Greatest Supporting Actors
Submitted by buddy on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 09:17
Tags:
- In no particular order:
- J.T. Walsh (of course)- Pleasantville, Sling Blade
- Kevin Pollack - The Usual Suspects
- Joan Cusack - Grosse Point Blank
- Jeremy Piven - Grosse Point Blank
- Danny DeVito - Drowning Mona
- William H. Macy - Boogie Nights
- Jeffery Combs (some movies, more TV)- The Frighteners, Deep Space Nine (Weyoun & other characters)
- Dwight Yoakam (thanks Concrete)- Roswell, Sling Blade
- James Cromwell (thanks Jim)- Babe, Star Trek First Contact
- Kevin Bacon (thanks Jim)- A Few Good Men
- David Morse (again....Jim)- The Green Mile
- Julianne Moore - Boogie Nights
- Dave Foley - (thanks UncRoger)Blast from the Past
- Stephen Root - (") Office Space
- Ving Rhames - (") Mission Impossible
- Ben Kinsley - (") Sneakers, Schindler's List
- Steve Buscemi - Fargo
- Phillip Seymour Hoffman - (thanks jblack) Boogie Nights
- Geoffery Rush - (thanks Saka) Quills
- Austin Pendleton - (thanks UncRoger) My Cousin Vinny
- Robert Shaw - (thanks bufdet) Jaws
- Lionel Barrymore - (") It's a Wonderful Life
- Claude Raines - (") It's a Wonderful Life
- Ward Bond - (thanks 1922) It's a Wonderful Life
- Christopher Lee - (") The Fellowship of the Ring, Star Wars: Episode II
- Sean Bean - The Fellowship of the Ring
- Hugh Jackman - X-Men
- J.K. Simmons - Spiderman as J. Jonah Jameson
- Sam Rockwell - The Green Mile, Galaxy Quest, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Tony Shalhoub - Galaxy Quest
- Rhys Ifans - Notting Hill
- Eugene Levy - A Mighty Wind, American Pie (the only standout in the cast, IMO)
- Parker Posey - Best in Show, You've Got Mail, Josie and the Pussycats, The Anniversary Party
- Catherine O'Hara - A Mighty Wind, Best in Show, SCTV (tv)
- Diane Weist - Edward Scissorhands
- Christine Baransky - The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Bowfinger
- Gary Cole - Office Space
- Dan Hedaya - Clueless
- Michael Jeter - The Green Mile
- Tim Blake Nelson - O Brother, Where Art Thou?
- John Turturro - O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Rounders
- John Cho - American Pie, (lead, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle)
- Stephen Tobolowsky - Groundhog Day as Ned Ryerson
- Alfre Woodard - Star Trek First Contact
- Oded Fehr - The Mummy (who even cares if he can act, which he can - he's screamin' hot!)
- Catherine Keener - Being John Malkovich, Full Frontal
- John C. Reilly - Chicago
- I Haven't Seen
- Shelley Winters - (thanks bufdet) The Poseidon Adventure
- Walter Brennan - (") Rio Bravo
- George Kennedy - (thanks 1922) Cool Hand Luke
Author Comments:
This started out as a list of people who perpetually fill in secondary roles, but I'm starting to notice that people are taking on leading roles in smaller films and secondary roles in others. The line doesn't seem to be quite as clear any more. Even my good old standby William H. Macy is playing leading roles these days. So, I guess this list now covers people I enjoy seeing in supporting roles, though that doesn't mean I won't also enjoy seeing them carry a film.
I've listed one or two of the movies they've been in, just off the top of my head. This may not be their best work, it's just what I remember at the moment.
A few of these names came from www.fametracker.com, where they do a "Hey, It's That Guy!" feature.
Rip Torn. He is always a welcome surprise in a movie, as he rarely receives a credit in the trailers for a movie.
He just has that rough pirate thing going on, (made perfect in Summer Rental)which I think we all enjoy from our childhood.
I'm not sure Danny DeVito would appreciate being call a supporting actor. One gets the impression that he sees himself as a leading man.
How 'bout Slim Pickens, pardner? YEEEEHAAA!
Perhaps I should clarify about DeVito. He has played leading roles in the past (and could be considered one of the leads in The Big Kahuna), but lately he has been much more of a producer, and has been taking secondary roles in his movies. Calling him a supporting actor is probably not entirely accurate, I agree, but neither would I consider him to be a heavyweight that carries a movie. I'm particularly thinking of him in roles like the cop in Drowning Mona, and in Hoffa (I think I'm thinking of the right movie...). I don't get the impression, though, that he sees himself as a leading man. I think he picks his roles carefully, regardless of the size of the part.
I agree -- look at Mathilda. And, to a lesser degree, Get Shorty.
I am happy to see a female included on your actors list. I always feel that actors are people to take seriously, while actresses are women who are known more because they are beautiful women than because they can act.
You are probably right about that, but my reasons for not making the distinction between actors & actresses is more about streamlining the language. You wouldn't call a female doctor a doctress, so why make the disctinction for actors? They all do the same work.
I tend to feel that way too, but people cling desperately (sp) to the word "actress." I just think the implication is that an actress somehow does a differant job than an actor.
Dwight Yoakam - He had some small roles in a few movies, like red rock west (i think that's the name) and he was excellent in Sling Blade.
You're right, he was a very pleasant surprise in everything I've seen him in. He was also in Roswell. Very worthy of this list.
Having just seen The Green Mile, two leap to mind: James Cromwell and David Morse. I've enjoyed them both in everything I've seen them in (which is admittedly only a handful each), all supporting roles.
And how about Kevin Bacon? Sure, he's had some starring roles, but I think he's been more successful (and prolific) as a supporting actor.
I hadn't thought of James Cromwell - good one! His range really impressed me when I first started noticing him: from the farmer in Babe to Zephram Cochrane in Star Trek First Contact.
Kevin Bacon is another good one, although I'm not sure I like him BETTER in supporting roles - I like pretty much everything he does. You're right, though, he certainly is more prolific as a supporting actor.
I don't think I know who David Morse is. I looked him up through the link you provided and didn't recognize or find anything helpful. What did you see him in?
Duh - you just said you saw David Morse in the Green Mile. Which character was he?
Part of the problem is that the link above goes to James Cromwell instead of David Morse. Oops! Here's the correct link. He played "Brutal" in The Green Mile, the commander in The Negociator, and Jodie Foster's father in Contact. I'm not sure why I like him . . . he just seems so solid somehow. I like him the same way I like Ed Harris. I find something about the way they carry themselves admirable.
Regarding Kevin Bacon, by "successful" I meant in the box office. I too like him quite a bit in both his leading and supporting roles.
And if you haven't already, you must rent LA Confidential, another fine "Cromwell has good range" example (and a good movie to boot).
Now I remember him! Never really knew his name, but I do enjoy his work. Part of the problem with my remembering him was that he reminds me a little of Russell Crowe (although since Russell Crowe's recent starring roles, that will not happen again). I really love the quiet understatedness of the roles he chooses (or how he chooses to play them). He really seems to be really good at suggesting more to the character than was perhaps written in the script. I wish I could be more specific, but I'd have to watch his stuff over again to really put my finger on what I like about him.
I have seen LA Confidential and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a memorably gruesome scene in which the cop was crawling under the porch next to the dead body. Appealed to my mild claustrophobia.
Thanks for the tip about Ed Harris, too. He's another one I really like. He goes on my list of sexy older men. I think you nailed it, too - his appeal is largely his integrity (which is the word I was looking for to describe Morse's quality) - if that was the admirable carriage you were referring to.
Please excuse my wordiness - I will try to be more concise in the future (I'm kinda new to this message stuff - I'm still in term paper mode).
We have a long tradition of wordiness here at The Listology, so don't feel you have to rein yourself in. And I think "integrity" is an excellent word choice. Glad to see Morse and company made the cut for this list!
How about Dave Nelson (of NewsRadio, Blast from the Past) and Stephen Root (NewsRadio, Bicentenial Man)? Ving Rhames (Dave, Entrapment) and Ben Kingsley (Dave, Sneakers)?
Brent Spiner (Star Trek, Independence Day), Harvey Fierstein (Independence Day, Mrs. Doubtfire)?
Excellent suggestions!
Dave Foley is hilarious, though I rarely think of him in terms of his movie acting. I know him best as one of the Kids in the Hall, and he had a starring role in The Wrong Guy (a hilarious dumb comedy). I often forget that he plays smaller roles in more familiar films - he was a real gem in Blast from the Past (a reprise of one of his Kids in the Hall personas).
Stephen Root is also very good. I like him as the voice of Bill on King of the Hill, and he was almost unrecognizable in Office Space.
Ving Rhames is one of those people who can often be a redeeming feature in an otherwise abysmal movie (wasn't he in Con Air?). And I LOVED him in Mission Impossible. For a long time I couldn't stop thinking of him as Marcellus Wallace, though.
Kingsley is one of the best actors around, as far as I'm concerned. Sneakers was thoroughly enjoyable, but he was brilliant in Schindlers' List.
I really like Spiner (you may not remember but he played a hick farmer on Night Court once), but I don't really remember him in Independence Day. I just keep thinking of him as Data as I'm a fairly large Trek fan. Fierstein has never really done anything for me - I don't know why. I think he just always seems to play the same guy (at least it seems that way to me).
I'm amazed that you managed to point out a huge list of my favourites that just slipped my mind when it came to this list...particularly the first four you mentioned. Have you been raiding my movie collection? ;)
The Wrong Guy sounds pretty funny; I'll have to look for it. I had forgotten that Stephen Root is the voice of Bill -- thanks! Ving Rhames was indeed in Con Air, and a whole lot of other movies. I have actually yet to see either Mission Impossible -- the thought of Tom Cruise's acting inability makes them a tough choice.
I haven't seen Schindler's List (and probably won't) but I have seen Kingsley in a bunch of things and he is indeed great. Spiner is pretty darn good too -- he was the scientist that had been working underground at area 51 in Independence Day.
Could be we have similar tastes, or just that these guys are universally good. I happened to think of the first two because I was watching NewsRadio.
Good luck finding The Wrong Guy...I think it may be a little difficult. It's kind of a small film, populated almost entirely by Canadians. The video stores here don't always carry it, and so far I've only seen one copy per store. Hold on....I'm assuming you're American...It's entirely possible you're from Canada and would not have so much trouble finding this movie. However, if you are in the U.S., I think it might be a little more difficult. (I happen to own this movie, but only because I own tonnes of movies that were on sale for under $10. My ownership does not mean this is a fantastic movie).
Hello, my name is Uncle Roger and I'm an American... (awww... too bad... we're here for you, man... I was too, once...)
I have been to Canada, though, and do like it... (Ottawa in February is cold though!) Still, I'm in San Francisco, which is nothing if not a little off the beaten path; I'll bet I can find it. 8^)
How could I forget one of the greatest supporting actors ever? The late great Phil Hartman was fantastic in everything I've ever seen him in!
I had to do a quick check on IMDB to find out what movies he's been in, because I really know him best from tv (Simpsons and Newsradio being two of my favourite shows). I don't remember him really well in most of the movies there (eg. Stuart Saves His Family), but he was great in Greedy.
As a brief aside, his death was one of the few celebrity deaths that really affected me - I had just been saying a few days earlier that I love his comedy and was looking forward to more of his work.
Hartman was fantastic as the Martha Stewart-ish neighbor in Jingle All the Way. And Greedy was excellent. His TV roles were indeed far more numerous, but every bit as good. He was fantastic as a men's make-up salesman in one episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun.
I was really bummed out by his death too. He was so good, in so many things, and had such a bright future ahead of him.
How can you have this list without listing some of the greatest classic supporting actors. Take a look at these resumes:
Claude Rains - Casablanca, Notorious, Lawrence of Arabia, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Now Voyager, Mr. Skeffington, Angel on My Shoulder, and Passgae to Marseilles.
Lionel Barrymore - It's a Wonderful Life, You Can't Take It With You, Key Largo, A Guy Named Joe, Since You Went Away, Camille, Dinner at Eight, Grand Hotel, and Duel in the Sun.
Walter Brennan - Meet John Doe, To Have and Have Not, My Darling Clementine, Sergeant York, Pride of the Yankees, How the West Was Won, Bad Day at Black Rock, Red River, and Rio Bravo.
Robert Shaw - Jaws, From Russia With Love, The Deep, The Sting, Man for All Seasons, Battle of the Bulge, Lavendar Hill Mob, Black Sunday, and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Shelley Winters - A Place in the Sun, Night of the Hunter, Diary of Anne Frank, Lolita, Alfie, A Patch of Blue, The Poseidon Adventure, and The Tenant.
Alas, I knew my movie ignorance would come out sooner or later. I'm afraid my experience with classic movies is extremely limited. I have only seen a handful of the movies you mention. Thank you for your contribution, though, as my list is obviously lacking range.
I did not intend it to be a personal attack. I hope it didn't came out that way. Actually, I was shocked that some of the other contributors who have seen a ton of movies did not point out the exclusion of classic actors.
It didn't come out that way. I just lament my lack of experience with classic movies and regret not being able to put any on there. I was a little shocked myself that it took so long for someone to inject some classics. I do honestly thank you for your contributions.
Here's another: Austin Pendleton. I remember him best as the driver in Guarding Tess and as the stuttering D.A. in My Cousin Vinny, but he's done tons more.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman from Boogie Nights, Magnolia, lmost Famous, the Big Lebowski and Twister. This cat is a stud
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. You're right, he's great.
Geoffrey Rush. Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth and some other's I can't remember at the moment. He's always excellent.
I really don't know how I managed to leave him out. I haven't seen Elizabeth but I loved him in Shakespeare in Love. Thanks for the input.
OK, at the moment, I'm checking out your (great) lists and articles. Especially this one caught my eye.
My suggestions would include:
- George Kennedy (Cool Hand Luke)
- Christopher Lee (you know, I just have to suggest him, but if you don't consider him as one of the greatest, that is still OK.)
- Ward Bond (endless list of generally esteemed films, such as: It's a Wonderful Life, The Searchers, Rio Bravo, Bringing Up Baby, Gone with the Wind, You Can't Take It With You, You Only Live Once, The Grapes of Wrath, It Happened One Night, Sergeant York, Fort Apache, Young Mr. Lincoln, They Were Expendable, My Darling Clementine, Mister Roberts, The Informer, The Fugitive, Johnny Guitar, Fury, The Quiet Man, Three Godfathers)
I'll come back to this, as I can think of more.
Hey, thanks for resurrecting some of these old lists. I'll update this list a little later today, after I've given it a bit more thought.
I actually haven't seen Cool Hand Luke, but thanks for reminding me about it. It's my dad's favourite film and I've been meaning to see it for ages.
As for Christopher Lee, I'm a little conflicted about him. He seems like a decent actor, but is so far up his own ass I find it hard to watch him without seeing his arrogance show through. However, I think I'll have to add him anyway, as he's an incredibly accomplished actor.