Thursday, March 13, 2008

Thursday 13 - Supporting Actors - 3/13/08

This week the subject of my Thursday Thirteen is my favorite actors that are generally in supporting roles but who steal every scene they are in. Although some of them have had leading roles, they are not actors that normally carry a movie as a leading man. Small doses of their talent is all a movie needs. Each one of them fills the screen and makes every motion picture he appears in more enjoyable by his appearance. Some are not household names, but you have seen them many times if you are a movie buff like me. There are others but I had to limit it to 13. I don't make the rules. They are in no particular order:

1) Steve Buscemi

2) Philip Seymour Hoffman

3) Christopher Walken

4) Steve Zahn

5) John Turturro

6) Paul Giamatti

7) Giovanni Ribisi

8) Robert Downey Jr.

9) Joe Pesci

10) John C. Reilly

11) Alan Rickman

12) Gary Oldman

13) Jack Black

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never think of Christopher Walken as a supporting actor but maybe he is these days.

anthonynorth said...

And it is often the supporting actors that are the better at their profession.
Difference between lead and support?
Luck.

myrtle beached whale said...

He is primarily a character actor but has had a few leading roles such as "Dead Zone". None are as memorable as his eccentric supporting roles.

myrtle beached whale said...

Andy:

Usually luck and looks. I read an interview where Christopher Walken said he is thankful that he is not a good-looking man like Harrison Ford. He prefers being a character actor, where he can be crazier.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I'm so out of the Hollywood scene, it's scary.

Teena in Toronto said...

The Steves are cool!

I played too!

Bottles Barbies And Boys said...

Great list, #7!!!!!

Little Wing said...

Maybe if I watched more movies, I might know who these people are, LOL!

No females on the list, why not????????????

myrtle beached whale said...

Little Wing:

The category was actors. That eliminates actresses from consideration in my thinking. I honestly would never be able to create such a list for actresses. Studios do not write a lot of good parts for supporting and character actresses. At least not scene stealers like this guys.

Forgetfulone said...

Wow. That's quite a list. I agree with you on most of them, although there are 2 of them I don't recognize. Steve Buscemi really steals the show.

rebecca said...

i think hoffman won the oscar for best actor in capote, didn't he? but, yes, he does do primarily supporting roles....he, and all of the ones you mentioned, i agree, are in a league of their own. they are all fantastic and original in their craft. LLOOOVVVEEE THEM!

myrtle beached whale said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
myrtle beached whale said...

Rebecca:

You are right, Hoffman did win an Oscar in one of his rare lead roles as Capote. But that was a special kind of lead role that required a character actor. Not a leading man type of turn. There are a few others that came to mind when writing this. Brilliant actors who have been primarily supporting roles but have had leading roles like John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Kevin Spacey, and Edward Norton. Another great character actor is Danny DeVito. But he does not fill the screen. LOL

Darla said...

You're absolutely right--I love all these actors.

Little Wing said...

Ok I forgive you! :):)

Lucy said...

great list! One of my fav. movies had both walken and Oldman in it. Can you guess the film Rick?
:))

myrtle beached whale said...

Lucy,

They have been in a few together but I am guessing your favorite would have been "True Romance."

verabear said...

Great lists from both :)

Linny, I'd have your #6 in my own list too. Cupcakes are love :)

Anonymous said...

Christopher Walken was superb in Dead Zone -- back when I was a Stephen King fan, it was one of the first movies that sticked pretty much to the book. But I have to say, his SNL skit "The Continental" and "Cowbell" always leave me rolling on the floor. I seem to like him better as a comedian.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is just incredible. I think the first thing I remember seeing him in was "Twister" as Dustin Davis and his part wasn't even that big, but I enjoyed watching him. It seemed like I saw him everywhere after that.

Giggles said...

You forgot James Woods.....he is really out there! I never think of Christopher Walken or Jack Black who I love as supporting actors.Love all the others you have chosen too! Make sure to rent " Undertaking Betty" with Christopher Walken in it....it's hilarious English humor! Might be a bit too girly for you, but the guy in this house loved it!

Hugs Sherrie

Pinehurst in my Dreams said...

Good list. My daughters really like Christopher Walken, too.

One of my favorite supporting actresses is Bonnie Hunt. She seems like she could be one's sister, neighbor, best friend - and she is very funny.