character actor

British  

noun

1. an actor who specializes in playing odd or eccentric characters

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Example Sentences

Whether it’s the senior analyst, the aging character actor, or the middling sports columnist at a financial newspaper, one must never underestimate a youthful competitor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Back in the late 1950s and 1960s, my dad was a popular character actor who appeared on dozens of TV shows, including “Bonanza,” “I Dream of Jeannie” and “The Twilight Zone.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

A career character actor, Madigan has only been nominated for an Oscar once before, in the same category for 1985’s “Twice in a Lifetime.”

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2026

Co-star Dylan O’Brien also proves himself once again to be one of the best actors of his generation: a former teen heartthrob who now operates more like a chameleonic character actor.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

Mr. DeVere was a clever character actor, and had created a number of parts that had won favor.

From The Moving Picture Girls First Appearances in Photo Dramas by Hope, Laura Lee