With streaming channels and cable slots on the rise, roles for male character actors are plentiful. However, this surge in opportunities also means tough competition among talented character actors. You know them - those guys who pop up in one thing and another, yet their names remain elusive. These Hollywood character actors deliver memorable performances in bit parts and supporting roles. Who are the best? Most actors don't set out to be character actors; they simply want to act. As their careers unfold, time and taste determine whether they'll become leading men or excel in supporting roles. While many character actors shine today and have in the past, we're focusing on the most well-known of the lesser-known. To narrow it down, we had to make some tough calls, like a casting agent or judge.
About this list
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He played the artist, the politician, the minster, and the devil. He did all these with masterful skill.
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Wright’s talent is unmatched and goes largely unnoticed. He performed as Valentin Narcisse on "Boardwalk Empire".Boardwalk EmpireHe played the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat decades ago. He remains one of the best actors working now.
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You need a tough guy? A military guy? An Old West varmint? A fixer? He played them all.
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Welliver pulled a rare crossover. He moved from a character actor role to a show lead in the Amazon series.BoschHe began in 1990. That shows what an overnight success looks like.
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He brings an understated quality to his characters. These results are often hilarious. His deadpan is so deadpan; you get the joke long after the show ends. The joke shows on his face.
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Balaban gets called often. He has rarely stopped working since the 1960s. He also directs. No one here seems lazy.
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He twists characters like no other actor. He adds depth to the cop, the street boss, the slave, the pastor, the professor, and the entrepreneur.
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His Omar onThe Wireand Chalky White onBoardwalk EmpireThese roles let us watch again and again. Williams adds power and layers to every character. He leaves an impression after the credits finish.
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He has been stoic, heartbreaking, hilarious, and chilling. Once the focus shifts, everyone recognizes this man in gray.
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Jenkins moves between drama and comedy edges with skill. You barely notice until it hits you. He used his authority figure looks for comedy advantage opposite Bradley Whitford inThe Cabin in the WoodsJenkins handles drama well. His work in "The Visitor, God’s Pocket" and "Olive Kitteridge" shows this.The Visitor, God’s Pocket, andOlive KitteridgeJenkins makes it look easy. Few actors come close to what he does.
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His comedy skills took him from Seinfeld's doorway to a worried (but funny) father in a '90s teen movie, a Christopher Guest favorite, and many recurring TV roles.
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Larry Miller appears often inChristopher Guest filmsLarry Miller has had roles on countless television series. His comedy always stayed memorable, even if you could not place his name. He is also friends with Jerry Seinfeld.
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It is a long walk from the squad car back to the front seat, and this actor played both. He was the moral compass and the sign of doom. He always looks electrifying.
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How many cheered when you saw Tuco answer that door during the second part of the premiere ofBetter Call Saul? Right?! Cruz grew up in Los Angeles streets, and his neighborhood might as well have been the set ofThe WireRaymond Cruz reads classics and absorbs life as a kid. He draws deep resources to bring his characters to life with total reality.
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From cops to voodoo priests, this actor shows a wide range. He plays the serious type well, but he is also wickedly funny.
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We trust Lance Reddick so much. If he told us to jump off a cliff, we would likely do it. Reddick has that power. He does not always play the guy with the gun or the badge; Reddick plays many roles.
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He does not fear playing the bad guy. He plays the role perfectly. He can portray many shades of darkness.He shows shades of darkness.Christian Grey should study him. See what we did there? He plays dramatic roles with heartbreaking subtlety.
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Oh, Denis, we always loved you. But when you, as ancient vampire Russell Edgington on True Blood,True Blood.He ripped out the news anchor’s spinal column and threw it to the weather. You earned a spot in our hearts. “Now, time for the weather. Tiffany?” Guy has skills. O'Hare shows many abilities.
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Trust him. He is a doctor, agent, lawyer, scientist… this actor makes you believe almost anything.
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Emmerich went to Yale. That is surprising since his most valued quality is reality. He is so convincing. We must be careful about what we listen to. According to his character Dr. Edwin Jenner at the CDC onThe Walking Dead.Abandon all hope. Well... crap.
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He is the mouthy war vet running for office onVeep.He plays the hopeful dad onFresh Off the Boat.He plays North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un inThe Interview.He acts like a Katy Perry-loving baller.
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Randall Park constantly finds new ways to show Asians on film and TV. He has serious and comic acting skills. To help you win trivia, Park is of Korean ancestry (he was born in Los Angeles, though).
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This actor moves you with one sad look. He turns that look into a shiver-inducing cringe. He played the good guy husband to Marge Gunderson onFargo.He messed with our heads as a clown.
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John Carroll Lynch plays His Twisty the Clown on.John Carroll Lynch stars in American Horror Story.His characters range from a gentle schlub to a troubled detective. Lynch disappears into any role he takes. We happily go along for the ride. Unless it is Twisty; then, no thanks. We will take a cab.
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He has been dealt the bad hand, but instead of letting it ruin his career, he perfected the bad guy. He found new currents in that overfished stream that made his Merle Dixon onThe Walking Dead. The Good Ol' Boy is unforgettable and an upgrade to the tired murderous redneck.
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Michael Rooker acts compelling as the good guy. Directors must explore Rooker's deeper sides; we miss another aspect of him. Rooker can still teach a master class on the murderous redneck.
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