Favorite character actors

[Mumbleypeg]

Buck Taylor. Has had a decades long career, mostly in Westerns, both film and television. Had a recurring role as deputy Newly in Gunsmoke, and recently as Emmitt Walsh in Yellowstone. He’s also an accomplished artist commissioned to do posters and prints for several annual rodeos and stock show events.

Ken

[chickenman62]

I was surprised to see Nancy Kulp as far back as Shane and of course as Miss Jane. I also liked her in Night of the Grizzly.
Charley Grapewin was in such classics as The Grapes of Wrath as Grandpa and The uncle in The Wizard of Oz.

[Mumbleypeg]

Robert Morley, usually played a pompous judge, lawyer, butler, etc. had a career in film and theater spanning 6 decades.

Ken

[Mumbleypeg]

Another good one - Henry Silva. Had a career that spanned 6 decades, played roles as outlaws, Indians, mafioso gangsters, Asians, and space aliens. Usually as some kind of “bad guy”.

Ken

[chickenman62]

In honor of St. Patrick's Day how about the Irish actor Sean McClory.

[Mumbleypeg]

Just saw an old movie with Henry Hull playing the part of the mayor. He was another prolific character actor, appeared in over 70 films, plus television and stage acting.

Ken

[Paladin]

I am just vegging out right now, watching a good old movie,, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Several of my favorite stars in this one and I can't imagine how Edmond O'Brien failed to win an Oscar playing the newspaper editor, Dutton Peabody. A lot of good performances here but he was just outstanding.

Ray

[Mumbleypeg]

I am just vegging out right now, watching a good old movie,, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Several of my favorite stars in this one and I can't imagine how Edmond O'Brien failed to win an Oscar playing the newspaper editor, Dutton Peabody. A lot of good performances here but he was just outstanding.

Ray

He was indeed a good’un.

Ken

[chickenman62]

I was given the complete series of the old show The Monroes. Lots of character actors in that one. I'll start with Albert Salmi.

[chickenman62]

Here's another one, Robert Middleton.

[Ridgegrass]

Don't have a pic, but I always liked John MacIntire. He played sheriff's, judges, editors, any role that brought a calm sense of knowledge and authority. He was the sheriff in "PSYCHO". He didn't have long lines but he was very effective. J.O'

[Paladin]

Don't have a pic, but I always liked John MacIntire. He played sheriff's, judges, editors, any role that brought a calm sense of knowledge and authority. He was the sheriff in "PSYCHO". He didn't have long lines but he was very effective. J.O'

I watched Psycho this past weekend. I hadn't seen it in many years and enjoyed it.
I wanted to nominate Eli Wallach. He was so good in so many of his roles; The Misfits, The Magnificent Seven and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, and on and on. He passed about 10 years ago. He was a dandy.

Ray

[Ridgegrass]

Agreed, Wallach was a great actor. He was in "Baby Doll" and lived up into his 90's. J.O'.

[Mumbleypeg]

I agree. Eli Wallach was a great character actor, more famous than most “character actors” IMHO. Although you might recognize a character actor, you typically had to watch the credits to learn their name. Wallach seldom was the lead but IIRC he often had second billing on posters advertising the film.

He was indeed a versatile actor.

Ken

[MissouriGuerrilla]

Another good one - Henry Silva. Had a career that spanned 6 decades, played roles as outlaws, Indians, mafioso gangsters, Asians, and space aliens. Usually as some kind of “bad guy”.

Ken

He was great in Jerry Lewis' "Cinderfella!"
"You're a spook! BEAT IT!"

[Paladin]

Barry Corbin, from Lamesa, TX. He was in Lonesome Dove, Northern Exposure, Urban Cowboy, No Country for Old Men, Monte Walsh, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and is now in Yellowstone......just to name a few.

Hank Worden - played "Mose" in a bunch of John Ford / John Wayne movies.

Wow, he is a good one and I did not realize he was from Lamesa, Texas. I climbed a lot of roofs in that little town one year. Fine folks there.

Also, I wanted to mention one of my all time favorites, Ben Johnson. He was a regular in westerns and he was a real cowboy in his days before Hollywood.

Ray

[Unk]

Wow, he is a good one and I did not realize he was from Lamesa, Texas. I climbed a lot of roofs in that little town one year. Fine folks there.

Also, I wanted to mention one of my all time favorites, Ben Johnson. He was a regular in westerns and he was a real cowboy in his days before Hollywood.

Ray

Ray, my mom was born and raised in Tahoka, just north of Lamesa. I have a lot of kin buried in the Tahoka cemetery, including my grandparents and great grandparents.

[Mumbleypeg]

Some actors and actresses had amazing long careers, and adapted their roles to their ages and appearance. I think being a “character actor” is more conducive to success at that than a big star. One example was Ida Moore, who started her career on stage and in silent films, and continued acting in film and television until her death in her eighties.

Ken

[Mumbleypeg]

Simon Oakland - appeared in 130 different movies and television roles.

Ken

[Paladin]

Simon Oakland - appeared in 130 different movies and televising roles.

Ken

He was usually a 'bad guy' but a good actor and a good choice.

Ray

[Mumbleypeg]

Thelma Ritter. Usually played someone’s mother, a domestic servant, a WAC Sargent, or other working class character. She was nominated for numerous awards in film and television but never won. Died of a heart attack at age 66.

Ken

[Mumbleypeg]

Here’s an oldie but a goodie. Fans of old movies will likely recognize his face but not necessarily the name of Olen Howland. Following a singing and dancing career in vaudeville and on Broadway he began acting in silent film, then transitioned to “talkies”. Appeared in hundreds of movies and occasionally on television.

Ken

[Mumbleypeg]

Another oldie but goodie, George Tobias, had a 50+ year career in theater, film, and television. He was a Warner Brothers “stock” actor, cast in films alongside Gary Cooper, James Cagney, and John Garfield. You might recognize him as “Pusher” in Sargeant York or a later recurring role in the cast of the television show Bewitched.

Ken

[Waukonda]

Another oldie but goodie, George Tobias
Ken

That's a good one.

I recently watched "Soldier of Fortune" for the first time, from1955 starring Clark Gable and Susan Hayward. In it, were 2 actors that I have seen in more than a couple of movies, Alexander D'arcy, and Tom Tully.
Tully is the one being picked up by his ears by Gable.

[chickenman62]

Jay C. Flippen acted in many movies and television shows. After he lost his leg he continued in a wheel chair.