What does it mean when an actor is called a "character actor"?

Question

And can you give me some examples?

Answer 1

A 'character actor' is one who plays a particular type or style role. John Wayne's image was one of the 'hero' type. He was bigger than life. You never saw him play a romantic lead because he was big, bulky, always in a lot of action, fighting, the guy who was always telling others what to do, etc. While there were love interests in most of his movies, he was awkward at playing a man in love with the leading lady. Character actors play one type of 'character' better than any other, so they are almost always cast in that type of role. Michael Landon is another ... he always played a 'good guy'.

Answer 2

J. Carroll Nash is the greatest character actor.

A character actor is an actor who predominantly performs in similar roles throughout the course of a career. While some actors aspire to leading man or leading woman 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 3

A character actor is not the star or star quality by someone's standards but I know not who. Morgan Freeman is an excellent character actor whose part is intregal to a movie and the plot and who supports the stars by giving credence to the story. Many of these actors are so talented and so capable of playing any kind of role that it is hard to remember their names even though every time you see them you think: "Oh! I like this guy, he's really good."
Forgive my gender indescretion but this applies to female actors as well. Dennis Weaver as Chester in gunsmoke was a character actor who did achieve stardom. Many other never did or will but be excellent in westerns, crime, military, thriller or drama because of the wide range they posess. I think they are the heart and soul of the film industry.

Answer 4

This will be tricky narrowing these down since I have so many favorites who add wonderful bits on TV and film: Bingo O'Malley Carmen Filpi David Patrick Kelly~His name might be more recognizable thanks to two great roles that gave him more time on the screen. I'm sure that some will know him. Alice Drummond Charles Lane Dick Miller~This is another name that might ring bells with film fans. Clara Blandick~Everyone should know who she is since she has a very important role in one of the best-known films of all time. Conchata Ferrell Kathleen Freeman James Hong Victor Wong Mickey Jones Dennis Burkley M. Emmet Walsh J.T. Walsh Spring Byington William Sylvester Una O'Connor Kristoffer Tabori Julie Bovasso Irene Tedrow Shane Briant Richard Lynch~Sadly, he's never achieve leading man status, but he certainly makes a wonderful villain, always quite elegant except for maybe the sequel to "Alligator". Ajay Naidu Beth Grant Olin Howlin Chief Dan George~Again, some may recognize his name. Strother Martin~Over time, he actually became quite recognizable to people, and he even got to star in a movie that is on my favorites list, one that most people either hate or haven't seen. Percy Helton Eric Christmas Matt Clark Fritz Feld Deep Roy Billy Barty Rutanya Alda Henry Kingi (Sr.) Roberts Blossom William Finley~This is another person who has had a lead role but remains unrecognized. Peter Dinklage Kathleen Wilhoite~With her recurring role on a popular series, perhaps she's picked up some fans. I've been one since "Witchboard", in which her "Just a little psychic humor!" line branded her into my consciousness.

Answer 5

Character actor
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A character actor is an actor who predominantly performs in similar roles throughout the course of a career. While some actors aspire to leading man or leading woman 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.


[edit] Definition
Typically, character actors lack some of the stereotypical physical attributes associated with stars. Many older actors and actresses find their access to lead roles limited by age. Similarly, actors from marginalized or minority groups such as those belonging to minority racial groups, women, or transsexuals were often barred from roles for which they were otherwise suited; some found work performing stereotypes. A character actor is usually playing a character who doesn't go through a major change in the course of the movie. They tend to help the leading character acquire the major change that always occurs to him/her. Actors from outside of the US may be famous in their own countries but find themselves limited in the United States under the strict unofficial guidelines of Hollywood casting; Marcel Dalio, Cantinflas and Jet Li illustrate this. Some character actors have distinctive voices or accents which in the opinion of casting directors limit their suitability for most leading roles; actors such as James Earl Jones, Selma Diamond and Julie Kavner have been able to turn this to their advantage, often in voice-over work. Sometimes character actors have developed careers because they had specific talents that are required in genre films, such as dancing, horsemanship or swimming ability. Many up-and-coming actors simply find themselves typecast in character roles due to an early success with a particular part or in a certain genre like the late J.T. Walsh, who crafted a career of playing villainous characters.

See stock character and commedia dell'arte for a discussion of theatrical traditions.

Some character actors play essentially the same character over and over, as with Andy Devine's humorous but resourceful sidekick or Dennis Farina's tough cop / gangster, while other actors, such as Laurence Olivier, have the capacity of submerging themselves in any role they play.

Answer 6

Usually it refers to an actor who plays one type of role without being the star of the movie. They might have supporting roles rather than the lead. Here's a source that goes into it in more depth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_actor

Answer 7

these are the breed of actor that transforms into the character and they play like a chameleon. they dont play the same persona in every film they do. the actors I admire are like Robert deniro, Dustin Hoffman and Johnny Depp. wherelse actors like Jacky chan, Stallone or Eddie Murphy play the same persona in all their movies of different titles they star in.

Answer 8

It means they can do Sitcoms or small part in movies, Like always playing a bad guy or good guy. That is character acting.

Answer 9

i think that's when they always play the same charachter in every movie just with a different name, you know what I mean? like maybe they're always in action movies or teen movies...like Harrison Ford maybe....

Answer 10

it means your a charector that is acting.