What is meant by "character actor"? Aren't all actors "character actors?"?

Question

All actors play a character, but many are referred to as "character actors." (Example, Bruno Kirby who just passed away). What do they mean by this? What's the difference between a character actor and a plain ol' actor?

Answer 1

They are the actors in a piece other than the main leading stars.
They fill in the canvas and make the picture, or play work.
Many leading actors also take on character rolls, and many actors become very well known by filling out a character within a piece extremely well. That’s where the term comes from.
Have you ever seen a move, or play, where the plot, or even the acting wasn't that good and still remember how real another roll was? That's a great character actor. The great ones will create a roll you will even remember even in a great play, or film.
I hope this helps in your understanding of what a character actor is and how vital they are to our enjoyment of out entertainment.

Answer 2

What Is A Character Actor

Answer 3

Well a character actor is an actor who plays unique interesting roles they usually aren't leading roles but very memorable maybe more memorable than the lead role and leave an impression on viewers of the film a great example of this would be Courtney Gains who played malachai in children of the corn(1984) he wasn't the main character but he's one of the most memorable characters from the film another example would be when Courtney Gains played in The Burbs(1988) as Hans Klopek opposite Tom Hanks. Hope this helped sorry so late. 😃

Answer 4

Everyone makes character actors seem to be a negative thing, but in actuality, character actors have the more difficult roles. The roles usually require a lot of energy and stamina. A character actor is someone who plays outlandish characters. Characters that are over-the-top and they are larger than life opposed to the realism that straight actors play.

Answer 5

Well character actors tend to use the same or similar characters in almost every preformance (mostly theatre). Often they play mostly supporting roles instead of lead roles. (kind of like that crazy guy who always appears in Adam Sandlers movies)
They are not often seen playing a character outside of their normal one. That is what often seperates a character actor from a lead actor. They lack the diversity of a lead actor, their ability to play many different types of roles. sometimes they have the ability, but just aren't cast in those roles (this is called type casting).

Answer 6

A character actor is an actor who predominantly performs supporting parts, often in similar roles throughout the course of a career. While some actors aspire to leading man or leading lady status, many notable actors have had enduring careers in less prominent, but important and memorable character parts. Character roles run the gamut from bit parts to secondary leads.

Answer 7

The term "character" actor is better understood in contrast with the terms "leading man" and "leading lady." To be a "leading" player (of either gender) requires a certain kind of look/physicality. Not so with "character" actors, who can be any shape, size, or age.

Bruno is a good example. Not conventionally good-looking, and with a somewhat high voice (and East coast accent)...he made a great career out of playing interesting supporting roles, but was rarely (if ever) the MAIN focus in his films.

Answer 8

As I understand it, if an actor is called a "character actor", then they are being criticized for always playing the same character, or characters that are very similar. For example, if you thought Adam Sandler's characters in Water Boy, Billy Madison, and Happy Gilmore were essentially the same character you might call him a character actor.

Answer 9

A character actor is an actor who really puts everything into the character they are playing.

Example: Charlize Theron in Monster

Answer 10

Yes an actor portrays a character but a character actor is one that usually does not get a leading role and therefore is playiing the Charactor of the "dumb guy" Or the mis fit the nerd the stereo type figure.