character actor
12
3.9
- noun
- /ˈkɛrɪktər ˈæktər/
:
actor de carácter
- Often referred to as an actor's actor, Vincent's work as a character actor has earned him the nickname of 'The Human Chameleon.'
- a great character actor
- a veteran character actor
- a comedic character actor
You are a character actor in a leading man's body.
- You are a character actor in a leading man's body.
- That character actor in these five scenes steals the scene from the star.
- I was trying to chase still being a leading man when I went, wait a second, you're really a character actor because they're all characters.
- And then I went to this acting class led by Robert Ellenstein, who was a fantastic character actor.
- It was Lawrence Olivier who was a theatre actor, but who worked in films and, and who was a character actor, even though he was a leading man.
- A lot of great actors in this character actors.
- Don't quote me on that, but he was like this big Hispanic tough, just his like hysterical actor, great character actor.
Examples
-
I'm also trying to think of great character actors of the time on whom I can base certain characters.
Blog text (15) -
The rest of the cast is filled out with the best character actors around: Ben Johnson as another of Rio's conniving partners.
Blog text (20) -
You want a star performance, light him like a star, not like a character actor.
Fiction book (2001) -
"I am a character actor, and I am an Indian."
Fiction book (2001) -
I have a soft spot for character actors and eccentrics.
Blog text (6) -
That character actor in these five scenes steals the scene from the star.
-
Rob Riggle again, one of the great character actors, especially, you know, when it comes to comedy.
-
And yet Mickey is the superstar, while Bugs is the comic character actor.
Academic text (2011) -
The doctor who had saved his life was a wiry man who resembled the character actor Allyn Joslyn.
Fiction book (1996) -
Michael is a talented character actor known for bringing unique personalities to life in supporting roles.
Synonyms
3
3.4
An actor who plays a small but important role in a film or play
Antonyms
How Distinctive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is clearly compositional: 'character' (a role/persona) + 'actor' yields an actor who plays character roles. The additional nuance that these are often distinctive or supporting parts follows naturally from 'character' meaning a distinctive role, and this modifier–noun pattern is common across languages, so a B1 learner knowing both words would understand it.
Etymology
Character actor comes from the stage, where some actors became known for playing one strong character, with a special costume or voice, instead of the main hero. So today a character actor is an actor known for playing unusual, memorable 'supporting' roles.