Editing Character actor (section)

{{Short description|Actor who predominantly plays distinctive or eccentric characters}}
{{Redirect|That guy|the New Zealand comedian also known as "That Guy"|Leigh Hart}}
[[File:Ernie Weckbaugh & Claude Rains.jpg|thumb|Actor [[Claude Rains]] (right) was sometimes a leading actor, sometimes a character actor, often cast as a sophisticated, sometimes "morally ambiguous" man.<ref name="twsDigitalPolyphony" />]]
{{Use American English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

A '''character actor''' is an actor known for playing unusual, eccentric, or interesting [[character (arts)|characters]] in [[supporting role]]s, rather than leading ones.<ref>Oxford Dictionaries, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140811102011/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/character-actor character actor], Retrieved 7 August 2014, "...An actor who specializes in playing eccentric or unusual people rather than leading roles...."</ref><ref>Macmillan Dictionary, [http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/character-actor Character actor], Retrieved 7 August 2014, "...an actor who plays unusual, strange, or interesting characters instead of being one of the main characters..."</ref><ref name=twsForeman/><ref name=twsNYActingSchool>28 April 2013, The New York Acting School, [http://actingschoolny.blogspot.com/2013/04/ten-best-character-actors-of-all-time.html Ten Best Character Actors of All Time], Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to be almost unrecognizable from part to part, and yet play many, many roles convincingly and memorably. .."</ref> The term is somewhat abstract and open to interpretation.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Lloyd|last1=Grove|first2=Elisa|last2=Lipsky-Karasz|title=Busting on the 'Cult Buster'|date=13 January 2004|work=[[New York Daily News]]|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/busting-cult-buster-article-1.612152|access-date=7 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230082753/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/busting-cult-buster-article-1.612152|archive-date=2013-12-30|url-status=live <!-- but geo-restricted-->|quote=... definitions for acting are always very tricky. What is a 'character actor'? What is a 'lead'? What is 'supporting'? ... It drives me nuts...}}</ref> While all actors play "characters",<ref name=twsTVTonight>{{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|date=4 April 2014|work=TV Tonight|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/04/good-cop-bad-cop-and-jack-irish.html|title=Good cop, bad cop and Jack Irish|access-date=7 August 2014|quote=... co-leads and cameos ... character actors. But every part plays a character...}}</ref> the term character actor is often applied to an actor who frequently plays a distinctive and important supporting role.<ref name=twsDigitalPolyphony>{{cite web|website=Digital Polyphony|url=http://www.digital-polyphony.com/top25characteractors.htm|title=Top 25: Great Character Actors|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513181426/http://www.digital-polyphony.com/top25characteractors.htm |archive-date=13 May 2015 |access-date=7 August 2014|quote=...often in supporting roles - rarely are they leading men or leading ladies, and often times they're put into a certain type of role over and over again...}}</ref><ref name=twsYahoo>{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Pockross|date=28 March 2014|website=[[Yahoo! Movies]]|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/yahoo-movies/jon-polito-guy-thing-definitely-know-225543635.html|title=Jon Polito: That Guy From That Thing (Who You Definitely Know)|access-date=7 August 2014|quote=...Jon Polito: I think a character actor ... is someone off to the side ... the baddie ... the best friend. A mother role ... stuff that fills in the plot from the center of the movie...}}</ref> In another sense, a character actor may also be one who specializes in minor roles.{{fact|date=November 2024}}

A character actor may play a variety of characters in their career, often referred to as a "chameleon", or may be known for playing the same type of roles. Character actor roles are more substantial than [[bit part]]s or non-speaking [[Extra (acting)|extras]]. The term is used primarily to describe television and film actors, as opposed to theater actors.<ref name=twsTobolowsky>Stephen Tobolowsky, Discovery, [http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/what-is-defined-character-actor What does it mean to be defined as a character actor?] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140811234419/http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/what-is-defined-character-actor |date=11 August 2014 }}, Retrieved 7 August 2014, "In theater, they almost never use the term "character actor." ... leading actors have two names, like, Captain Jack Sparrow ... Richard Kimble{{snd}}parts I play ...Officer Johnson"</ref> An early use of the term was in the 1883 edition of ''[[The Stage]]'', which defined a character actor as "one who portrays individualities and eccentricities".<ref>''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'', 2nd ed., character, ''n''., 19.</ref> Actors with a long career history of playing character roles may be difficult for audiences to recognize as being the same actor.<ref name=twsNYActingSchool/>