, J.!
  
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  by BrokeDog on August 6th, 2008
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by anonymous on November 29th, 2008
Haha, guess I Shoulda done my homework. I just wrote my fav. actors/actresses.
Comments
- It was an excellent list anyway! ;)
  
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  by BrokeDog on November 29th, 2008
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Question

Name the 5 best "character actors" of all time! They can be either male or female.

Answers. 31 helpful answers below.

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