bhk

Charles Laughton and Lionel Barrymore aren't really character actors as they have been major stars that carried movies.

zekeburger1979

Thanks. I recognized the face, but couldn't place a name.

ukywyldcat

Paul Shenar


Richard Bright


Al Lettieri

Rad14

This is true, especially in Laughton's later career, though to be honest, Barrymore did really end up in character roles due to ill health, age etc, although he certainly did have a leading man career when he was young.

Some of the others: Barry Fitzgerald, Victor Mclaglen, Walter Brennan also starred in movies, and won Oscars, but where largely better known as character actors.

Funny thing too, I referred to them as "leading American character actors" and yet one was Scottish, Donald Crisp, One Irish, Fitzgerald, Two English, Victor Mclaglen, Laughton, One Canadian, Raymond Massey

Dave7393

John C. Reilly, to go along with the well-represented cast of Boogie Nights in this thread....

zekeburger1979

John Cazale died 30 years ago today. I wonder how much better of a career he would have had, hadn't he died of bone cancer?

He was only in 5 feature films, but they're widely regarded as classics today:

The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
The Conversation
Dog Day Afternoon
The Deer Hunter

All 5 were nominated for Best Picture and 3 won (Godfather, Godfather II and Deer Hunter).

Not only was he a great character actor, but he's credited with discovering Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep.

Dr Mabuse

a lot of good ones already listed...

islandclaws

Paul Koslo:

<img src=http://www.allaire.org/koslo/images/paulkosloS.jpg alt=koslo