What is a character actor? It's typically a performer known for playing many different, often unique and sometimes eccentric characters. They do so in all types of movies and TV shows but are seldom the lead characters, instead stealing scenes as supporting figures. Think of someone like character actress Margo Martindale, who has appeared in multiple movies and shows, including the Netflix animated sitcom BoJack Horseman, which paid respects to her status as a chameleon of acting.
These are the actors who someone might see a photo of and enthusiastically declare, "I know that actor!" but can't quite place them. They will never be movie stars, but their contributions to their projects are undeniable and considerable. Some character actors have been more influential than others, who remain largely undervalued by audiences. These are the most talented yet unfairly underappreciated character actors, brilliant performers who always elevate every project they're part of.
10 Richard Kind Most Notable Role: Dr. Mark Devanow, 'Mad About You' (1992-1999, 2019) Close
Most recently appearing in the fourth season of Only Murders in the Building, Richard Kind often plays weird and eccentric characters and has been doing so since the '80s. His resume contains big and small roles, including voice work and theater productions. Kind's most notable main roles were on Mad About You, Spin City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Red Oaks, but he has never had a breakthrough leading role: he's always a supporting cast member overshadowed by others.
That said, Kind tends to steal every scene he's in. While he has received a Tony Award nomination, he has never been recognized for his on-screen work. From Scrubs to Still Standing, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (where he has played different characters) to Young Sheldon, it's difficult to find a TV show Kind hasn't been in. In movies, he has popped up in everything from Argo to Tick, Tick...Boom! It's his voice that's arguably most recognizable, including roles like Bing Bong in Inside Out.
9 Aimee Garcia Ella Lopez, 'Lucifer' (2016-2021)
Aimee Garcia puts everything she has in every role she has played, which include many on TV and in movies since the late '90s. Still, Garcia has never gotten that big starring role in a TV show or movie that really broke through beyond her recurring main role as Veronica Palmero on George Lopez. It's often been episode by episode, with Garcia appearing in many police procedurals, in particular.
A few of her most memorable roles include playing Angel Batista's daughter Jamie on Dexter, Yvonne Sanchez on Vegas, and Ella Lopez on Lucifer. Garcia's characters are often quirky, intelligent, and upbeat, making her stand out on shows that are sometimes far more serious or one-dimensional. Arguably one of the most underrated actors of this generation, Garcia is long overdue for the credit she deserves.
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Release Date January 25, 2016 Cast Lauren German , Kevin Alejandro , D.B. Woodside , Lesley-Ann Brandt , Aimee Garcia , Rachael Harris Seasons 6 8 Judy Greer Most Notable Role: Lucy "Tom-Tom" Wyman, '13 Going on 30' (2004)
Judy Greeris the kind of actor who seems to appear in everything, including both movies and TV shows, in all types of roles with one thing in common: she's often a peripheral character. Some of her most recognizable TV roles include The Big Bang Theory, Arrested Development, Two and a Half Men, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. But Greer is no stranger to the big screen as well, having appeared in movies like Jawbreaker, a cult classic that defined the '90s, What Women Want, and 13 Going on 30.
Often the best friend, rival, or oddball character, Greer tackles every role differently, always bringing her signature style. With more than 150 acting credits to her name, chances are fans have seen Greer pop up often in movies and TV shows from now dating back to the '90s. She played one of the lead roles in the 2019 slasher Halloween Kills, proving she has what it takes to carry a film.
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Release Date April 13, 2004 Cast Jennifer Garner , Mark Ruffalo , Judy Greer , Andy Serkis , Kathy Baker , Phil Reeves Runtime 98 Writers Josh Goldsmith , Cathy Yuspa 7 Joe Pantoliano Most Notable Role: Ralph "Ralphie" Cifaretto, 'The Sopranos' (1999-2007)
With a name that sounds like someone familiar, that's because Joe Pantoliano is. He has played more than 150 roles in movies, TV shows, and theater. His most known role is as Ralph "Ralphie" Cifaretto in The Sopranos, which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award, a long-overdue accolade. That's because Pantoliano has been acting since the '70s, including appearing in the movie The Matrix as Cypher.
Typically playing rough-around-the-edges characters, he has appeared in Hill Street Blues, The Goonies, NYPD Blue, Bad Boys, and The Fugitive, just to name a few. Most recently, Pantoliano reprised his role as Captain Conrad Howard in Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Oddly, that one Emmy is Pantoliano's only award to date, proving that it's due time for his hard work to pay off.
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Release Date January 10, 1999 Creator David Chase Cast James Gandolfini , Edie Falco , Jamie-Lynn Sigler , Lorraine Bracco , Michael Imperioli , Steve Van Zandt , Tony Sirico , Steve Schirripa Seasons 6 6 Khandi Alexander Most Notable Role: Jackie Robbins, 'ER' (1995-2001) Close
Khandi Alexander has received a few accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role as Olivia Pope's mother in Scandal. Still, she has been acting for decades yet hasn't really been recognized as much as other actors from her generation. She had a major recurring role in ER, starred in CSI: Miami as one of the best characters, and in Treme but remains somewhat underappreciated by general audiences.
As a dancer, she spent her early career as a choreographer for Whitney Houston's world tours, then pivoted to acting in the '90s, where she began a string of supporting roles. Not appearing in anything on screen since she was in an episode of What We Do in the Shadows, Alexander brings so much to every role that it's a wonder she hasn't been cast in something bigger.
5 Eddie Marsan Most Notable Role: The Headmaster, 'Deadpool 2' (2018)
With such a distinct look, Eddie Marsan either plays down on his luck characters or villains. Either way, they are usually rough-around-the-edges figures that no one wants to mess with. Two examples include his role in Ray Donovan as the title character's boxer brother Terry, who was suffering from Parkinson's disease yet still packed a punch, and in Deadpool 2 as the brutal Headmaster of the Essex Home for Mutant Rehabilitation. The English actor has been acting since the '90s, often in smaller, supporting roles spanning movies and TV shows.
Most recently on TV, Marsan had small roles in Supacell and Franklin, along with a starring role in the series The Power. In movies, he recently played Mitch Winehouse in the 2024 film Back to Black, a biographical drama based on the life of the late singer Amy Winehouse. Still, chances are fans would see Marsan on the street and know he's famous but not be able to place where they saw him, or at least not realize how many huge hit movies and shows he has been part of.
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Release Date May 10, 2018 Director David Leitch Cast Morena Baccarin , Ryan Reynolds , Josh Brolin , T.J. Miller , Brianna Hildebrand , Zazie Beetz Runtime 119 minutes Writers Rhett Reese , Paul Wernick , Ryan Reynolds , Rob Liefeld , Fabian Nicieza 4 Chazz Palminteri Most Notable Role: Sonny LoSpecchio, 'A Bronx Tale' (1993)
Known for playing two sides of the law, either as a gangster or a law enforcement officer, Chazz Palminteri has an authoritarian look about him that lends perfectly to his casting. His most notable roles include A Bronx Tale, one of the most rewatchable gangster movies, along with The Usual Suspects. Palminteri has received an Academy Award nomination for Bullets Over Broadway, but he has never been given a major leading role despite how convincingly he plays every character he takes on.
On the small screen, Palminteri might be recognized for his role as Jay Pritchett's friend Shorty in Modern Family. But Palminteri has appeared in tons of movies dating all the way back to the '80s, like A Night at the Roxbury and Analyze This and in episodes of TV shows like Hill Street Blues, Matlock, Dallas, and Blue Bloods. An accomplished voice actor as well, Palminteri has the versatility to play all types of characters.
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Release Date September 29, 1993 Director Robert De Niro Cast Robert De Niro , Chazz Palminteri , Lillo Brancato Jr Runtime 120 3 Kevin Pollak Most Notable Role: Todd Hockney, 'The Usual Suspects' (1995)
With more than 90 movie credits to his name, Kevin Pollak recently shifted to TV with a starring role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. He also appeared in recurring roles on Better Things and The Neighborhood. But his acting days date back to the '90s when he appeared in classics like A Few Good Men, Grumpy Old Men, and The Usual Suspects.
Pollak has an air about him that brings a special flare to every role he plays. He can do drama and comedy equally well, the latter thanks to him being an accomplished comedian. There are so many movies fans probably don't even remember Pollak was in, from Wayne's World 2 to The Whole Nine Yards. Most recently, he was in the movie Sweetwater and even appeared in five episodes of Billions.
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Release Date July 19, 1995 Director Bryan Singer Cast Gabriel Byrne , Benicio Del Toro , Kevin Pollak , Kevin Spacey , Chazz Palminteri Runtime 106 minutes Writers Christopher McQuarrie 2 David Morse Most Notable Role: Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison, 'St. Elsewhere' (1982-1988) Close
With a resume that reads like a novel, David Morse has been in so many movies and TV shows that it's difficult to keep up. Some of his most notable movie roles include The Good Son, one of the best Macaulay Culkin movies, The Negotiator, The Green Mile, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and 12 Monkeys. On the small screen, along with his starring role in St. Elsewhere in the '80s, he has been in everything from John Adams to House, both of which earned him Emmy nominations. Most recently, he appeared in the miniseries The Last Thing He Told Me.
Working consistently since the '80s, Morse usually plays a character for a few episodes before moving into the next. He has had some larger roles, including in Outsiders, Blindspot, and Treme. But by and large, Morse is in blink-and-you-might-miss-him roles that quickly introduce fans to his tremendous talents before he moves on to the next project.
1 Stephen Tobolowsky Most Notable Role: Stu Beggs, 'Californication' (2007-2014) Close
Anyone who sees Stephen Tobolowsky's face or hears his distinctive voice will recognize that he's a famous actor, but placing him and remembering his name is more challenging. That's odd because Tobolowsky has played oddball characters in a long string of shows and movies. Some of his most notable roles are in Groundhog Day, Memento, Deadwood, Heroes, Glee, Californication, Silicon Valley, One Day at a Time, The Goldbergs, and The Mindy Project, and that just scratches the surface of his resume.
Tobolowsky's awkward yet lovable and kind characters are juxtaposed by his large 6'2'' frame that gives him a gentle giant-type persona. Taking on roles consistently since the '80s, Tobolowsky most recently appeared in the Christmas movie Candy Cane Lane and is tapped to appear in the upcoming sequel movie Freaky Friday 2, reprising his role of Mr. Bates from the original movie Freaky Friday. On television, he is a recurring cast member in Lopez vs. Lopez. Tobolowsky is arguably the hardest-working character actor in Hollywood, and his ever-increasing resumé proves it.
NEXT: 10 Actors Who Inspired Iconic Characters