Talk:Character actor

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Supporting actor?

I don't get it. If a certain kind of acting versatility is a defining characteristic of a character actor, then how can being a supporting actor be another? Does this mean a character actor is no longer a character actor when cast in a lead role? --77.173.90.33 (talk) 23:04, 17 May 2019 (UTC)

Perhaps the sense of it is this: that a character actor is a type of supporting actor; they're not the lead role, they're not a bit part, but they have a role that is important to the story, that is, that supports it. What differentiates a character actor is that they are skilled in playing distinct, unusual, eccentric characters, with specific mannerisms and voices. The actor becomes the part, and loses their offscreen personality entirely. But there are some supporting actors in which the connection between the actor's offscreen personality and the role that they play is clear; so we know it's celebrity X playing role J, and in another movie, it's still celebrity X doing role K. Same guy, different film. That said, these terms 'character actor' and 'supporting actor' are not clearly delineated in popular parlance; there are different senses of the term, and different people use the terms in different ways. About your second question, if a character actor becomes a lead actor, well then they're the lead actor; example, Humphrey Bogart in his early career played supporting roles, until they started giving him the lead position.--Tomwsulcer (talk) 01:12, 18 May 2019 (UTC)

I would agree with Townsulcer that "distinct, unusual, eccentric characters, with specific mannerisms and voices" usually show that something is a character role. It has to be far away from the idealistic and smooth, like Romeo and Juliet. However, a number of Shakespearan leading roles can also be considered character roles. I would argue that a character actor is often a supporting actor, because we often have more conventional and smooth leading characters, but that is not always the case. --Clibenfoart (talk) 12:45, 16 December 2020 (UTC)

I think this seems to be be an arbitrary label. Probably more deserving of a sub-heading under supporting actor.Halbared (talk) 22:35, 27 June 2023 (UTC)

Definition of a character actor

The last sentence of the first section, "Actors with a long career history of playing character roles may be difficult for audiences to recognize as being the same actor," does not reflect the common usage of the phrase "character actor." When people, whether professional critics or just film aficionados, talk about a "character actor," invariably they are talking about an actor who is more or less well-known and recognizable (by appearance if not by name) by the audience. This is one of the defining features. An actor whom no one reliably recognizes cannot be a "character actor" as this term is commonly used. I understand that there is a citation given to a published article, but the article's definition is quirky and unsupported. Common usage should be our guide here; otherwise, the author is just speculating or arguing. One reason why character actors are successful, acting in many films, and why they sometimes land leading roles, is that they are well-known. In many cases, it's not the "eccentric" roles they are cast in that make them "character actors," but rather a distinctive face, appearance, and mannerisms such as voice and posture. That's another point that needs clarification. It's true, of course, that the distinction between a character actor and a leading actor is not hard and fast. Avant-garde directors are well-known for casting a character actor as a leading character. Harry Dean Stanton is a good example of a character actor who has been cast as a (more or less) leading character in some films. Julian Richings is a another example of a character actor distinguished by his face. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Leghorn (talk • contribs) 02:33, 2 November 2022 (UTC)

Examples

An organised list of examples would be useful here; not to mention relevant. The article is poor. 86.183.86.187 (talk) 20:33, 4 September 2023 (UTC)

I think this article is properly ripe for deletion and folding into another. It's a wholly arbitrary tag used for different reasons by different parties. There's leading, supporting and day players.Halbared (talk) 19:54, 10 September 2023 (UTC)

Why is Christian Bale used as an example of a character actor in the article? He has been the leading actor in his films since the start of his career. While occasionally he does supporting roles that in no way makes him a character actor. It feels like the article was written by people who had no idea what a character is. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2603:8001:8FF0:9440:9CA7:A2C0:AB5F:53D1 (talk) 04:58, 7 March 2024 (UTC)