Barry Fitzgerald
(1888 - 1961)| He was everyone's favorite Irishman. Small of stature with twinkling eyes, a squatty little face with a sharp chin and a brogue as thick as Irish stew. He was born William Joseph Shields on March 10, ...Click on photo to read biography |
Arthur Shields
(1896 - 1970)| He was a more intense actor than his older brother, Barry Fitzgerald, and not quite the "scene stealer." Medium built with darker features than his brother and a serious, almost sneering face he playe ...Click on photo to read biography |
Donald Meek
(1878 - 1946)| A very memorable character actor to those who have seen him, Donald Meek was adept at playing timid, worrisome, reticent, cowering characters so he was aptly named. His slight stature, expressive, wid ...Click on photo to read biography |
Lurene Tuttle
(1906 - 1986)| Although she was most prolific on TV, she appeared in numerous films as well. She played mothers and mothers-in-law, strong willed women and other desirable types. Dainty, red-haired and petite with a ...Click on photo to read biography |
Sid Melton
(1920 - )| Sid Melton was one of the best known faces on TV in the 1950s and 60s. Short of stature with thick eyebrows, dark eyes and a very square face, his forte was the fretful, worrisome sidekick type charac ...Click on photo to read biography |
Mantan Moreland
(1902 - 1973)| He is probably best remembered for his role as Birmingham Brown, the chauffeur, in the Charlie Chan movies, but he appeared in many other films also. He was born in Monroe, Louisiana on September 3, 1 ...Click on photo to read biography |
Reta Shaw
(1912 - 1982)| She is probably the perfect example of the familiar face that people recognize but do not know the name. She most often played nasty, busybody, meddling types. With her stocky build, square jaw, gruff ...Click on photo to read biography |
Henry Wilcoxon
(1905 - 1984)| There's a special character actor category I created called "inverted lead." This is when a historical or name character (Abraham Lincoln, King Arthur, etc.) is featured only in a supporting role in a ...Click on photo to read biography |
Eric Blore
(1887 - 1959)| Usually the butler or valet, a gentlemen's gentleman, he was most often fussy, insolent or pouty in his roles but always comical. With a lifted eyebrow, an unusual vocal style with elegant diction but ...Click on photo to read biography |
Jack Elam
(1916 - 2003)| He had a leer and a scowl that seemed etched into his rugged, weather-beaten face. His eye, which had been blinded as a child, looked off in another direction making him look even more menacing but pe ...Click on photo to read biography |
Frank McHugh
(1898 - 1981)| He had a very hearty, infectious laugh and most often he was cast as an affable, jolly, sidekick to the star in films although he could play it straight too. His Irish good looks, stocky physique and ...Click on photo to read biography |
James Dunn
(1905 - 1967)| He was so similar to Frank McHugh in style and demeanor and even in the types of roles they played that I often confused them. Tall, stocky and darkly handsome with smiling Irish eyes, he was a natura ...Click on photo to read biography |
Margaret Hamilton
(1902 - 1985)| She will always be best remembered for the role that immortalized her, the Wicked Witch of the West in the film classic "The Wizard of Oz." Contrary to the roles she often played as nasty, gossips, sp ...Click on photo to read biography |
Victor McLaglen
(1886 - 1959)| He was a burly, stocky man with a prizefighter's "mug", a gruff exterior and a soft, lovable interior. He was the perfect "big lug." Born in Tunbridge Wells, England on December 10, 1886 he was the so ...Click on photo to read biography |
Peggy Cass
(1924 - 1999)| She was a character both on and off the screen; saucy, pert with a raspy ratatat voice. Her stocky build, reddish-blonde hair, twinkling eyes and devilish Irish charm were perfect qualities for an act ...Click on photo to read biography |
Walter Brennan
(1894 - 1974)| If ever there was a King of the Character Actors it was Walter Brennan. He made so many films that it's impossible to list them all. He won a record three Supporting Actor Oscars. He starred in all me ...Click on photo to read biography |
Richard Loo
(1903 - 1983)| He was the epitome of the sinister Japanese officer in the propaganda World War II films of the 30s and 40s but later had more satisfying roles. Richard Loo was born on October 1, 1903 in Maui, Hawaii ...Click on photo to read biography |
Lew Parker
(1907 - 1972)| One of my favorite television character actors, he played acerbic, exasperated, irascible types to perfection. His stone face and stern demeanor worked well for him in these roles. Lew Parker was born ...Click on photo to read biography |
George Tobias
(1901 - 1980)| He was always the burly, sarcastic, tough guy with a sense of humor; a pal of the movie hero. He often played various ethnic types and could also play straight dramatic roles. He was born July 14, 190 ...Click on photo to read biography |
David White
(1916 - 1990)| Often frustrated, nervous, cynical and slightly dishonest were traits of which David White turned into an art in his roles. His meticulously groomed white hair and mustache gave him an air of sophisti ...Click on photo to read biography |
Frank Sutton
(1923 - 1974)| Tough guys were his forte. His stocky build, crewcut and rugged looks caused him to be cast as the ultimate hard guy, often with a soft heart. Of course he'll always be remembered for his role as the ...Click on photo to read biography |
Walter Burke
(1908 - 1984)| He was quite sinister looking with a slight physique, stone-face and piercing, beady eyes. He was always a henchman, member of a gang or a Runyonesque type character in films. He was born Walter Lawre ...Click on photo to read biography |
Milton Selzer
(1918 - 2006)| One the most recognizable and finest character actors around is Milton Selzer. He played quite a variety of types: losers, gangsters, clerks, gamblers, businessmen, sidekicks and everything in between ...Click on photo to read biography |
Madge Blake
(1899 - 1969)| She was a short, plump, matronly little lady with twinkly eyes, a warm smile and a sweet warbly voice. Her best known role was that of Aunt Harriet Cooper, Bruce Wayne's Aunt on the "Batman" TV series ...Click on photo to read biography |
Jeff Corey
(1914 - 2002)| He is an exceptionally solid and sturdy character actor with a long, prolific career in films and television. His black, wavy hair, sharp facial features and dark, intense eyes made him quite watchabl ...Click on photo to read biography |
Woody Strode
(1914 - 1994)| He was one of the first black actors to break from stereotypical "Negro" roles pioneering the pathway for others. Tall, muscular, extremely athletic with a square jaw and handsome face, he played most ...Click on photo to read biography |
Dub Taylor
(1907 - 1994)| Another of those extremely familiar character actors whose names we sometimes forget, Dub Taylor's credits are unbelievable. He has appeared in hundreds of film and TV shows in a career of over 60 yea ...Click on photo to read biography |
Hattie McDaniel
(1895 - 1952)| She was a pioneer and a genuine heroine considering what she had to endure during her film career. She opened doors to all black actors and should always be remembered for her courage. She was a fine ...Click on photo to read biography |
Leo_G. Carroll
(1892 - 1972)| Often somber-faced, serious and always the gentleman in his roles, Leo G. Carroll was one of the most dependable of character actors. In about half of his roles he ...Click on photo to read biography |
Kate Reid
(1930 - 1993)| Although she was quite a versatile actress, she was best playing sturdy, independent women and her strong-willed demeanor and growly voice were perfect for these type roles. In her later roles she was ...Click on photo to read biography |
Albert Salmi
(1928 - 1990)| Burly, intense, brooding with malevolent eyes and a stocky build he was the perfect villain, henchman, psychopath or even a sidekick. He was born in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn, New York on Marc ...Click on photo to read biography |
Neville Brand
(1921 - 1992)| Another master of villainy was Neville Brand who with his scowling, intense looks, square jaw and thick frame was a menacing yet intelligent character. He was an expert at playing heavies, tough guys ...Click on photo to read biography |
John Rhys-Davies
(1944 - )| He most often plays the jovial, friendly comrade of the hero in films. A husky, bearded man with sparkling eyes, a booming, resonant voice and a genial personality, he was a perfect sidekick but could ...Click on photo to read biography |
Brian Blessed
(1937 - )| Larger than life, bombastic, over-the-top, all terms used to describe characters portrayed by the delightfully "hammy" Brian Blessed. With a beefy, stocky build, glaring eyes and a booming, resonant v ...Click on photo to read biography |
Cathy O'Donnell
(1923 - 1970)| She always played the young wife, a devoted sister, the sweetheart or girlfriend and other young adult type roles. She was an attractive and delicate dark-haired beauty, an all-American type, with a s ...Click on photo to read biography |
John Carradine
(1906 - 1988)| One of the most familiar of all character actors he enjoyed a long and prosperous career in films, theatre and television. Tall, gaunt and dark with beady piercing eyes, he seemed a menacing figure es ...Click on photo to read biography |
Michael.V. Gazzo
(1923 - 1995)| Like John Huston, Michael V. Gazzo came into acting from another area of show business. Originally a stage actor, he successfully made the transition to playwri ...Click on photo to read biography |
Claude Akins
(1926 - 1994)| He was the All-American guy, tall, husky, tough and ruggedly handsome. His stocky large frame, muscular physique, mop of wavy black hair framing an oval face with a toothy grin and sparkling eyes, as ...Click on photo to read biography |
Una O'Connor
(1880 - 1959)| She most often played Cockney and English roles but she was pure Irish. This delightful, diminutive, at 5' 2", actress was a joy to watch. With a sharp featured face, cackling voice and birdlike manne ...Click on photo to read biography |
Rosemary DeCamp
(1910 - 2001)| Often cast as the mother in films, she was a dark-haired beauty with a warm smile and sympathetic demeanor. She had even played mothers of actors her own age or years younger than herself. Who knows h ...Click on photo to read biography |
Strother Martin
(1919 - 1980)| A very familiar face to movie fans, he was a short-statured, whiny, grizzled looking character with piercing eyes. He most often played sniveling, seedy and sneaky characters but could be maliciously ...Click on photo to read biography |
Mike Mazurki
(1909 - 1990)| One of the best known "gangster types", he was a very popular and active character actor. Tall, stocky and muscular with a dough-like face that looked as if it had taken many a punch and with a raspy, ...Click on photo to read biography |
Grady Sutton
(1906 - 1995)| One of Hollywood's most familiar faces, he worked with all the great stars. He was tall, dark, pudgy and had a chubby baby-face. Adept at playing the naive, slow-witted country boy he was often cast a ...Click on photo to read biography |
Elsa Lanchester
(1902 - 1986)| Although she will always be remembered for one particular role, that of "The Bride of Frankenstein", she was a fine and versatile character actress in her own right. She had a memorable, wide-eyed fac ...Click on photo to read biography |
Simon Oakland
(1922 - 1983)| He was tall, bulky, burly and brooding with very intense eyes and coarse features. More often than not he played villainous types but he was versatile in other roles. He was a solid actor who appeared ...Click on photo to read biography |
Ellen Corby
(1911 - 1999)| Petite, homely, with a pinched little nose and beady eyes, she most often played spinsters, nosy neighbors, maids, teachers and women with a sassy, sometimes mean disposition. She was born Ellen Hanse ...Click on photo to read biography |
Pat Hingle
(1923 - 2009)| Even when he was cast as a surly, mean spirited type you couldn't help but like Pat Hingle. Tall, stocky and intense looking with a built-in scowl and folksy twang he was a gifted scene stealer. He co ...Click on photo to read biography |
Richard Jordan
(1938 - 1993)| Like fine wine, Richard Jordan improved with age and each performance topped the last. He was an intelligent actor with a handsome face and an air of intensity about him. He was born Robert Anson Jord ...Click on photo to read biography |
Victor Moore
(1876 - 1962)| One of the earlier actors on these pages, he most often played the shy, bumbling but well meaning, amiable type characters. His 5' 7" pudgy stature, round face and soft lisp reflected his gentle demea ...Click on photo to read biography |
R.G. Armstrong
(1917 - )| R.G. Armstrong is a perfect example of the type of character actor for which this Website was designed. One of the most familiar faces in movies and on TV, few people know his name. He was big and bur ...Click on photo to read biography |
John McGiver
(1913 - 1975)| Owlish looking, pudgy and bald with a soft and smooth voice he was a likable, scene-stealing actor. Most often he played businessmen, managers and executive types. He was born on November 5, 1913 in N ...Click on photo to read biography |
Warren Oates
(1928 - 1982)| A very popular, well-known character actor, he was most often seen in menacing, villainous type roles. His coarse featured face, curly black hair and smirky, sardonic smile were attributes that served ...Click on photo to read biography |
Myron McCormick
(1907 - 1962)| He was primarily a stage actor but appeared in a few films. He was adept at playing nervous, easily irritated, exasperated and fidgety types. He had a pleasant face, with baggy, lived-in eyes and a bu ...Click on photo to read biography |
Lew Ayres
(1908 - 1996)| Many former lead actors turn to character roles in the twilight of their careers; Ray Milland, Burt Lancaster and more recently Tony Curtis come to mind. Lew Ayres falls into this category, which is n ...Click on photo to read biography |
Herb Vigran
(1910 - 1986)| We discussed the three Reginalds, the two Mildreds and now for the two Herbs: Vigran and Voland. Their careers were quite similar and paralleled each other's. Herb Vigran was short and squatty with a ...Click on photo to read biography |
Herb Voland
(1918 - 1981)| The second Herb was also extremely prolific on TV and had made only a few movies. Sadly and shockingly, very little is known of his background. He was born Herbert Maurice Voland on October 2, 1918 in ...Click on photo to read biography |
Minerva Urecal
(1894 - 1966)| She was best known for her TV role as "Tugboat Annie." One account describes her as a cross between Marjorie Main and Hope Emerson and you can see by her photo that you have to look twice to see if it ...Click on photo to read biography |
Leo Genn
(1905 - 1978)| One of the greatest of all character actors and very underrated, he was a very amiable, urbane gentleman who played intelligent, authority figures and other classical types. His assets were his kindly ...Click on photo to read biography |
Robert Emhardt
(1914 - 1994)| This portly actor with the squinty-eyes, built-in grimace and whiny voice was probably best known for his many villainous roles on TV series and in films. He was born July 16, 1914 in Indianapolis, In ...Click on photo to read biography |
Niall MacGinnis
(1913 - 1977)| Another of my favorite character actors, he was a veteran of many costume dramas, historical films or, as I often refer to them, epic films. Niall MacGinnis always looked different in every film in wh ...Click on photo to read biography |
Leon Askin
(1907 - 2005)| He was probably best known as General Burkhalter on the TV series "Hogan's Heroes" (1965-71) but he had been quite active as a character actor long before that role. Short, very stout and jowly with a ...Click on photo to read biography |
Theo Marcuse
(1920 - 1967)| One of my favorite villains was Theo Marcuse. Tall and hulking with a shaved bald head, leering eyes and menacing look he was the ultimate villain. He was born on August 2, 1920 in Seattle, Washington ...Click on photo to read biography |
Doris Packer
(1904 - 1979)| One of my all-time favorites, this great character actress was the epitome of the aristocratic matron with her stern looking, but sweet, face with strong, jutting jaw and her smooth but robust voice. ...Click on photo to read biography |
Nehemiah Persoff
(1919 - )| He was a stocky character with dark curly hair, and a kindly but somber looking face. He was most often cast in the roles of powerful, intense and domineering men, more often than not ethnic types...u ...Click on photo to read biography |
Michael Lonsdale
(1931 - )| This fine French actor is one of the best character actors working today and one of my ultra favorites. He is racking up a fine list of film credits and his versatility allows him the opportunity to p ...Click on photo to read biography |
Ken Lynch
(1910 - 1990)| Ken Lynch is another of those actors for whom this Website was created. He was an actor whose face you'd seen a zillion times and whose voice you can hear in your memory...but whose name escapes you! ...Click on photo to read biography |
Zohra Lampert
(1937 - )| This dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty was an actress who utilized intelligence, a seductive manner and sheer talent in all her roles. She was born in New York City on May 13, 1937 the only child of Russi ...Click on photo to read biography |
Dick Elliott
(1886 - 1961)| Another purpose of this Website is to help us distinguish actors we tend to confuse with one another; those who look alike, are cast in similar roles or whose names we confuse. I have always confused ...Click on photo to read biography |
Mike Kellin
(1922 - 1983)| He was a very solid actor who was most enjoyable to watch. His coarse-featured face, tired eyes and flat, monotone voice suggested that he had lived hard and fast. He was most often cast as tough guys ...Click on photo to read biography |
Howard Da.Silva
(1909 - 1986)| He had a tough, pugnacious look about him and a booming baritone voice that was his signature. His stocky, surly look caused him initially to be cast in villainous roles but his talent won out and he ...Click on photo to read biography |
William Schallert
(1922 - )| One of the longest working and most recognizable actors in show business, he was a staple in films and on TV. Tall and slim with a kindly, smiling face and good looks he was cast as the trustworthy, w ...Click on photo to read biography |
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