A long-standing cultural debate is – what defines a character actor? Plenty have described it before, and some other writers have createdsimilar lists with narrow definitions. But, ultimately, an agreed upon definition is that a character actor is someone who isn’t the lead actor, and regularly plays interesting or eccentric characters.
Character actors have been a part of film history since the beginning. And during that time, there has been a long list of historical performers who have etched their mark on the craft.
People like John Cazale, whose brief and remarkable career, included roles that left indelible impressions on the industry and culture. And then there is Claude Rains, who is one of the greatest character actors ever, and was nominated for four Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor. In a similar vein is Angela Davis, perhaps best known forMurder, She Wrote, and was nominated for three supporting actress Academy Awards. They eventually gave her an honorary Oscar in 2014 for lifetime achievement.
Today, there are even more actors who are character actors, sometimes disappearing entirely into the film, unrecognizable to audiences. It can be difficult to stand alongside today’s Hollywood stars, especially under the spotlight that shines so brightly publicly and privately.
While that spotlight may shine bright on the stars, these are the actors who excel as incredible modern character actors.
7Stephen Root
Stephen Roothas been active in movies and TV for decades. With his earliest credited role being inCrocodile Dundee IIin 1988, Stephen Root quickly established himself as an actor not only with chops, but one who could melt into any role. He had roles inHome Improvement,Buffy The Vampire Slayer, andL.A. Law. His major break came in the role of Milton in the cult classicOffice Space, followed immediately by a long run as a regular onNewsRadio. His success would continue with a decades-long run voicing Bill onKing of the Hill, as well as roles inFinding Nemo,Dodgeball,The West Wing, andTrue Blood. Root continually has more than five credits every year, and most recently can be seen inBarryas Monroe Fuches.
6Andy Serkis
Andy Serkishas made motion capture an art formhas shown artistic range beyond his iconic portrayal of GolluminThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy, and again inThe Hobbittrilogy. He’s directed, he’s voice acted, he’s produced; but it’s his acting range that has allowed him to become a prolific character actor. It wasn’t until 2001 that his star rose in the industry whenThe Fellowship of the Ringwas released. But, it was his performance as Gollum, alongside Samwise and Frodo, inThe Two Towersthat caught the attention of the world.
There were so many people within the industry fighting for his inclusion as an Academy Award nominee, but the motion capture aspect made him ineligible. After the Middle Earth sagas, he would again lend his motion capture skills inKing Kong(2005), the newPlanet of the Apesfilms,The Adventures of Tintin, and asSnokein the Star Wars sequel trilogy. In the past few years he’s appeared in the MCU as Ulysses Klaue inAvengers: Age of UltronandBlack Panther. Most recently, you’re able to see him as Alfred Pennyworth inThe Batman(2022).
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5Kathryn Hahn
Kathryn Hahnis a wonderful example of a character actor whose success and skill has led to her becoming a lead actress in films and TV. And yet, despite a few lead performances, Hahn continues to find supporting roles where she not only delivers a standout performance, but also can steal the scene. She got her start on the crime dramaCrossing Jordan, and then found a lot of success in comedic supporting roles in movies likeHow To Lose A Guy in 10 Days,Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,We’re the Millers, andBad Moms. Hahn carries tremendous talent, and she has translated that into other memorable performances on shows likeTransparent,Parks & Recreation, and scene-stealing moments onWandaVision. Her role as Agatha Harkness was so good, and loved, she received an Emmy nomination, and Disney announced that she’ll be getting her own MCU showAgatha: House of Harkness.
4Allison Janney
There are examples, like Kathryn Hahn, where the lines between leading star and supporting star are blurred.Allison Janneyis a prime example of this, too. She has been nominated for and won major awards for her acting. Her wins include an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Award forI, Tonya. She’s won SAG, and Emmys for her work onThe West Wing. Her career began in 1991 with small roles, but it was no time flat before she had her breakthrough role as C.J. Cregg inThe West Wing. She would go on to appear in numerous films and shows a year, including:American Beauty,The Hours,Finding Nemo,Juno, andThe Help, before her award-winning role as LaVona Golden inI, Tonya.
Outside ofThe West Wing, Janney has had a lot of success on television as well, includingMomand numerous guest appearances. Janney has an ability to blend into the role, displaying a range that the best of actors hope for.She’s a remarkable talent, and can lead, support, and steal any scene she’s in. Her most recent film,To Leslie, co-starred fellow list character actor Stephen Root and received phenomenal reviews.
3Alfred Molina
Few have been mastering the character actor role as long asAlfred Molinahas. His star rose while starring in shows in the West End, before making his feature film debut as Satipo, the ill-fortunately facially-spiked betrayer, and partner of Indiana Jones inRaiders of the Lost Ark. Molina continued acting on stage and screen in parts that established him as a dominant presence, but rarely of the lead. In 1997, his drug-induced manic performance inBoogie Nightsabsolutely changed the film for the better,stole the scene from Mark Wahlberg, and became beloved by fans. He would notably go on to star as Doctor Otto Octavius inSpider-Man 2, and have roles inAngels & Demons,Rango,Monsters University,Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and others.
As a voice actor, he has taken his talents to shows likeRick and Morty,Robot Chicken, video games, and many radio performances and audiobooks. And, of course, credit given where due, for not only being playful with his persona, but willing to be absurd, like hischildren’s theater criticforFunny Or Die. Most recently, he reprised his role as Doc Ock inSpider-man: No Way Home, showcasing his renowned range and ability to flip between good and bad instantly.
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2J.K. Simmons
J.K. Simmonsis about as good as they come for actors, let alone character actors. He’s appeared in more than 200 roles since he began his career in 1986, and in that time has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, SAG, and Golden Globe. While he may not blend into the roles and disappear behind the make-up — he’s certainly a “that guy” for many people — he is capable of playing just about any character, with an incredible amount of range. People remember him from his performances on TV inLaw & Order, the white supremacist Vernon inOz, Will Pope onThe Closer, and countless voiceover work in shows likeThe Legend of KorraandBoJack Horseman.
He found success in film playing J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’sSpider-ManTrilogy, and in memorable roles in films likeJuno,Burn After Reading, andUp in the Air, before crushing the away circuit as Terence Fletcher inWhiplashin 2013. Like others on our list, he’s habitually in multiple credits per year, and now keeps busy in commercials for Farmers Insurance. He was most recently seen reprising his role as JJ, along with Alfred Molina, inSpider-Man: No Way Home,even though he’s also been a DC guy.
1Tilda Swinton
Maybe it’s something about the MCU that attracts character actors like Molina and J. K. Simmons, after all; it attractedTilda Swintonto the role — albeit controversial — of The Ancient One inDoctor Strange. It was a role she’d reprise again in subsequent appearances in other MCU films, but it’s an example of her ability to transform herself to the role. And like others on this list, Swinton is an Academy Award winner, a prize she swept, among others, for her role inMichael Claytonin 2007. Swinton isn’t one to shy away from a blockbuster, and she always finds remarkable roles in independent films.
She’s worked onThe Deep End,Vanilla Sky, andAdaptation. She scared kids as the White Witch inThe Chronicles of Narniaseries. She’s become a constant, like others, for Wes Anderson, appearing in four of his films,with a fifth on the way. Swinton has an ability to swing for the fences, and also deliver quiet and delicate moments on screen. She can be sensitive, evil, and loving. And all the while, when she wants to, can disappear into the role, captivating audiences at every turn.
